Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Docusate Sodium is dosed at 50–200 mg/animal PO q8-12h in dogs, per Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Docusate monograph, printed p.261 (corpus PDF p.289) - "Dogs - Docusate sodium: 50-200 mg/dog q8-12h PO." NOTE - Plumb's 10th ed printed p.418 prints "25 - 100 mg/dog (depending on dog size, NOT mg/kg) PO once to twice daily" - the two held books DISAGREE and this rule follows Papich.. Docusate Sodium is used in dogs for Constipation (stool softener). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Docusate Sodium in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Colace, Surfak
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 50–200 mg/animalmax 500 mg total | q8-12h | Short-term; reassess if no improvement in 3-5 days | Constipation (stool softener) | Moderate | Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Docusate monograph, printed p.261 (corpus PDF p.289) - "Dogs - Docusate sodium: 50-200 mg/dog q8-12h PO." NOTE - Plumb's 10th ed printed p.418 prints "25 - 100 mg/dog (depending on dog size, NOT mg/kg) PO once to twice daily" - the two held books DISAGREE and this rule follows Papich. |
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Anionic surfactant that lowers surface tension allowing water and fat penetration into the stool, producing softer feces.
Mild effect — not effective for acute constipation. Do not administer concurrently with mineral oil (may increase mineral oil absorption).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Docusate Sodium dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 50–200 mg/animal q8-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Docusate Sodium in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Docusate Sodium in dogs include: Short-term; reassess if no improvement in 3-5 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Docusate Sodium is indicated in dogs for: Constipation (stool softener).
These are general warnings for Docusate Sodium across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Mild effect — not effective for acute constipation. Do not administer concurrently with mineral oil (may increase mineral oil absorption).
Why a species-specific page? Docusate Sodium 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.