Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Cyclosporine is dosed at 5 mg/kg PO q24h (initially), then q48h maintenance in dogs, per ATOPICA - Cyclosporine Capsule, Gelatin Coated [US Dog Product Label]. Greenfield, IN: Elanco US, Inc; 2020. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=47f70173-a1d9-4156-9a7f-0f296e5dd64b — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.352 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.325, Cyclosporine (Systemic) monograph spanning p.322-326; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Cyclosporine is used in dogs for Atopic dermatitis, Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Routes documented in dogs: PO, TOPICAL. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Cyclosporine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Atopica, Optimmune
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5 mg/kg | q24h (initially), then q48h maintenance | Long-term | Atopic dermatitis | Strong | ATOPICA - Cyclosporine Capsule, Gelatin Coated [US Dog Product Label]. Greenfield, IN: Elanco US, Inc; 2020. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=47f70173-a1d9-4156-9a7f-0f296e5dd64b — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.352 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.325, Cyclosporine (Systemic) monograph spanning p.322-326; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| TOPICAL | 1 drop/eye | q12h | Long-term (lifelong) | Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1384 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.322, Cyclosporine (Systemic) monograph spanning p.322-326; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — 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 (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–7 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.224 | • 3-7 mg/kg/day PO. The typical starting dose is 5 mg/kg/day PO. After induc- |
| 5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.224 | • 3-7 mg/kg/day PO. The typical starting dose is 5 mg/kg/day PO. After induc- |
| 5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.224 | low as 5 mg/kg every other day to every third day. |
| 5–8 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.224 | and more frequent administration have been used (5-8 mg/kg, every 12 hours). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Binds cyclophilin, inhibiting calcineurin phosphatase. Blocks IL-2 transcription in T-helper lymphocytes, suppressing cell-mediated immunity.
GI upset common initially (improves with time). Give on empty stomach or freeze capsules. Gingival hyperplasia. Immunosuppression — monitor for infections. Do not use modified and non-modified forms interchangeably.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Cyclosporine dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 5 mg/kg q24h (initially), then q48h maintenance; TOPICAL 1 drop/eye q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Cyclosporine in dogs: PO, TOPICAL.
Cited course lengths for Cyclosporine in dogs include: Long-term; Long-term (lifelong). Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Cyclosporine is indicated in dogs for: Atopic dermatitis, Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).
These are general warnings for Cyclosporine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. GI upset common initially (improves with time). Give on empty stomach or freeze capsules. Gingival hyperplasia. Immunosuppression — monitor for infections. Do not use modified and non-modified forms interchangeably.
Why a species-specific page? Cyclosporine 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.
| 7–10 |
| PO |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.224 |
| higher (e.g., 7-10 mg/kg q12h PO). |
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.