ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/hydrocortisone-oral
US brand names:Cortef
Hydrocortisone Oral is dosed at 0.4–0.8 mg/kg PO q12-24h (once to twice daily) in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Hydrocortisone monograph, Dosages - DOGS/CATS, corpus p.643 (printed p.616) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Identical to endogenous cortisol. Binds glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors, providing physiologic replacement in adrenal insufficiency.
Shortest-acting oral corticosteroid — may need 2-3 daily doses. Used for Addison's disease replacement. Both gluco- and mineralocorticoid effects.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 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.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 0.4–0.8 mg/kg | q12-24h (once to twice daily) | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Hydrocortisone monograph, Dosages - DOGS/CATS, corpus p.643 (printed p.616) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12h | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.615, Hydrocortisone monograph spanning p.615-617; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1371, Hydrocortisone Ophthalmic monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, |
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