Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Darbepoetin is dosed at 1 mcg/kg SC q7d in cats, 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.342, Darbepoetin Alfa monograph spanning p.342-343; 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. Darbepoetin is used in cats for Anemia of chronic kidney disease. Routes documented in cats: SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Darbepoetin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Aranesp
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 1 mcg/kg | q7d | Long-term; titrate to PCV 25-35% | Anemia of chronic kidney disease | 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.342, Darbepoetin Alfa monograph spanning p.342-343; 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 (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.125 | For stimulating erythropoiesis (induction dose): 0.25-1 μg (micrograms)/kg s.c. weekly until PCV is normal, then increasing dose interval for maintenance. Some auth |
| 1 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.125 | val for maintenance. Some authors recommend starting at the 1 μg/kg dose for improved efficacy. |
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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Hyperglycosylated analog of erythropoietin with longer half-life. Stimulates red blood cell production from erythroid progenitor cells.
Monitor PCV/HCT closely. Risk of pure red cell aplasia from antibody formation. Supplement iron. Avoid if PCV rising too rapidly.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Darbepoetin dose range in cats, with cited source references: SC 1 mcg/kg q7d. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Darbepoetin in cats: SC.
Cited course lengths for Darbepoetin in cats include: Long-term; titrate to PCV 25-35%. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Darbepoetin is indicated in cats for: Anemia of chronic kidney disease.
These are general warnings for Darbepoetin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Monitor PCV/HCT closely. Risk of pure red cell aplasia from antibody formation. Supplement iron. Avoid if PCV rising too rapidly.
Why a species-specific page? Darbepoetin 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.