Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
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. Hydrocortisone Oral is used in dogs for Hypoadrenocorticism (glucocorticoid replacement). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Hydrocortisone Oral in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cortef
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.4–0.8 mg/kg | q12-24h (once to twice daily) | Lifelong for Addison's; adjust based on clinical signs | Hypoadrenocorticism (glucocorticoid replacement) | 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.125 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.213 | constant rate infusion, in acute Addisonian crisis and 0.125 mg/kg p.o. q12h for maintenance. |
| 0.5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.213 | 0.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h |
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.
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.
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydrocortisone Oral dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 0.4–0.8 mg/kg q12-24h (once to twice daily). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydrocortisone Oral in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Hydrocortisone Oral in dogs include: Lifelong for Addison's; adjust based on clinical signs. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Hydrocortisone Oral is indicated in dogs for: Hypoadrenocorticism (glucocorticoid replacement).
These are general warnings for Hydrocortisone Oral across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Shortest-acting oral corticosteroid — may need 2-3 daily doses. Used for Addison's disease replacement. Both gluco- and mineralocorticoid effects.
Why a species-specific page? Hydrocortisone Oral 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.