Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Ondansetron is dosed at 0.1–0.2 mg/kg IV q6-12h in dogs, per 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.' — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Ondansetron is used in dogs for Vomiting from causes other than chemotherapy, Nausea and vomiting. Routes documented in dogs: IV, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ondansetron in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Zofran
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg | q6-12h | As needed | Vomiting from causes other than chemotherapy |
| 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.' — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12-24h | As needed | Nausea and vomiting | Weak | 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%)'. — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.957, Ondansetron monograph spanning p.956-957; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (%) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.609 | (,10%), which may compromise the effectiveness. |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.309 | 0.5 mg/kg i.v. loading dose followed by 0.5 mg/kg/h infusion for 6 hours or 0.5-1 mg/kg p.o. q12-24 |
| 0.5–1 |
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Selectively blocks serotonin 5-HT3 receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone and vagal afferents, preventing nausea and vomiting.
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ondansetron dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IV 0.1–0.2 mg/kg q6-12h; PO 0.5–1 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ondansetron in dogs: IV, PO.
Cited course lengths for Ondansetron in dogs include: As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ondansetron is indicated in dogs for: Vomiting from causes other than chemotherapy, Nausea and vomiting.
These are general warnings for Ondansetron across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Very effective antiemetic. May cause constipation, headache. IV push over 2-5 minutes. QT prolongation reported at high doses. Off-label in veterinary medicine.
Why a species-specific page? Ondansetron 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.
| PO |
| BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.309 |
| oading dose followed by 0.5 mg/kg/h infusion for 6 hours or 0.5-1 mg/kg p.o. q12-24h. |
| 0.5–1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.609 | • 0.5-1 mg/kg 30 min prior to administration of cancer drugs intravenously. |
| 0.1–0.2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.609 | Vomiting from other causes: 0.1-0.2 mg/kg slow IV injection and repeated |
| 0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.609 | q6-12h. If this dose is initially ineffective, it may be increased to 0.5 mg/kg. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.