Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
L-Carnitine is dosed at 250–500 mg per cat PO q24h in cats, per Center S. Treatment for Severe Feline Hepatic Lipidosis. Paper presented at: WSAVA;2006. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01).. L-Carnitine is used in cats for Hepatic lipidosis (adjunctive), Hepatic lipidosis. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for L-Carnitine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Carnitor
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 250–500 mg per cat | q24h | Until resolution | Hepatic lipidosis (adjunctive) | Moderate | Center S. Treatment for Severe Feline Hepatic Lipidosis. Paper presented at: WSAVA;2006. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 250–500 mg per cat | q24h | Until resolution | Hepatic lipidosis | Moderate | Center S. Treatment for Severe Feline Hepatic Lipidosis. Paper presented at: WSAVA;2006. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01). |
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Essential for transport of long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for beta-oxidation. Required for myocardial energy metabolism.
Used for dilated cardiomyopathy (especially Boxers, Dobermans, Cocker Spaniels) and hepatic lipidosis in cats. Very safe. GI upset at high doses. Expensive at therapeutic doses.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
L-Carnitine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 250–500 mg per cat q24h; PO 250–500 mg per cat q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for L-Carnitine in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for L-Carnitine in cats include: Until resolution. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
L-Carnitine is indicated in cats for: Hepatic lipidosis (adjunctive), Hepatic lipidosis.
These are general warnings for L-Carnitine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Used for dilated cardiomyopathy (especially Boxers, Dobermans, Cocker Spaniels) and hepatic lipidosis in cats. Very safe. GI upset at high doses. Expensive at therapeutic doses.
Why a species-specific page? L-Carnitine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.