Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Meropenem is dosed at 12–24 mg/kg IV q8h in dogs, per Bidgood T, Papich MG. Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue fluid concentrations of meropenem after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2002;63(12):1622-1628. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1622 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.865 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838; 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Meropenem is used in dogs for Severe MDR infections, sepsis. Routes documented in dogs: IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Meropenem in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Merrem
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV |
| 12–24 mg/kg |
| q8h |
| 7-14 days |
| Severe MDR infections, sepsis |
| Moderate |
| Bidgood T, Papich MG. Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue fluid concentrations of meropenem after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2002;63(12):1622-1628. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1622 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.865 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838; 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.525 | • 8.5 mg/kg SQ q12h or 24 mg/kg IV q12h. |
| 24 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.525 | • 8.5 mg/kg SQ q12h or 24 mg/kg IV q12h. |
| 8 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.525 | • Urinary tract infections: 8 mg/kg q12h SQ. |
| 12 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.525 | MIC values (e.g., MIC of 1.0 mcg/mL), administer 12 mg/kg q8h SQ or |
| 25 |
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Ultra-broad spectrum beta-lactam. Binds PBPs 2 and 3. Stable against most beta-lactamases including AmpC and ESBLs. Bactericidal.
Reserve for serious MDR infections. Lower seizure risk than imipenem. Reconstituted solution stable only 1-4 hours at room temperature.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meropenem dose range in dogs, with cited source references: IV 12–24 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meropenem in dogs: IV.
Cited course lengths for Meropenem in dogs include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Meropenem is indicated in dogs for: Severe MDR infections, sepsis.
These are general warnings for Meropenem across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Reserve for serious MDR infections. Lower seizure risk than imipenem. Reconstituted solution stable only 1-4 hours at room temperature.
Why a species-specific page? Meropenem 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.
| IV |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.525 |
| 25 mg/kg q8h IV. |
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.