Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Clonidine is dosed at 0.01–0.05 mg/kg PO q12h (up to twice daily) in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), p. 296 (corpus PDF p. 323) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Clonidine is used in dogs for Anxiety / phobia adjunct. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Clonidine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Catapres
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.01–0.05 mg/kg | q12h (up to twice daily) | As needed for event-based anxiety; can be used long-term | Anxiety / phobia adjunct | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), p. 296 (corpus PDF p. 323) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.112 | 3-10 μg (micrograms)/kg i.v. once. |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01–0.05 | — | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.112 | 0.01-0.05 mg/kg as needed up to q12h (often with food) |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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Stimulates central alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, reducing sympathetic outflow, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Abrupt discontinuation can cause rebound hypertension. Sedation common. Use cautiously with other CNS depressants.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Clonidine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 0.01–0.05 mg/kg q12h (up to twice daily). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Clonidine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Clonidine in dogs include: As needed for event-based anxiety; can be used long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Clonidine is indicated in dogs for: Anxiety / phobia adjunct.
These are general warnings for Clonidine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Abrupt discontinuation can cause rebound hypertension. Sedation common. Use cautiously with other CNS depressants.
Why a species-specific page? Clonidine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.