What is Tegaserod used for?

Tegaserod is indicated for: chronic constipation, GI motility disorders.

Which species have cited Tegaserod dosing data?

Tegaserod dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 2 species: Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic).

Is Tegaserod a controlled substance?

Tegaserod is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Tegaserod

US brand names:Zelnorm

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Tegaserod is dosed at 0.05–0.1 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per Corroborated 2026-07-31: Washabau RJ, Day MJ, eds. Canine and Feline Gastroenterology. 1st ed. Elsevier Saunders, 2013:729-777. Ch.58 Large Intestine, Table 58-9. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-3661-6.00058-4 PMC7152016 - dog, tegaserod 0.05-0.10 mg/kg PO or IV BID, constipation/ileus.. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Gastrointestinal

Routes

Indications

chronic constipationGI motility disorders

Mechanism of Action

Partial 5-HT4 receptor agonist that stimulates peristaltic reflex, increases intestinal secretion, and accelerates GI transit.

Side effects & warnings

Cardiovascular risk — restricted availability. Monitor for diarrhea. Investigational in veterinary species for motility disorders.

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Weak×1Extrapolated×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 2 published sources

· Corroborated 2026-07-31: Washabau RJ, Day MJ, eds. Canine and Feline Gastroenterology. 1st ed. Elsevier Saunders, 2013:729-777. Ch.58 Large Intestine, Table 58-9. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-3661-6.00058-4 PMC7152016 - dog, tegaserod 0.05-0.10 mg/kg PO or IV BID, constipation/ileus.
· Corroborated 2026-07-31: Washabau RJ, Day MJ, eds. Canine and Feline Gastroenterology. 1st ed. Elsevier, 2013; ch.58 Large Intestine, Table 58-9. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-3661-6.00058-4 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7152016/ - cat, tegaserod 0.05-0.10 mg/kg PO or IV BID, constipation/ileus.

Sample dosing (2 of 2 cited rules)

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	0.05–0.1 mg/kg	q12h	Weak	Corroborated 2026-07-31: Washabau RJ, Day MJ, eds. Canine and Feline Gastroenterology. 1st ed. Elsevier Saunders, 2013:729-777. Ch.58 Large Intestine, Table 58-9. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-3661-6.00058-4 PMC7152016 - dog, tegaserod 0.05-0.10 mg/kg PO or IV BID, constipation/ileus.
Cat (Domestic)	PO	0.05–0.1 mg/kg	q12h	Extrapolated	Corroborated 2026-07-31: Washabau RJ, Day MJ, eds. Canine and Feline Gastroenterology. 1st ed. Elsevier, 2013; ch.58 Large Intestine, Table 58-9. - cat, tegaserod 0.05-0.10 mg/kg PO or IV BID, constipation/ileus.

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