Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Dobutamine is dosed at 1–5 mcg/kg/min IV CRI in cats, per Peterson N, Barr JW. Cardiogenic Shock. In: Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine.2020:413-420. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.444 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.416, Dobutamine monograph spanning p.416-417; 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. Dobutamine is used in cats for Acute heart failure. Routes documented in cats: IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Dobutamine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dobutrex
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 1–5 mcg/kg/min | CRI | Until stable | Acute heart failure | Moderate | Peterson N, Barr JW. Cardiogenic Shock. In: Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine.2020:413-420. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.444 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.416, Dobutamine monograph spanning p.416-417; 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 (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.148 | 1-5 μg (micrograms)/kg/min i.v. by constant rate infusion. Start at the bottom end of the dose range and i |
| 2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.288 | • 2 mcg/kg/min IV infusion. |
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.
One of the cited rules is a continuous-rate-infusion regimen: IV 1–5 mcg/kg/min CRI. CRI regimens are delivered as a continuous infusion rather than discrete doses — verify the rate against the cited source before use.
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Selective beta-1 adrenergic agonist increasing cardiac contractility (positive inotrope) with less effect on heart rate than dopamine.
IV CRI only — short half-life. Tachyarrhythmias at high doses. Cats are very sensitive — use lower doses. Monitor ECG and blood pressure continuously.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dobutamine dose range in cats, with cited source references: IV 1–5 mcg/kg/min CRI. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dobutamine in cats: IV.
Cited course lengths for Dobutamine in cats include: Until stable. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dobutamine is indicated in cats for: Acute heart failure.
These are general warnings for Dobutamine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. IV CRI only — short half-life. Tachyarrhythmias at high doses. Cats are very sensitive — use lower doses. Monitor ECG and blood pressure continuously.
Why a species-specific page? Dobutamine 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.