Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Cosyntropin is dosed at 0.125 mg/cat IV Single dose (diagnostic) in cats, per Peterson ME, Kemppainen RJ. Comparison of the immunoreactive plasma corticotropin and cortisol responses to two synthetic corticotropin preparations (tetracosactrin and cosyntropin) in healthy cats. Am J Vet Res. 1992;53(10):1752-1755. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1992.53.10.1752; Peterson ME, Kemppainen RJ. Dose-response relation between plasma-concentrations of corticotropin and cortisol after administration of incremental doses of cosyntropin for corticotropin stimulation testing in cats. Am J Vet Res. 1993;54(2):300-304. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1993.54.02.300 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.342 (2026-08-01).. Cosyntropin is used in cats for ACTH stimulation test. Routes documented in cats: IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Cosyntropin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cortrosyn
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.125 mg/catmax 0.13 mg total | Single dose (diagnostic) | Collect pre and 1-hour post cortisol | ACTH stimulation test | Strong | Peterson ME, Kemppainen RJ. Comparison of the immunoreactive plasma corticotropin and cortisol responses to two synthetic corticotropin preparations (tetracosactrin and cosyntropin) in healthy cats. Am J Vet Res. 1992;53(10):1752-1755. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1992.53.10.1752; Peterson ME, Kemppainen RJ. Dose-response relation between plasma-concentrations of corticotropin and cortisol after administration of incremental doses of cosyntropin for corticotropin stimulation testing in cats. Am J Vet Res. 1993;54(2):300-304. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1993.54.02.300 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.342 (2026-08-01). |
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Synthetic analog of ACTH (first 24 amino acids). Stimulates adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. Used diagnostically for ACTH stimulation test.
Diagnostic agent — not for chronic therapy. Rare anaphylaxis. Reconstituted solution stable 24 hours refrigerated.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Cosyntropin dose range in cats, with cited source references: IV 0.125 mg/cat Single dose (diagnostic). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Cosyntropin in cats: IV.
Cited course lengths for Cosyntropin in cats include: Collect pre and 1-hour post cortisol. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Cosyntropin is indicated in cats for: ACTH stimulation test.
These are general warnings for Cosyntropin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Diagnostic agent — not for chronic therapy. Rare anaphylaxis. Reconstituted solution stable 24 hours refrigerated.
Why a species-specific page? Cosyntropin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.