What is Metoclopramide used for?

Metoclopramide is indicated for: Acute vomiting, Anti-emetic, CRI, Crop stasis, Gastric motility stimulation, Gastric reflux, Gastrointestinal ileus, Gastrointestinal prokinetic, gastroparesis, GI motility enhancer, GI stasis, GI stasis (prokinetic), nausea, post-operative ileus, Prokinetic, Prokinetic post-procedure, regurgitation, Severe GI stasis (CRI), Severe vomiting, Severe vomiting (CRI), slow crop motility, Stimulates gastric motility, upper gastrointestinal prokinetic, Upper GI prokinetic, vomiting.

What routes can Metoclopramide be administered by?

Available routes: PO, SC, IM, IV.

Which species have cited Metoclopramide dosing data?

Metoclopramide dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 29 species: African Grey Parrot, African Pygmy Hedgehog, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Blue-and-Gold Macaw, Blue-tongue Skink, Cat (Domestic), Chinchilla, Corn Snake, Crested Gecko, Degu, Dog (Domestic), Dwarf Hamster, Ferret, Great Horned Owl, Guinea Pig, Harris Hawk, Horse (Equine), Lovebird, Mouse, Peregrine Falcon, Pet Rat, Rabbit (Domestic), Red-eared Slider, Red-tailed Hawk, Russian Tortoise, Sugar Glider, Sulcata Tortoise, Umbrella Cockatoo.

Is Metoclopramide a controlled substance?

Metoclopramide is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What is the constant rate infusion (CRI) dose for Metoclopramide?

Metoclopramide has 2 CRI dose rules in the ExoticRx formulary, covering Dog (Domestic), Cat (Domestic). See the CRI section on this page for routes, dose ranges, and source citations.

Metoclopramide

US brand names:Reglan

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Metoclopramide is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q6-8h in rabbits, per Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Gastrointestinal

Routes

POSCIMIV

Indications

Acute vomitingAnti-emeticCRICrop stasisGastric motility stimulation

Gastrointestinal prokinetic

GI motility enhancer

Show all 25

nauseapost-operative ileusProkineticProkinetic post-procedureregurgitationSevere GI stasis (CRI)Severe vomitingSevere vomiting (CRI)slow crop motilityStimulates gastric motilityupper gastrointestinal prokineticUpper GI prokineticvomiting

Mechanism of Action

Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. Increases GI motility (prokinetic) and acts centrally as an antiemetic at the chemoreceptor trigger zone.

Side effects & warnings

May cause extrapyramidal signs (restlessness, tremors). Contraindicated with GI obstruction or perforation. Avoid concurrent use with phenothiazines.

Evidence levels across 40 dose rules

Moderate×19Weak×10Extrapolated×6Strong×4Anecdotal×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Constant rate infusion (CRI)

Metoclopramide CRI dose rules from the ExoticRx formulary. Verify against current literature before clinical use; CRI rates differ from bolus dosing and route, dilution, and monitoring matter. Sign in for the complete per-species CRI protocol set.

Species	Route	Rate	Indication	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	IV	0.01–0.02 mg/kg/hper hour (CRI)	Severe vomiting, CRI for persistent nausea	Strong	Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/prokinetic-drugs \| Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) (1-2 mg/kg/day); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient (0.5 mg/kg bolus then 2-8 mg/kg/day) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Cat (Domestic)	IV	0.01–0.02 mg/kg/hper hour (CRI)	Severe vomiting (CRI)

Sample dosing (2 of 40 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 29 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
Dog (Domestic)	IV	0.01–0.02 mg/kg/h	per hour (CRI)	Strong	Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/prokinetic-drugs \| Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) (1-2 mg/kg/day); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient (0.5 mg/kg bolus then 2-8 mg/kg/day) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Cat (Domestic)	IV	0.01–0.02 mg/kg/h	per hour (CRI)	Moderate	Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion, dogs and cats) \| Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

Backed by 24 published sourcesShow

· 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).
· 30. Jepson L. Hedgehogs. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:198-230. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.745 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 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).
· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. (2020), Part B - Exotic Pets, Metoclopramide, printed p.201: 'Reptiles: 0.05-1 mg/kg p.o., i.m. q24h. Higher doses may be needed in Desert tortoises.'

Upgrade for Full Details

Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.

View Plans

Dog (Domestic)IV
0.01–0.02 mg/kg/hper hour (CRI)
Severe vomiting, CRI for persistent nausea
StrongMerck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/prokinetic-drugs | Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) (1-2 mg/kg/day); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient (0.5 mg/kg bolus then 2-8 mg/kg/day) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.
Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Cat (Domestic)IV
0.01–0.02 mg/kg/hper hour (CRI)
Severe vomiting (CRI)
ModerateMerck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion, dogs and cats) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/prokinetic-drugs | Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

· Carpenter 6e | Corroborated 2026-07-30: Tamura Y. J Exot Pet Med 2010;19:36-55. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2010.01.014 PMID:32288672 — chinchilla, 0.5 mg/kg q12h SC. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.11 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Reptiles): "Metoclopramide 0.06 mg/kg PO Most species/stimulates gastric motility q24h x 7 days"; corroborated by Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery, same figure and regimen. Both texts also print a CHELONIAN-SPECIFIC line immediately after — 0.05 mg/kg PO q24h x 7 days, Sea turtles/intestinal motility stimulant — which independently confirms the low range for chelonians. CORRECTION: that earlier assertion is WITHDRAWN as false. The 1-10 mg/kg figure is printed on the very page this rule cites — Carpenter's Table 4.11 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Reptiles) and again in Mader's Table 127.9 — as "1-10 mg/kg PO q24h | Tortoises". This rule serves the class-general Most species row (0.06 mg/kg), whose reference 103 is a SNAKE report (Divers, Burmese python constipation), while a TORTOISE-scoped row exists and traces to Wright, Common medical problems of tortoises. Which row a tortoise should be served is a DVM decision the page does not settle.

· Divers SJ. Constipation in snakes withttparticular reference to surgical correction in a Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus). Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet; 1996:67-69. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.274 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.11 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Reptiles).

· EMEPRID 1 Mg/ML Oral Solution for Dogs and Cats [UK Datasheet]. Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2015. / 36. EMEPRID 5 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats [UK Datasheet]. Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2021. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

· Husnik R, Fletcher JM, Gaschen L, Gaschen F. Effect of metoclopramide, erythromycin and exenatide on solid phase gastric emptying in healthy cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2020;34(4):1440-1446. doi:10.1111/jvim.15787 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

· Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/prokinetic-drugs | Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) (1-2 mg/kg/day); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient (0.5 mg/kg bolus then 2-8 mg/kg/day) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

· Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual, Prokinetic Drugs table (0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h IV infusion, dogs and cats) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/prokinetic-drugs | Higher published regimens: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023); Today's Veterinary Practice, Management of GI Hypomotility in the Hospitalized Patient — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).

· Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcu[tt] CJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.

· Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.801 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).

· Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.5 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.867, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.19 (Rabbit Feeding Recommendations.35,223).

· 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. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds).

· 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).

· Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.682. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Metoclopramide Emequell (Pfizer); Reglan Raptors IV or IM 2 mg/kg tid as required Anti-emetic […]".

· Whitehead K, Cortes Y, Eirmann L. Gastrointestinal dysmotility disorders in critically ill dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2016;26(2):234-253. doi:10.1111/vec.12449 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.869, Metoclopramide monograph spanning p.867-869.