Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Fentanyl is dosed at 2–5 mcg/kg/h TRANSDERMAL q72h (patch replacement) in dogs, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.544 (2026-08-01).. Fentanyl is used in dogs for Intraoperative analgesia, CRI, Chronic pain (post-operative). Routes documented in dogs: IV, TRANSDERMAL. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Fentanyl in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Duragesic, Sublimaze
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 2–10 mcg/kg/h | CRI | Duration of surgery/recovery | Intraoperative analgesia, CRI | Strong | Biello P, Bateman SW, Kerr CL. Comparison of fentanyl and hydromorphone constant rate infusions for pain management in dogs in an intensive care unit. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45(5):673-683. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2018.05.005 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.541 (2026-08-01). |
| TRANSDERMAL | 2–5 mcg/kg/h | q72h (patch replacement) | 72h per patch | Chronic pain (post-operative) | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.544 (2026-08-01). |
One of the cited rules is a continuous-rate-infusion regimen: IV 2–10 mcg/kg/h 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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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.
Potent synthetic mu-opioid receptor agonist (50-100x more potent than morphine). Rapid onset, short duration IV. Transdermal provides sustained release over 72 hours.
Potent respiratory depressant. Transdermal patch: 12-24 hour onset, variable absorption (shave area, do not cut patches). Controlled substance (Schedule II). Bradycardia. Fever increases absorption rate.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Fentanyl dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV 2–10 mcg/kg/h CRI; TRANSDERMAL 2–5 mcg/kg/h q72h (patch replacement). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Fentanyl in dogs: IV, TRANSDERMAL.
Cited course lengths for Fentanyl in dogs include: Duration of surgery/recovery; 72h per patch. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Fentanyl is indicated in dogs for: Intraoperative analgesia, CRI, Chronic pain (post-operative).
These are general warnings for Fentanyl across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Potent respiratory depressant. Transdermal patch: 12-24 hour onset, variable absorption (shave area, do not cut patches). Controlled substance (Schedule II). Bradycardia. Fever increases absorption rate.
Why a species-specific page? Fentanyl 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.