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, 9th Ed, Hydromorphone monograph, Dosages - DOGS, corpus p.649 (printed p.622). Hydromorphone is used in dogs for 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, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, Hydromorphone monograph, Dosages - DOGS, corpus p.649 (printed p.622) |
| 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 | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, Hydromorphone monograph, Dosages - DOGS, corpus p.649 (printed p.622) |
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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.
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, 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.