ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/pioglitazone
US brand names:Actos
Pioglitazone is dosed at 0.5–3 mg/kg PO q24h in dogs, per Source not established. The citation previously shown here named no retrievable document; a literature search on 2026-07-31 found no source that states this dose for this species and route. Treat as unverified and confirm against a primary reference before clinical use.. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
PPARgamma agonist that improves insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues by enhancing adipocyte differentiation and glucose transporter expression.
Hepatotoxicity risk — monitor liver enzymes. Weight gain and fluid retention. Limited veterinary use — investigational for insulin-resistant diabetic cats.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 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 | 0.5–3 mg/kg | q24h | Weak | Source not established. The citation previously shown here named no retrievable document; a literature search on 2026-07-31 found no source that states this dose for this species and route. Treat as unverified and confirm against a primary reference before clinical use. |
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q24h | Extrapolated | Corroborated 2026-07-31: Clark M et al. J Vet Intern Med 2014;28(1):166-174. doi:10.1111/jvim.12255 PMID:24592408 - cat, pioglitazone 1 or 3 mg/kg PO q24h for 7 wk in obese non-diabetic cats; insulin sensitivity improved only at 3 mg/kg. |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.