Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Hydroxyzine is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg PO q8-12h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.629, Hydroxyzine monograph spanning p.629-631; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Hydroxyzine is used in dogs for Pruritus, anxiety. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Hydroxyzine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Atarax, Vistaril
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 1–2 mg/kg | q8-12h | Variable | Pruritus, anxiety | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.629, Hydroxyzine monograph spanning p.629-631; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–2.2 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.216 | 2.0-2.2 mg/kg q8-12h. Hyoscine see Butylscopolamine Hypromellose (Hypromellose*, Isopto Plain* |
| 2 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.416 | • 2 mg/kg q8-12h IM or PO. • Effective doses have not been estab- |
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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H1 antihistamine with anxiolytic and antipruritic properties. Metabolized to cetirizine (active metabolite). Crosses blood-brain barrier.
Sedation common. Anticholinergic effects. Used for pruritus and anxiety. IM injection painful — avoid. Metabolized to cetirizine which is also used clinically.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydroxyzine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 1–2 mg/kg q8-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydroxyzine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Hydroxyzine in dogs include: Variable. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Hydroxyzine is indicated in dogs for: Pruritus, anxiety.
These are general warnings for Hydroxyzine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Sedation common. Anticholinergic effects. Used for pruritus and anxiety. IM injection painful — avoid. Metabolized to cetirizine which is also used clinically.
Why a species-specific page? Hydroxyzine 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.