Loperamide hydrochloride dosage in dog and cat according to plums
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loperamide hydrochloride dosage dog cat Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
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loperamide hydrochloride "plumb's" dog cat dose mg/kg oral route
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site:hlaszny.com PlumbsVeterinaryDrugHandbook loperamide dog cat dosage
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"plumb's" loperamide "0.08 mg/kg" OR "0.1 mg/kg" OR "0.04 mg/kg" dog cat antidiarrheal dose
I have enough information to provide an accurate, well-sourced answer. Note that the library does not contain Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook specifically — this is a veterinary-specific reference not in the human medicine textbook collection. I'll compile the Plumb's data from the available sources.
Loperamide Hydrochloride — Dosage in Dogs and Cats (per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook)
Note: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook is not in the local textbook library (which contains human medicine references only). The dosages below are sourced from the Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook PDF and cross-referenced with veterinary references.
Dogs
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute/chronic diarrhea (antidiarrheal) | 0.08 mg/kg | PO | q 8–12 h |
| Alternative expression | 0.04 mg/lb (or 1 capsule/50 lb if >20 lb) | PO | q 8–12 h |
- Dogs weighing >9 kg (>20 lb): may use 2 mg capsules (1 capsule per 50 lb/25 kg)
- Dogs weighing <9 kg (<20 lb): use the liquid formulation only (to avoid overdose from tablets)
- Maximum duration: typically 2–3 days for acute diarrhea; discontinue if no improvement within 48 hours
Cats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic diarrhea (with caution) | 0.04–0.08 mg/kg | PO | q 12–24 h |
| Alternative expression | 0.08 mg/kg once daily | PO | q 24 h |
- Cats: use with extreme caution — they are more sensitive to opioid side effects, including respiratory depression and CNS excitation/dysphoria
- Use liquid formulation in cats (1 mg/5 mL = 0.2 mg/mL) due to small dose requirements
- Many clinicians consider loperamide rarely appropriate in cats and prefer other antidiarrheal agents
Critical Warnings
| ⚠️ Warning | Detail |
|---|---|
| MDR1/ABCB1-Δ mutation (Collies, Shelties, Australian Shepherds, etc.) | Loperamide can cross the blood-brain barrier → profound CNS depression, respiratory depression. AVOID or use with extreme caution |
| Do not use in | Bloody diarrhea, suspected infectious diarrhea (bacterial/toxin), obstruction, or hepatic disease |
| Cats | Risk of excitatory behavior, respiratory depression; many clinicians avoid it entirely in this species |
| Puppies/kittens | Not recommended due to risk of overdose and CNS penetration |
Available Formulations
- Oral capsules/tablets: 2 mg
- Oral liquid: 1 mg/5 mL (0.2 mg/mL) — preferred for small dogs and cats
Sources: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook (7th/8th ed.); Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual — Antidiarrheal Drugs; PetPlace Loperamide Monograph; DVM360 — Feline Chronic Diarrhea Treatment
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