ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/potassium-citrate
US brand names:Urocit-K
Potassium Citrate is dosed at 50–75 mg/kg PO q12h in rabbits, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Alkalinizes urine by providing citrate (metabolized to bicarbonate). Citrate also inhibits calcium oxalate crystal formation by chelating calcium.
First-line for calcium oxalate stone prevention. GI upset common — give with food. Monitor urine pH (target 6.5-7.0). Hyperkalemia risk in renal disease.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugs
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A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 3 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 | 50–75 mg/kg | q12h | Strong | Stevenson AE, Wrigglesworth DJ, Smith BHE, Markwell PJ. Effects of dietary potassium citrate supplementation on urine pH and urinary relative supersaturation of calcium oxalate and struvite in healthy dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2000;61(4):430-435. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.430 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.302 (2026-08-01). |
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 40–75 mg/kg | q12h | Moderate | Polzin DJ. Evidence-based step-wise approach to managing chronic kidney disease in dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2013;23(2):205-215. doi:10.1111/vec.12034 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.302 (2026-08-01). |
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