ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/methocarbamol
US brand names:Robaxin-V
Methocarbamol is dosed at 50 mg/kg IV (slow bolus) once (may be given q12h for muscle relaxation) in african grey parrots, per 767. Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.492 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Exact mechanism unclear; likely depresses polysynaptic reflexes in the spinal cord.
FDA-approved for veterinary use (Robaxin-V). Sedation, drooling. IV: give slowly (do not exceed 2 ml/min). Used for tremors, muscle spasms, strychnine poisoning, and metaldehyde toxicosis.
Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 3 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | IV | 40–50 mg/kg | To effect | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Methocarbamol monograph, corpus PDF p.882. DOGS/CATS (label dosage, FDA-approved): Injectable - "For relief of moderate conditions: 44 mg/kg IV initial dose"; "For controlling severe effects of strychnine and tetanus: 55 - 220 mg/kg IV initial dose... The […]" Oral (tablets) - "132 mg/kg PO on Day 1 in 2 or 3 equally divided doses (ie, every 8 to 12 hours), then 66 - 132 […]" DOGS, intervertebral disk disease (extra-label): "Anecdotal dosages of 15 - 20 mg/kg PO every 8 hours are usually noted." HORSES (label dosage, FDA-approved): "For moderate conditions: 4.4 - 22 mg/kg IV to effect"; "For severe conditions (tetanus): 22 - 55 mg/kg IV". |
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 15–44 mg/kg | q8h | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Methocarbamol monograph, corpus PDF p.882. DOGS/CATS (label dosage, FDA-approved): Injectable - "For relief of moderate conditions: 44 mg/kg IV initial dose"; "For controlling severe effects of strychnine and tetanus: 55 - 220 mg/kg IV initial dose... The […]" Oral (tablets) - "132 mg/kg PO on Day 1 in 2 or 3 equally divided doses (ie, every 8 to 12 hours), then 66 - 132 […]" DOGS, intervertebral disk disease (extra-label): "Anecdotal dosages of 15 - 20 mg/kg PO every 8 hours are usually noted." HORSES (label dosage, FDA-approved): "For moderate conditions: 4.4 - 22 mg/kg IV to effect"; "For severe conditions (tetanus): 22 - 55 mg/kg IV". |
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