Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Mexiletine is dosed at 4–8 mg/kg PO q8h in dogs, per Bonagura JD, Keene BW. Drugs for treatment of heart failure in dogs. In: Elsevier; 2014:762-772. PMID: 42115057; Meurs KM. Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in the Boxer Dog: An Update. Vet Clin North Am Small Animal Pract. 2017;47(5):1103-1111. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.04.007; Gelzer ARM, Kraus MS, Rishniw M, Hemsley SA, Moise NS. Combination therapy with mexiletine and sotalol suppresses inherited ventricular arrhythmias in German shepherd dogs better than mexiletine or sotalol monotherapy: A randomized cross-over study. Journal of Veterinary Cardiology. 2010;12:93-106. doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2010.06.001 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.906 (2026-08-01).. Mexiletine is used in dogs for Ventricular arrhythmias. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Mexiletine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Mexitil
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|
| PO | 4–8 mg/kg | q8h | Long-term (arrhythmia management) | Ventricular arrhythmias | Moderate | Bonagura JD, Keene BW. Drugs for treatment of heart failure in dogs. In: Elsevier; 2014:762-772. PMID: 42115057; Meurs KM. Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in the Boxer Dog: An Update. Vet Clin North Am Small Animal Pract. 2017;47(5):1103-1111. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.04.007; Gelzer ARM, Kraus MS, Rishniw M, Hemsley SA, Moise NS. Combination therapy with mexiletine and sotalol suppresses inherited ventricular arrhythmias in German shepherd dogs better than mexiletine or sotalol monotherapy: A randomized cross-over study. Journal of Veterinary Cardiology. 2010;12:93-106. doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2010.06.001 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.906 (2026-08-01). |
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.
Blocks fast sodium channels, reducing phase 0 depolarization in ventricular myocytes. Shortens action potential duration.
Often used in combination with sotalol or atenolol for refractory ventricular arrhythmias. GI side effects (give with food). Monitor ECG. Dogs primarily.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Mexiletine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 4–8 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Mexiletine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Mexiletine in dogs include: Long-term (arrhythmia management). Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Mexiletine is indicated in dogs for: Ventricular arrhythmias.
These are general warnings for Mexiletine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Often used in combination with sotalol or atenolol for refractory ventricular arrhythmias. GI side effects (give with food). Monitor ECG. Dogs primarily.
Why a species-specific page? Mexiletine 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.