Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Sorbitol (Cathartic) is dosed at 1–2 ml/kg PO Single dose only with first charcoal dose in dogs, per Brown AJ. Poisoning. Presented at: British Small Anim Vet Assoc (SAVA) 2014; 2014. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1195 (2026-08-01).. Sorbitol (Cathartic) is used in dogs for GI decontamination (cathartic with activated charcoal). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Sorbitol (Cathartic) in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Sorbitol 70%
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 1–2 ml/kg | Single dose only with first charcoal dose | SINGLE DOSE ONLY — do NOT repeat (severe diarrhea/dehydration risk) | GI decontamination (cathartic with activated charcoal) | Moderate | Brown AJ. Poisoning. Presented at: British Small Anim Vet Assoc (SAVA) 2014; 2014. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1195 (2026-08-01). |
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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.
Non-absorbable sugar alcohol creating osmotic gradient in the intestinal lumen, drawing water and accelerating GI transit to enhance toxicant elimination.
Used with activated charcoal for decontamination (single dose only). Do NOT use with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (intestinal necrosis risk). Can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Sorbitol (Cathartic) dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 1–2 ml/kg Single dose only with first charcoal dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Sorbitol (Cathartic) in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Sorbitol (Cathartic) in dogs include: SINGLE DOSE ONLY — do NOT repeat (severe diarrhea/dehydration risk). Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Sorbitol (Cathartic) is indicated in dogs for: GI decontamination (cathartic with activated charcoal).
These are general warnings for Sorbitol (Cathartic) across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Used with activated charcoal for decontamination (single dose only). Do NOT use with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (intestinal necrosis risk). Can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration.
Why a species-specific page? Sorbitol (Cathartic) 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.