Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Vitamin K1 is dosed at 2.5 mg/kg SC once initially, s.c. in several sites in ferrets, per BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed, Part B: Exotic Pets (Hedley, 2020), Vitamin K1 monograph, printed p.306. Also Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.10, which cites BSAVA Part B (ref 46). Vitamin K1 is used in ferrets for Known 1st generation coumarin toxicity or vitamin K1 deficiency. Routes documented in ferrets: SC. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Vitamin K1 in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Mephyton, AquaMEPHYTON, Veta-K1
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 2.5 mg/kg | once initially, s.c. in several sites | Initial dose only. BSAVA continues: "then 1-2.5 mg/kg in divided doses p.o. q8-12h for 5-7 days" (not served as a calculated dose: the source does not say whether 1-2.5 mg/kg is per dose or per day). | Known 1st generation coumarin toxicity or vitamin K1 deficiency | Weak |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Essential cofactor for hepatic carboxylation of clotting factors II, VII, IX, X. Reverses vitamin K-dependent coagulopathy from anticoagulant rodenticides.
Give PO with fatty food (fat-soluble). SC preferred over IM (hematoma risk) or IV (anaphylaxis risk). Long-acting rodenticides (brodifacoum) require 4-6 weeks treatment. Monitor PT.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vitamin K1 dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: SC 2.5 mg/kg once initially, s.c. in several sites. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vitamin K1 in ferrets: SC.
Cited course lengths for Vitamin K1 in ferrets include: Initial dose only. BSAVA continues: "then 1-2.5 mg/kg in divided doses p.o. q8-12h for 5-7 days" (not served as a calculated dose: the source does not say whether 1-2.5 mg/kg is per dose or per day).. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Vitamin K1 is indicated in ferrets for: Known 1st generation coumarin toxicity or vitamin K1 deficiency.
These are general warnings for Vitamin K1 across species; consult the ferret dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Give PO with fatty food (fat-soluble). SC preferred over IM (hematoma risk) or IV (anaphylaxis risk). Long-acting rodenticides (brodifacoum) require 4-6 weeks treatment. Monitor PT.
Why a species-specific page? Vitamin K1 pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ferrets — 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.