What is Calcium Gluconate used for?

Calcium Gluconate is indicated for: Acute hypocalcemia, Black widow spider envenomation, Calcium supplement, Chronic MBD management, Chronic MBD supplementation, dilute to 10 mg/mL solution in saline, eclampsia, Ethylene glycol toxicity (hyperkalemia), hyperkalemia (cardioprotection), hyperkalemia (urethral obstruction), Hypocalcemia, Hypocalcemia (milk fever), Hypocalcemia (pregnancy toxemia adjunct), metabolic bone disease (acute), Mild hypocalcemia, Post-eclampsia maintenance, Post-parturient hypocalcemia prevention, Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, pregnancy toxemia, pregnancy toxemia adjunct, seizures.

Which species have cited Calcium Gluconate dosing data?

Calcium Gluconate dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 11 species: African Grey Parrot, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Cattle (Beef/Dairy), Dog (Domestic), Goat (Caprine), Guinea Pig, Rabbit (Domestic), Sheep (Ovine), Sugar Glider.

Is Calcium Gluconate a controlled substance?

Calcium Gluconate is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Calcium Gluconate

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Calcium Gluconate is dosed at 50–100 mg/kg IV once in ball pythons, per Mans C, Braun J. Update on common nutritional disorders of captive reptiles. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2014;17:369-395. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2014.05.002 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.263 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Emergency

Routes

IVSCPO

Indications

Acute hypocalcemiaBlack widow spider envenomationCalcium supplementChronic MBD management

Mechanism of Action

Provides ionized calcium for neuromuscular function, cardiac conduction, and bone metabolism. Cardioprotective against hyperkalemia.

Side effects & warnings

IV administration must be SLOW with ECG monitoring (cardiac arrest risk). Tissue necrosis if given SC undiluted at high concentrations. Dilute for SC use. Monitor ionized calcium levels.

Evidence levels across 20 dose rules

Strong×5Moderate×12Extrapolated×2Weak×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 13 published sources

· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed., Part A: Canine and Feline, Calcium salts, printed p.60 (corpus PDF p.76) — cats, parenteral hypocalcaemia 95-140 mg calcium gluconate/kg slow IV, then 2.5 ml/kg of 10% calcium gluconate q6-8h — plus Plumb's 10th ed. printed p.175, which prints our exact volume (0.5-1 mL/kg of calcium gluconate 10% = 50-100 mg/kg of the gluconate salt).
· Brust DM. What every veterinarian needs to know about sugar gliders. Exotic DVM. 2009;11:32-41.; Kubiak M. Sugar gliders. In: Kubiak M, eds. Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine; Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, UK; 2021:125-139. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.711 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., Table 4.9 (Nutritional/mineral/fluid support used in reptiles), p.263
· Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine (Wiley), Guinea Pigs chapter, Toxemia of Pregnancy, printed p.299: 'Calcium gluconate 50-100 mg/kg IM (diluted 50 : 50), slow IV/IO'
·

Sample dosing (2 of 20 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 11 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)	IV	50–150 mg/kg	once	Strong	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.202 (2026-08-01).
Cat (Domestic)	IV	50–100 mg/kg	q6-8h	Strong	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed., Part A: Canine and Feline, Calcium salts, printed p.60 (corpus PDF p.76) — cats, parenteral hypocalcaemia 95-140 mg calcium gluconate/kg slow IV, then 2.5 ml/kg of 10% calcium gluconate q6-8h — plus Plumb's 10th ed. printed p.175, which prints our exact volume (0.5-1 mL/kg of calcium gluconate 10% = 50-100 mg/kg of the gluconate salt).

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Huckabee JR. Raptor therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:91-116.; Huff DG. Avian fluid therapy and nutritional therapeutics. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:13-16.; Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 (2026-08-01).

· Mans C, Braun J. Update on common nutritional disorders of captive reptiles. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2014;17:369-395. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2014.05.002 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.263 (2026-08-01).

· Mans C, Braun J. Update on common nutritional disorders of captive reptiles. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2014;17:369-395. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2014.05.002; Benne[tt] RA. Management of common reptile emergencies. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet; 1998:67-72.; McArthur SD.J, Wilkinson RJ, Barrows MG. Tortoises and turtles. In: Meredith A, Redrobe S, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 4th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucestershire, GB; 2002:208-222. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.263 (2026-08-01).

· Polzin DJ, Osborne CA. Diseases of the Urinary Tract. In: Davis LE, ed. Handbook of Small Animal Therapeutics. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1985:333-395. PMID: 42536520 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.202 (2026-08-01).

· USPC. Veterinary Information- Appendix III. In: Drug Information for the Health Professional. Vol 2. Rockville: United States Pharmacopeial Convention; 1990:2811-2860. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.203 (2026-08-01).