Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Dantrolene is dosed at 1–5 mg/kg IV single IV dose in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.339, Dantrolene monograph spanning p.339-340; 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. Dantrolene is used in dogs for Malignant hyperthermia (emergency), Urethral sphincter spasm. Routes documented in dogs: IV, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Dantrolene in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dantrium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 1–5 mg/kg | single IV dose | Emergency | Malignant hyperthermia (emergency) | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.339, Dantrolene monograph spanning p.339-340; 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 |
| PO | 1–5 mg/kg | q8h | Short-term | Urethral sphincter spasm | Weak | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.367 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.339, Dantrolene monograph spanning p.339-340; 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.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.124 | 2-5 mg/kg i.v. |
| 0.5–2 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.124 | 0.5-2 mg/kg p.o. q12h. Darbepoetin (Aranesp*) POM |
| 2–3 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.234 | • Prevention of malignant hyperthermia: 2-3 mg/kg IV, (up to 5-10 mg/kg). |
| 5–10 | IV |
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Inhibits calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via ryanodine receptor blockade, reducing skeletal muscle contraction strength.
Treatment of choice for malignant hyperthermia. Hepatotoxicity with chronic oral use. Muscle weakness. IV form requires large volume reconstitution. Monitor liver function.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dantrolene dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV 1–5 mg/kg single IV dose; PO 1–5 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dantrolene in dogs: IV, PO.
Cited course lengths for Dantrolene in dogs include: Emergency; Short-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dantrolene is indicated in dogs for: Malignant hyperthermia (emergency), Urethral sphincter spasm.
These are general warnings for Dantrolene across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Treatment of choice for malignant hyperthermia. Hepatotoxicity with chronic oral use. Muscle weakness. IV form requires large volume reconstitution. Monitor liver function.
Why a species-specific page? Dantrolene 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.
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.234 |
| • Prevention of malignant hyperthermia: 2-3 mg/kg IV, (up to 5-10 mg/kg). |
| 2.5–3 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.235 | • Malignant hyperthermia crisis: doses of 2.5-3 mg/kg IV rapid bolus (up to |
| 5–10 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.235 | 5-10 mg/kg). |
| 1–5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.235 | • Urethral relaxation: 1-5 mg/kg q8h PO or 0.5-1.0 mg/kg IV (up to 5-10 mg/kg). |
| 5–10 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.235 | • Urethral relaxation: 1-5 mg/kg q8h PO or 0.5-1.0 mg/kg IV (up to 5-10 mg/kg). |
| 0.5–1 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.235 | • Urethral relaxation: 1-5 mg/kg q8h PO or 0.5-1.0 mg/kg IV (up to 5-10 mg/kg). |
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.