Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Spironolactone is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg PO q12h in rabbits, per van Zeeland YR.A, Schoemaker NJ. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in small mammals. Proc Conf Annu Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2018:607-616. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.872 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.8 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rabbits). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Competitively blocks aldosterone at mineralocorticoid receptors in the distal nephron. Potassium-sparing diuretic with anti-fibrotic cardiac effects.
Side effects & warnings
Hyperkalemia risk, especially with ACE inhibitors. Monitor electrolytes. Anti-androgenic effects (gynecomastia). Used in CHF as adjunct to furosemide. Give with food.
Species with Spironolactone dosing data (6 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 6 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 6 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.
Acierno MJ, Brown S, Coleman AE, et al. ACVIM consensus statement: guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(6):1803-1822. doi:10.1111/jvim.15331 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1175, Spironolactone monograph spanning p.1175-1176.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook (held edition 10th, 2023), Spironolactone monograph, printed p.1177, CATS section: "Adjunctive treatment of hypertension (extra-label): 1 - 2 mg/kg PO every 12 hours." Superscript 21 resolves to Acierno MJ, Brown S, Coleman AE, et al. ACVIM consensus statement: guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(6):1803-1822. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1175, Spironolactone monograph spanning p.1175-1176.
· 69. Beaufrère H, Schilliger L, Pariaut R. Cardiovascular system. In: Mitchell M, Tully T, eds. Current Therapy in Exotic Pet Practice; Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:151-220. | 283. Fitzgerald BC, Dias S, Martorell J. Cardiovascular drugs in avian, small mammal, and reptile medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2018;21(2):399-442. | 848. Sedacca CD, Campbell TW, Bright JM, et al. Chronic cor pulmonale secondary to pulmonary atherosclerosis in an African grey parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234(8):1055-1059. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.494 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by Samour J (ed), Avian Medicine, 3rd ed, Elsevier 2016 (ISBN 978-0-7234-3832-8), Table 13-11: Spironolactone, Parrots, 1-1 mg/kg (PO). A second text, independent of the source already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.
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Source citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
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848. Sedacca CD, Campbell TW, Bright JM, et al. Chronic cor pulmonale secondary to pulmonary atherosclerosis in an African grey parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234(8):1055-1059. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.494 doi:10.2460/javma.234.8.1055 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by Samour J (ed), Avian Medicine, 3rd ed, Elsevier 2016 (ISBN 978-0-7234-3832-8), Table 13-11: Spironolactone, Parrots, 1-1 mg/kg (PO). A second text, independent of the source already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.
· Acierno MJ, Brown S, Coleman AE, et al. ACVIM consensus statement: guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(6):1803-1822. doi:10.1111/jvim.15331 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1175, Spironolactone monograph spanning p.1175-1176.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook (held edition 10th, 2023), Spironolactone monograph, printed p.1177, CATS section: "Adjunctive treatment of hypertension (extra-label): 1 - 2 mg/kg PO every 12 hours." Superscript 21 resolves to Acierno MJ, Brown S, Coleman AE, et al. ACVIM consensus statement: guidelines for the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(6):1803-1822. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1175, Spironolactone monograph spanning p.1175-1176.
· Ratliff C, Zaffarano B. Generalized edema and chylothorax in a 5-year-old female intact chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). J Exot Pet Med. 2017;26:219-223. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.795 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.5 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rodents).
· van Zeeland YR.A, Schoemaker NJ. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in small mammals. Proc Conf Annu Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2018:607-616. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.872 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.8 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rabbits).