Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Hydromorphone is dosed at 0.025–0.1 mg/kg IM q2-6h in cats, per Plumb's 10th ed printed p.619, Hydromorphone monograph spanning p.619-622. Hydromorphone is used in cats for Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in cats: IM, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Hydromorphone in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dilaudid
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.025–0.1 mg/kg | q2-6h | As needed | Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.619, Hydromorphone monograph spanning p.619-622.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| IV | 0.025–0.1 mg/kg | q2-6h | As needed for pain control | Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.619, Hydromorphone monograph spanning p.619-622.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–0.2 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.384 | • 0.1-0.2 mg/kg SQ or IM, or 0.05-0.1 mg/kg IV q2-6h (as needed). |
| 0.05–0.1 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.384 | • 0.1-0.2 mg/kg SQ or IM, or 0.05-0.1 mg/kg IV q2-6h (as needed). |
| 0.05 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.384 | • Epidural dose: 0.05 mg/kg, diluted in saline to 0.2 mL/kg (1 mL per cat). |
| Dose (ml/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
Typical range: 2.5–7 kg
If provided, volume will be calculated alongside dose.
Reference only. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Semi-synthetic opioid agonist at mu-opioid receptors, producing potent analgesia, sedation, and euphoria. Approximately 5-7x more potent than morphine.
Respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypothermia. May cause panting and hyperthermia in cats. Vomiting common after initial dose in dogs. Schedule II controlled substance. Naloxone is the reversal agent.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydromorphone dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.025–0.1 mg/kg q2-6h; IV 0.025–0.1 mg/kg q2-6h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydromorphone in cats: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Hydromorphone in cats include: As needed; As needed for pain control. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Hydromorphone is indicated in cats for: Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic.
These are general warnings for Hydromorphone across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypothermia. May cause panting and hyperthermia in cats. Vomiting common after initial dose in dogs. Schedule II controlled substance. Naloxone is the reversal agent.
Why a species-specific page? Hydromorphone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.
| 0.2 |
| — |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.384 |
| • Epidural dose: 0.05 mg/kg, diluted in saline to 0.2 mL/kg (1 mL per cat). |
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.