Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Phenylbutazone is dosed at 2–10 mg/kg PO q12h; 7d then reduce; max 800 mg/dog/day in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1013, Phenylbutazone monograph spanning p.1013-1014; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — DAILY CEILING: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, Phenylbutazone monograph, printed p.1041 — "14.7 mg/kg PO 3 times daily initially (maximum of 800 mg/dog [NOT mg/kg] daily regardless of weight)". Corroborated by the FDA-approved label (DailyMed) — "not to exceed 800 mg daily regardless of body weight" — and by the AAVPT monograph. This is a PER-DAY limit, enforced via max_dose_mg_per_day.. Phenylbutazone is used in dogs for Musculoskeletal pain (when other NSAIDs fail). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Phenylbutazone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Butazolidin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2–10 mg/kgmax 800 mg total | q12h; 7d then reduce; max 800 mg/dog/day | Maximum 3 days | Musculoskeletal pain (when other NSAIDs fail) | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1013, Phenylbutazone monograph spanning p.1013-1014; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — DAILY CEILING: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, Phenylbutazone monograph, printed p.1041 — "14.7 mg/kg PO 3 times daily initially (maximum of 800 mg/dog [NOT mg/kg] daily regardless of weight)". Corroborated by the FDA-approved label (DailyMed) — "not to exceed 800 mg daily regardless of body weight" — and by the AAVPT monograph. This is a PER-DAY limit, enforced via max_dose_mg_per_day. |
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 (mg/animal) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.659 | • 15-22 mg/kg q8-12h (44 mg/kg/day; 800 mg/dog maximum) PO or IV. |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–20 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.335 | 2-20 mg/kg p.o. q8-12h. Maximum dose 800 mg. The manufacturers recommend a starting dose of 10 mg/kg |
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.
Non-selective COX inhibitor with potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
High toxicity in dogs (bone marrow aplasia, GI ulceration). Primarily used in horses and dogs. NEVER use in cats. Perivascular injection causes severe tissue necrosis.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Phenylbutazone dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 2–10 mg/kg q12h; 7d then reduce; max 800 mg/dog/day. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Phenylbutazone in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Phenylbutazone in dogs include: Maximum 3 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Phenylbutazone is indicated in dogs for: Musculoskeletal pain (when other NSAIDs fail).
These are general warnings for Phenylbutazone across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. High toxicity in dogs (bone marrow aplasia, GI ulceration). Primarily used in horses and dogs. NEVER use in cats. Perivascular injection causes severe tissue necrosis.
Why a species-specific page? Phenylbutazone 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.
| 10 |
| ICE |
| BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.335 |
| dose 800 mg. The manufacturers recommend a starting dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days, reducing to 5 mg/kg twice daily thereafter. The 200 mg tablet str |
| 5 | ICE | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.335 | arting dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days, reducing to 5 mg/kg twice daily thereafter. The 200 mg tablet strength should not be used in dogs weighing <2 |
| 15–22 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.659 | • 15-22 mg/kg q8-12h (44 mg/kg/day; 800 mg/dog maximum) PO or IV. |
| 44 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.659 | • 15-22 mg/kg q8-12h (44 mg/kg/day; 800 mg/dog maximum) PO or IV. |
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.