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). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.512, Fentanyl, Injection monograph spanning p.512-514; 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. 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). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.512, Fentanyl, Injection monograph spanning p.512-514; 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 |
| 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). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.512, Fentanyl, Injection monograph spanning p.512-514; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.178 | 5 μg (micrograms)/kg i.v. q20min; 2.5-10 μg/kg/h by continuous rate infusion during anaesthesia, re |
| 2.5–10 | — | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.178 | be preceded by a loading dose given slowly i.v. (2.5-10 μg/kg). |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 | TOPICAL | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.350 | • Transdermal solution: 2.7 mg/kg (1.2 mg/pound) applied topically to the dorsal |
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.
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.