Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Vitamin D is dosed at 0.0015–0.0035 mcg/kg calcitriol PO q24h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy), Calcitriol monograph, printed p.171 (corpus plumb p.198), DOGS - 'Long-term maintenance of hypocalcemia-associated hypoparathyroidism (extra-label)'. - SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook - ISBN 9781394172207 CORRECTED 2026-08-13: the served 0.02-0.03 mcg/kg is 20-30 ng/kg, roughly 10x the printed initial dose and 3-4.5x the printed ceiling. Plumb's 10th ed corpus p.198: "Recommended initial dosage: 1.5 - 3.5 ng/kg PO once daily, preferably in the evening on an empty stomach"; corpus p.199: "do not exceed 6.6 ng/kg/day unless also monitoring ionized calcium". Papich 5th ed corpus p.126: "2.5 ng/kg, PO, once daily". BSAVA corpus p.448: "calcitriol: 1.5-3.5 ng/kg p.o. q24h". The ~20 ng/kg figure that appears on Plumb's corpus p.199 is a PULSED-dosing strategy, not a daily dose. Calcitriol overdose causes hypercalcaemia and nephrocalcinosis in patients who already have chronic kidney disease.. Vitamin D is used in dogs for Hypoparathyroidism. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Vitamin D in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Calcitriol, Cholecalciferol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.0015–0.0035 mcg/kg calcitriol | q24h | Long-term |
| Hypoparathyroidism |
| Moderate |
| Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy), Calcitriol monograph, printed p.171 (corpus plumb p.198), DOGS - 'Long-term maintenance of hypocalcemia-associated hypoparathyroidism (extra-label)'. - SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook - ISBN 9781394172207 CORRECTED 2026-08-13: the served 0.02-0.03 mcg/kg is 20-30 ng/kg, roughly 10x the printed initial dose and 3-4.5x the printed ceiling. Plumb's 10th ed corpus p.198: "Recommended initial dosage: 1.5 - 3.5 ng/kg PO once daily, preferably in the evening on an empty stomach"; corpus p.199: "do not exceed 6.6 ng/kg/day unless also monitoring ionized calcium". Papich 5th ed corpus p.126: "2.5 ng/kg, PO, once daily". BSAVA corpus p.448: "calcitriol: 1.5-3.5 ng/kg p.o. q24h". The ~20 ng/kg figure that appears on Plumb's corpus p.199 is a PULSED-dosing strategy, not a daily dose. Calcitriol overdose causes hypercalcaemia and nephrocalcinosis in patients who already have chronic kidney disease. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.03 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.448 | ng/kg p.o. q12h for maintenance; alfacalcidol: 0.01-0.03 μg (micrograms)/kg p.o. q24h and thereafter titrated to effect. |
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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Active form (calcitriol) binds VDR promoting intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption, bone mineralization, and parathyroid hormone regulation.
Calcitriol: used for renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Narrow therapeutic index — hypercalcemia risk. Monitor ionized calcium frequently. Do not confuse calcitriol with cholecalciferol.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vitamin D dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 0.0015–0.0035 mcg/kg calcitriol q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vitamin D in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Vitamin D in dogs include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Vitamin D is indicated in dogs for: Hypoparathyroidism.
These are general warnings for Vitamin D across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Calcitriol: used for renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Narrow therapeutic index — hypercalcemia risk. Monitor ionized calcium frequently. Do not confuse calcitriol with cholecalciferol.
Why a species-specific page? Vitamin D 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.