Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Hydromorphone is used in cat for Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in cat: IM, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Hydromorphone in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
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 Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed; FDA openFDA Adverse Event Database |
| IV | 0.025–0.1 mg/kg | q2-6h | As needed for pain control | Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed; Robertson et al., JVIM 2005; FDA openFDA Adverse Event Database |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your cat's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
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 cat — 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.