Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Oxytocin (Livestock) is dosed at 10–20 IU total IV q15-30min in horses, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Oxytocin (Livestock) is used in horses for Retained fetal membranes, uterine inertia, Retained fetal membranes. Routes documented in horses: IV. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Oxytocin (Livestock) in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Oxoject, Pitocin Veterinary
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Posterior pituitary peptide hormone that stimulates uterine smooth muscle contraction and myoepithelial cell contraction in the mammary gland for milk let-down.
Do not use in animals with dystocia due to fetal malpresentation until corrected. Overdose can cause uterine rupture. IV provides rapid onset (1 min) vs IM (3-5 min). Low dose for milk let-down; higher dose for uterine contraction.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Oxytocin (Livestock) dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: IV 10–20 IU total q15-30min; IV 5–20 IU total dose q15-30 min. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Oxytocin (Livestock) in horses: IV.
Cited course lengths for Oxytocin (Livestock) in horses include: Repeated small doses. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Oxytocin (Livestock) is indicated in horses for: Retained fetal membranes, uterine inertia, Retained fetal membranes.
These are general warnings for Oxytocin (Livestock) across species; consult the horse dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Do not use in animals with dystocia due to fetal malpresentation until corrected. Overdose can cause uterine rupture. IV provides rapid onset (1 min) vs IM (3-5 min). Low dose for milk let-down; higher dose for uterine contraction.
Why a species-specific page? Oxytocin (Livestock) pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in horses — 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.