Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Pentobarbital is dosed at 86 mg/kg IV Single rapid IV dose (euthanasia only) in dogs, per US FDA product label, EUTHASOL (pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin sodium) injectable solution, Virbac AH Inc., ANADA 200-071, DailyMed setid c885b1d9-db06-47fb-bdb0-4015e06ce08b (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c885b1d9-db06-47fb-bdb0-4015e06ce08b): "Dogs, 1 mL for each 10 pounds of body weight"; each mL contains 390 mg pentobarbital sodium, so 390 mg / 4.536 kg = 86 mg/kg. Retrieved 2026-08-05. US FDA product label, FATAL-PLUS (pentobarbital sodium) injection, Vortech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., DailyMed setid 0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7 (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7): "Inject rapidly 1 mL for every 10 lbs. body weight Minimum 1 mL" at 390 mg/mL = 86 mg/kg; labelled for euthanasia of animals, naming dog and cat. Retrieved 2026-08-05.. Pentobarbital is used in dogs for Euthanasia. Routes documented in dogs: IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Pentobarbital in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nembutal
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 86 mg/kg | Single rapid IV dose (euthanasia only) | Single dose | Euthanasia | Strong | US FDA product label, EUTHASOL (pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin sodium) injectable solution, Virbac AH Inc., ANADA 200-071, DailyMed setid c885b1d9-db06-47fb-bdb0-4015e06ce08b (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c885b1d9-db06-47fb-bdb0-4015e06ce08b): "Dogs, 1 mL for each 10 pounds of body weight"; each mL contains 390 mg pentobarbital sodium, so 390 mg / 4.536 kg = 86 mg/kg. Retrieved 2026-08-05. US FDA product label, FATAL-PLUS (pentobarbital sodium) injection, Vortech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., DailyMed setid 0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7 (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7): "Inject rapidly 1 mL for every 10 lbs. body weight Minimum 1 mL" at 390 mg/mL = 86 mg/kg; labelled for euthanasia of animals, naming dog and cat. Retrieved 2026-08-05. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.326 | 80 mg/kg in debilitated animals, up to 120-160 mg/kg in younger and fitter animals, rapid i.v. inj |
| 120–160 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.326 | 80 mg/kg in debilitated animals, up to 120-160 mg/kg in younger and fitter animals, rapid i.v. injection. Pentosan polysulphate (Cartro |
| 25–30 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • General anesthesia: 25-30 mg/kg IV to effect. |
| 2–15 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • CRI: 2-15 mg/kg IV to effect, followed by 0.2-1 mg/kg/hr. |
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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.
Barbiturate enhancing GABA-A receptor activity and directly activating GABA receptor at high doses. Dose-dependent CNS depression from sedation to death.
DEA Schedule II. Primary component of euthanasia solutions. Controlled substance requiring DEA registration. Rapid IV causes apnea — give slowly for anesthetic use.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Pentobarbital dose range in dogs, with cited source references: IV 86 mg/kg Single rapid IV dose (euthanasia only). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Pentobarbital in dogs: IV.
Cited course lengths for Pentobarbital in dogs include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Pentobarbital is indicated in dogs for: Euthanasia.
These are general warnings for Pentobarbital across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. DEA Schedule II. Primary component of euthanasia solutions. Controlled substance requiring DEA registration. Rapid IV causes apnea — give slowly for anesthetic use.
Why a species-specific page? Pentobarbital 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.
| 0.2–1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • CRI: 2-15 mg/kg IV to effect, followed by 0.2-1 mg/kg/hr. |
| 2–6 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • Status epilepticus: 2-6 mg/kg IV (15-20 minutes may be needed to take full effect). |
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.