Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Vancomycin is dosed at 12–15 mg/kg IV q6-8h in dogs, per DeStefano IM, Wayne AS, Rozanski EA, Babyak JM. Parenterally administered vancomycin in 29 dogs and 7 cats (2003-2017). J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(1):200-207. doi:10.1111/jvim.15357 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1319 (2026-08-01).. Vancomycin is used in dogs for MRSA infections. Routes documented in dogs: IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Vancomycin in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vancocin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 12–15 mg/kg | q6-8h | 7-14 days | MRSA infections | Moderate | DeStefano IM, Wayne AS, Rozanski EA, Babyak JM. Parenterally administered vancomycin in 29 dogs and 7 cats (2003-2017). J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(1):200-207. doi:10.1111/jvim.15357 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1319 (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.
Binds D-Ala-D-Ala terminus of peptidoglycan precursors, inhibiting cell wall synthesis. Bactericidal against most gram-positive organisms including MRSA.
Reserve for MRSA/resistant infections. Nephrotoxic and ototoxic — monitor trough levels. Red man syndrome with rapid IV infusion. Oral form not absorbed (used for C. difficile colitis).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vancomycin dose range in dogs, with cited source references: IV 12–15 mg/kg q6-8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vancomycin in dogs: IV.
Cited course lengths for Vancomycin in dogs include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Vancomycin is indicated in dogs for: MRSA infections.
These are general warnings for Vancomycin across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Reserve for MRSA/resistant infections. Nephrotoxic and ototoxic — monitor trough levels. Red man syndrome with rapid IV infusion. Oral form not absorbed (used for C. difficile colitis).
Why a species-specific page? Vancomycin 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.