Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Terbinafine is dosed at 30–40 mg/kg PO q24h in cats, per Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs: Small and Large Animal, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2016. Terbinafine Hydrochloride, printed p.765: "Cats • 30-40 mg/kg/day PO for at least 2 weeks." Corroborated by Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, printed p.229: "Cats: 20 to 40 mg/kg every 24 to 48 hours for dermatophytosis". Terbinafine is used in cats for Dermatophytosis, Dermatophytosis (alternative to pulse itraconazole). Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Terbinafine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Lamisil
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 30–40 mg/kg | q24h | Months | Dermatophytosis | Weak | Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs: Small and Large Animal, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2016. Terbinafine Hydrochloride, printed p.765: "Cats • 30-40 mg/kg/day PO for at least 2 weeks." Corroborated by Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, printed p.229: "Cats: 20 to 40 mg/kg every 24 to 48 hours for dermatophytosis".Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 30–40 mg/kg | q24h | Continuous 28-42 days or pulse-dosed | Dermatophytosis (alternative to pulse itraconazole) | Weak | Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.229, TERBINAFINE, DOSAGE, CatsCompilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 20–40 mg/kg | q24h | 21-42 days | Dermatophytosis | Strong | Balda C, Otsuka M, Gambale W et al. (2004) P-12 Comparative study of griseofulvin and terbinafine therapy in the treatment of canine and feline dermatophytosis. Veterinary Dermatology 15(S1), 44 doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2004.00414_12.x — BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.394 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.394 | 20-40 mg/kg p.o. q24h; doses greater than 30 mg/kg may be required to reach therapeutic levels in the |
| 30 | — | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.394 | 20-40 mg/kg p.o. q24h; doses greater than 30 mg/kg may be required to reach therapeutic levels in the skin of dogs. Cream may be used |
| 30–40 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.765 | • 30-40 mg/kg/day PO for at least 2 weeks. Or, administer one-quarter tablet for |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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Inhibits squalene epoxidase, blocking ergosterol synthesis at an earlier step than azoles. Fungicidal.
Generally well-tolerated. May cause GI upset, hepatotoxicity (rare). Monitor liver enzymes during prolonged use.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Terbinafine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 30–40 mg/kg q24h; PO 30–40 mg/kg q24h; PO 20–40 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Terbinafine in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Terbinafine in cats include: Months; Continuous 28-42 days or pulse-dosed; 21-42 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Terbinafine is indicated in cats for: Dermatophytosis, Dermatophytosis (alternative to pulse itraconazole).
These are general warnings for Terbinafine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Generally well-tolerated. May cause GI upset, hepatotoxicity (rare). Monitor liver enzymes during prolonged use.
Why a species-specific page? Terbinafine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.