Metformin for Dog
Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Metformin is used in dog for Diabetes mellitus (adjunctive, investigational). Routes documented in dog: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Metformin in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Glucophage
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12h | Long-term | Diabetes mellitus (adjunctive, investigational) | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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.
Mechanism of action
Reduces hepatic glucose output, increases insulin sensitivity, and decreases intestinal glucose absorption. Does not cause hypoglycemia as monotherapy.
Side effects & warnings
Limited veterinary use. Lactic acidosis risk (rare). GI upset common. Contraindicated in renal/hepatic insufficiency. Not a first-line in veterinary diabetes.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Endocrine drugs with dog dosing
Why a species-specific page? Metformin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dog — 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.