Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Ketoconazole Topical is used in dogs for Malassezia dermatitis. Routes documented in dogs: Topical. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketoconazole Topical in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nizoral Topical
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical | Leave-on time critical for efficacy | Bathe 2x weekly with shampoo; 10-min contact time | 4-6 weeks or as maintenance | Malassezia dermatitis | Strong | Verified against Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.238 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.238' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.226; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.226. — SOURCE EDITION: Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology — ISBN 9781416000280, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781416000280 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.236 | 5-10 mg/kg p.o. after meals, once daily. Several months of treatment may be required depend |
| 5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.236 | 5 mg/kg p.o. q12h for 7 days, increasing to 10 mg/kg p.o. q12h for 14 days if no adverse |
| 10 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.236 | 5 mg/kg p.o. q12h for 7 days, increasing to 10 mg/kg p.o. q12h for 14 days if no adverse effects seen. Perform an ACTH stimulation test after |
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Inhibits fungal lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase, disrupting ergosterol biosynthesis and fungal membrane integrity. Also has anti-inflammatory and antiseborrheic properties.
Effective for Malassezia dermatitis as shampoo. Leave on 10 minutes for contact time. May cause local irritation. Minimal systemic absorption from topical use.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketoconazole Topical dose range in dogs, with cited source references: Topical Leave-on time critical for efficacy Bathe 2x weekly with shampoo; 10-min contact time. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketoconazole Topical in dogs: Topical.
Cited course lengths for Ketoconazole Topical in dogs include: 4-6 weeks or as maintenance. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketoconazole Topical is indicated in dogs for: Malassezia dermatitis.
These are general warnings for Ketoconazole Topical across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Effective for Malassezia dermatitis as shampoo. Leave on 10 minutes for contact time. May cause local irritation. Minimal systemic absorption from topical use.
Why a species-specific page? Ketoconazole Topical 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.
| 15–30 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.236 | inadequate suppression gradually increase the dose to 15-30 mg/kg p.o. q12h |
| 10–15 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.459 | • 10-15 mg/kg q8-12h PO. |
| 5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.459 | • Malassezia infection: 5 mg/kg q24h PO every 3 weeks. |
| 5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.459 | • Hyperadrenocorticism: Start with 5 mg/kg q12h initially, then increase after |
| 12–15 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.459 | 7 days to 12-15 mg/kg q12h PO. |
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.