Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Hydromorphone is dosed at 0.05–0.2 mg/kg IM q2-4h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Hydromorphone monograph, Dosages - DOGS, corpus p.649 (printed p.622) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Hydromorphone is used in dogs for Moderate to severe pain (analgesia), Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in dogs: IM, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Hydromorphone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dilaudid
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed; slower onset than IV | Moderate to severe pain (analgesia) | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Hydromorphone monograph, Dosages - DOGS, corpus p.649 (printed p.622) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| IV | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed for pain control; duration depends on clinical response | Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Hydromorphone monograph, Dosages - DOGS, corpus p.649 (printed p.622) — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.22 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.412 | • 0.22 mg/kg IM or SQ. Repeat every 4-6 hours or as needed for pain treatment. |
| 0.1–0.2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.412 | • 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IV, repeated every 2 hours or as necessary. A dose of 0.1 mg/kg |
| 0.1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.412 | • 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IV, repeated every 2 hours or as necessary. A dose of 0.1 mg/kg |
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.
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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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydromorphone dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.05–0.2 mg/kg q2-4h; IV 0.05–0.2 mg/kg q2-4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydromorphone in dogs: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Hydromorphone in dogs include: As needed; slower onset than IV; As needed for pain control; duration depends on clinical response. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Hydromorphone is indicated in dogs for: Moderate to severe pain (analgesia), Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic.
These are general warnings for Hydromorphone across species; consult the dog 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 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.