ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/buspirone
US brand names:BuSpar
Buspirone is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per Plumb's 10th ed printed p.155, Buspirone monograph spanning p.155-156. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Partial agonist at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Anxiolytic without sedation, muscle relaxation, or anticonvulsant effects.
Takes 1-2 weeks for full effect. No sedation (unlike benzodiazepines). Not effective for acute anxiety/panic. Used for urine marking in cats, generalized anxiety in dogs. May increase aggression in some cats.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q12h | Moderate | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.155, Buspirone monograph spanning p.155-156.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12h | Moderate | Crowell-Davis SL, Murray TF, de Souza Dantas LM. Veterinary Psychopharmacology. Newark, UNITED STATES: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated; 2019. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.155, Buspirone monograph spanning p.155-156.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.