Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Gabapentin is dosed at 3–5 mg/kg PO q12-24h in rabbits, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.859, Gabapentin row, ref 166 = Morrissey JM, Carpenter JW, Appendix: Formulary. Corroborated in-species by frr 4th Ed Appendix Table A.4, Rabbits column: 'Gabapentin 3-5 mg/kg PO q12-24h'; and BSAVA Part B printed p.146: 'Rabbits: 2-5 mg/kg p.o. q8h'. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Binds to alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, modulating neurotransmitter release. Reduces central sensitization.
Side effects & warnings
Sedation common, especially initially. Some oral solutions contain xylitol (toxic to dogs). Taper to discontinue (do not stop abruptly). Adjust dose in renal impairment.
Species with Gabapentin dosing data (16 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 16 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 12 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
KuKanich B. Outpatient oral analgesics in dogs and cats beyond nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: an evidence-based approach. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2013;43:1109-1125. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2013.04.007 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.570, Gabapentin monograph spanning p.568-570.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.569, Gabapentin monograph spanning p.568-570.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.791 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents).
· 47. Baine K, Jones MP, Cox S, et al. Pharmacokinetics of compounded intravenous and oral gabapentin in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2015;29:165-173. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.451 doi:10.1647/2014-025 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th Ed, p.944 (ref 87 = Morrisey JK. Personal observation; 2011) — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.6 (Analgesic Agents Used in Ferrets).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.10. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.
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· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.859, Gabapentin row, ref 166 = Morrissey JM, Carpenter JW, Appendix: Formulary. Corroborated in-species by frr 4th Ed Appendix Table A.4, Rabbits column: 'Gabapentin 3-5 mg/kg PO q12-24h'; and BSAVA Part B printed p.146: 'Rabbits: 2-5 mg/kg p.o. q8h'. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).
· Johnson-Delaney CA. Personal observation; 2020. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· KuKanich B. Outpatient oral analgesics in dogs and cats beyond nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: an evidence-based approach. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2013;43:1109-1125. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2013.04.007 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.570, Gabapentin monograph spanning p.568-570.
· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.791 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents).
· Mills PO, Tansey CO, Genzer SC, et al. Pharmacokinetic profiles of gabapentin after oral and subcutaneous administration in black-tailed prairie dogs. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2020;59:305-309. doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000150 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Gabapentin after Oral and Subcutaneous Administration in Black-tailed Prairie Dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus ). (Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science: JAALAS, 2020). doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000150. https://doi.org/10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000150. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "rative and chronic neuropathic pain. This study explored the pharmacokinetics of oral and […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.
· Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Gabapentin, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs, printed p.350 - "Neuropathic pain: Start with 5-15 mg/kg q12h PO." PLUS Plumb's 10th ed printed p.570 DOGS, which carries the q8h option ("Based on pharmacokinetics, dosing every 8 hours is likely more effective than twice daily dosing") but prints the canine analgesic figure as 10-20 mg/kg. NOTE - the exact pair 5-10 mg/kg q8h is on NEITHER page for dogs, and plumb printed p.570 prints 5-10 mg/kg q8-12h for CATS.
· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.569, Gabapentin monograph spanning p.568-570.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.569, Gabapentin monograph spanning p.568-570.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), 'Trazodone', Dosages — DOGS, Chill Protocol, printed p.1268: 'gabapentin 10 - 20 mg/kg PO administered the evening before the hospital visit and the morning of the hospital visit at least 2 hours prior to travel.' Corroborated: Veterinary Psychopharmacology, Table 10.2 'Dose range for gabapentin in cats and dogs', printed p.151: Dogs, situational medication 10-20 mg/kg. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.569, Gabapentin monograph spanning p.568-570.
· Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Appendix: Formulary (Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW), Table A.4, p.626, column 'Guinea Pigs/Chinchillas' — 'Gabapentin 3-5 mg/kg PO q12-24h'. Corroborated by Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Table 16.1 (Analgesic agents commonly used in guinea pigs), p.301 — 'Gabapentin 3-5 mg/kg PO q12-24h' (Source: Carpenter [11]).