Which species have cited Vitamin A dosing data?

Vitamin A dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 7 species: African Grey Parrot, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Guinea Pig, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Vitamin A a controlled substance?

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

Vitamin A

Calculate dosage

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

Vitamin A is dosed at 2000 IU/kg IM q7-14d x 2-4 treatments in ball pythons, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.9, p.267 — superscript 63 = Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. Corroborated by BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, Vitamin A, p.313: 'Reptiles: 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d.'. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Supplement

Routes

POIM

Indications

Chronic dietary supplementationDietary supplementationDietary vitamin A supplementationHepatic lipidosis adjuncthypovitaminosis Arespiratory infections adjunct

Mechanism of Action

Essential fat-soluble vitamin required for vision, epithelial integrity, immune function, and reproduction. Deficiency common in captive reptiles and turtles on inadequate diets.

Side effects & warnings

NARROW therapeutic index — hypervitaminosis A causes hepatotoxicity and skin sloughing. Do not overdose. Particularly important in chelonians and box turtles. Toxicity signs include skin peeling.

Evidence levels across 10 dose rules

Moderate×6Anecdotal×2Extrapolated×2

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

Backed by 4 published sources

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles), p.267 — superscript 63 = Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. Corroborated by BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, Vitamin A, p.313: 'Reptiles: 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d.'
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.9, p.267 — superscript 63 = Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. Corroborated by BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, Vitamin A, p.313: 'Reptiles: 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d.'
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed

Sample dosing (2 of 10 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 7 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	600-800 IU/kg PO daily for vitamin A responsive dermatosis (Cocker Spaniels)	q24h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
Cat (Domestic)	PO	200-400 IU/kg daily during hepatic lipidosis recovery	q24h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed

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