Hydromorphone for Dog
Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Hydromorphone is used in dog for Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in dog: IM, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Hydromorphone in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Dilaudid
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg | q2-6h | As needed; slower onset than IV | Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed; FDA openFDA Adverse Event Database |
| IV | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg | q2-6h | As needed for pain control; duration depends on clinical response | Moderate to severe pain, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed; KuKanich & Wiese 2015, JAVMA; FDA openFDA Adverse Event Database |
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.
Mechanism of action
Semi-synthetic opioid agonist at mu-opioid receptors, producing potent analgesia, sedation, and euphoria. Approximately 5-7x more potent than morphine.
Side effects & warnings
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 dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Analgesic drugs with dog dosing
Hydromorphone dosing in other species
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 dog — 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.