Which species have cited Ondansetron dosing data?

Ondansetron dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 3 species: Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Ferret.

Is Ondansetron a controlled substance?

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

Ondansetron

US brand names:Zofran

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

Ondansetron is dosed at 0.1–0.2 mg/kg SC q8-12h in ferrets, per Carpenter 6e. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Gastrointestinal

Routes

POIV

Indications

chemotherapychemotherapy-induced nauseaNausea and vomitingRefractory vomitingSevere vomiting

Mechanism of Action

Selectively blocks serotonin 5-HT3 receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone and vagal afferents, preventing nausea and vomiting.

Side effects & warnings

Very effective antiemetic. May cause constipation, headache. IV push over 2-5 minutes. QT prolongation reported at high doses. Off-label in veterinary medicine.

Species with Ondansetron dosing data (4 dose rules)

Cat (Domestic)Dog (Domestic)Ferret

Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugs All Dog (Domestic) drugs All Ferret drugs

Evidence levels across 4 dose rules

Moderate×3Weak×1

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

Backed by 4 published sources

· Carpenter 6e
· Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th ed, printed p.581 (corpus pdf p.609), Ondansetron Hydrochloride, Dogs: 'Vomiting from other causes: 0.1-0.2 mg/kg slow IV injection and repeated q6-12h.'
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed (2023), p.984 — Ondansetron, Dosages, DOGS, Antiemetic (extra-label). Corroborated: Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed (2016), p.609, Dogs: '0.5-1 mg/kg... These doses can also be administered PO, but oral absorption is low in dogs (<10%)'.
· Wittenburg L. Impact of disease states and organ function on pharmacokinetics. Presented at: Pacific Veterinary Conference; 2016. PMID: 40577388 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.984 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (2 of 4 cited rules)

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
Dog (Domestic)	PO	0.5–1 mg/kg	q12-24h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed (2023), p.984 — Ondansetron, Dosages, DOGS, Antiemetic (extra-label). Corroborated: Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed (2016), p.609, Dogs: '0.5-1 mg/kg... These doses can also be administered PO, but oral absorption is low in dogs (<10%)'.
Cat (Domestic)	IV	0.1–0.2 mg/kg	q6-12h	Moderate	Wittenburg L. Impact of disease states and organ function on pharmacokinetics. Presented at: Pacific Veterinary Conference; 2016. PMID: 40577388 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.984 (2026-08-01).

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