Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Liothyronine is dosed at 4–6 mcg/kg PO q8h in dogs, per Scott-Moncrieff JC. Chapter 3: Hypothyroidism. In: Canine and Feline Endocrinology. 4th ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.793 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.764, Liothyronine monograph spanning p.764-765; 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. Liothyronine is used in dogs for Hypothyroidism, only in patients unresponsive to levothyroxine (T3 supplementation). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Liothyronine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cytomel
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 4–6 mcg/kg | q8h | Long-term; levothyroxine generally preferred | Hypothyroidism, only in patients unresponsive to levothyroxine (T3 supplementation) |
| Scott-Moncrieff JC. Chapter 3: Hypothyroidism. In: Canine and Feline Endocrinology. 4th ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.793 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.764, Liothyronine monograph spanning p.764-765; 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.
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 (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.247 | 2-6 μg (micrograms)/kg p.o. q8-12h |
| 4.4 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.481 | • 4.4 mcg/kg q8h 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.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Synthetic triiodothyronine (T3) that directly activates thyroid hormone receptors, increasing basal metabolic rate, protein synthesis, and oxygen consumption.
Short half-life requires multiple daily doses. Narrow therapeutic index. Used when levothyroxine alone is insufficient. Monitor thyroid levels.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Liothyronine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 4–6 mcg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Liothyronine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Liothyronine in dogs include: Long-term; levothyroxine generally preferred. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Liothyronine is indicated in dogs for: Hypothyroidism, only in patients unresponsive to levothyroxine (T3 supplementation).
These are general warnings for Liothyronine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Short half-life requires multiple daily doses. Narrow therapeutic index. Used when levothyroxine alone is insufficient. Monitor thyroid levels.
Why a species-specific page? Liothyronine 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.