Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
L-Carnitine is dosed at 50–100 mg/kg PO q8-12h in dogs, per Sanderson SL. Taurine and carnitine in canine cardiomyopathy. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2006;36(6). doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.08.010 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01).. L-Carnitine is used in dogs for Dilated cardiomyopathy (adjunctive). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for L-Carnitine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Carnitor
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 50–100 mg/kg | q8-12h | Long-term | Dilated cardiomyopathy (adjunctive) | Moderate | Sanderson SL. Taurine and carnitine in canine cardiomyopathy. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2006;36(6). doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.08.010 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01). |
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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.
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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
L-Carnitine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 50–100 mg/kg q8-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for L-Carnitine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for L-Carnitine in dogs include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
L-Carnitine is indicated in dogs for: Dilated cardiomyopathy (adjunctive).
These are general warnings for L-Carnitine across species; consult the dog 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 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.