Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic is dosed at 2–4 mg/kg IV IV bolus, then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min in dogs, per Ware WA. Management of arrhythmias. In: Ware WA, ed. Cardiovascular Disease in Small Animal Medicine. Manson Publishing, Limited; 2011:194-226. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.785 (2026-08-01).. Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic is used in dogs for Ventricular tachycardia, Ventricular premature complexes. Routes documented in dogs: IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Xylocaine
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 2–4 mg/kg | IV bolus, then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min | Until arrhythmia controlled | Ventricular tachycardia | Strong | Ware WA. Management of arrhythmias. In: Ware WA, ed. Cardiovascular Disease in Small Animal Medicine. Manson Publishing, Limited; 2011:194-226. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.785 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 2–8 mg/kg | Bolus then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min | Until controlled | Ventricular premature complexes | Strong | Ware WA. Management of arrhythmias. In: Ware WA, ed. Cardiovascular Disease in Small Animal Medicine. Manson Publishing, Limited; 2011:194-226. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.785 (2026-08-01). |
2 of the cited rules are continuous-rate-infusion regimens: IV 2–4 mg/kg IV bolus, then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min; IV 2–8 mg/kg Bolus then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min. CRI regimens are delivered as a continuous infusion rather than discrete doses — verify the rate against the cited source before use.
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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.
Class IB antiarrhythmic blocking fast sodium channels preferentially in depolarized/ischemic tissue. Suppresses ventricular ectopy.
DOGS primarily — cats very sensitive to toxicity (lower doses). IV bolus then CRI. CNS toxicity (tremors, seizures) at excessive doses. Do not use with epinephrine formulation.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV 2–4 mg/kg IV bolus, then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min; IV 2–8 mg/kg Bolus then CRI 25-80 mcg/kg/min. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic in dogs: IV.
Cited course lengths for Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic in dogs include: Until arrhythmia controlled; Until controlled. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic is indicated in dogs for: Ventricular tachycardia, Ventricular premature complexes.
These are general warnings for Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. DOGS primarily — cats very sensitive to toxicity (lower doses). IV bolus then CRI. CNS toxicity (tremors, seizures) at excessive doses. Do not use with epinephrine formulation.
Why a species-specific page? Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic 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.