Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Gabapentin is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q8h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Gabapentin is used in dogs for Post-operative pain adjunct (orthopedic), Neuropathic pain, chronic pain, adjunct analgesic, Seizure management adjunct, Pre-visit anxiolysis. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Gabapentin in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Neurontin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q8h | 7-14 days post-operatively | Post-operative pain adjunct (orthopedic) | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q8-12h | Chronic use; taper to discontinue | Neuropathic pain, chronic pain, adjunct analgesic | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 10–20 mg/kg | q8h | Chronic; do not stop abruptly | Seizure management adjunct | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.596 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 10–20 mg/kg | once | 2-3 hours before vet visit | Pre-visit anxiolysis | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed., 'Trazodone', Dosages — DOGS, Chill Protocol, printed p.1268 (corpus p.1295): '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 (corpus p.179): Dogs, situational medication 10-20 mg/kg. |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Binds to alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, modulating neurotransmitter release. Reduces central sensitization.
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Gabapentin dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 5–10 mg/kg q8h; PO 5–10 mg/kg q8-12h; PO 10–20 mg/kg q8h; PO 10–20 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Gabapentin in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Gabapentin in dogs include: 7-14 days post-operatively; Chronic use; taper to discontinue; Chronic; do not stop abruptly; 2-3 hours before vet visit. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Gabapentin is indicated in dogs for: Post-operative pain adjunct (orthopedic), Neuropathic pain, chronic pain, adjunct analgesic, Seizure management adjunct, Pre-visit anxiolysis.
These are general warnings for Gabapentin across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Sedation common, especially initially. Some oral solutions contain xylitol (toxic to dogs). Taper to discontinue (do not stop abruptly). Adjust dose in renal impairment.
Why a species-specific page? Gabapentin 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.