ACE Inhibitors

Enalapril 

Dog, cat

0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Benazepril

Dog

0.25–0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Cat

0.5–1 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Inotropes

Pimobendan

Dog

0.25–0.3 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h

Digoxin

Dog

0.0025–0.005 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Cat

0.01 mg/kg, PO, q 48 h

Dobutamine

Dog

1–15 mcg/kg/min, CRI

Cat

0.5–5 mcg/kg/min, CRI

Diuretics

Furosemide

Dog

Acute treatment: initial dose 2 mg/kg, IV or IM, or 0.66–1 mg/kg/h, CRI, for maximum 4 h

Longterm management: 1–4 mg/kg, PO, q 6–24 h

Cat

Acute treatment: initial dose 3–6 mg/kg, IV or IM, or 0.5–1 mg/kg/h, CRI

Longterm management: 1–2 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Torsemide

Dog, cat

0.1–0.3 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Spironolactone 

Dog

1.0–2.0 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Cat

1.7–3.3 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Hydrochlorothiazide

Dog

0.5–2 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Vasodilators

Nitroglycerin 2%

Dog, cat

Topical, 1'' paste/10 kg, applied to unhaired or shaved area of skin q 12 h

Nitroprusside

Dog

Initial dose 1 mcg/kg/min, CRI; then titrate up to 10–15 mcg/kg/min q 15–30 min for up to 24–48 h

Cat

Initial dose 1 mcg/kg/min, CRI; then titrate up to 3 mcg/kg/min if needed

Hydralazine

Dog

Initial dose 0.5 mg/kg, PO, once; then titrate up to 1–3 mg/kg q 12 h

Cat

Initial dose 0.2–0.5 mg/cat, SC; repeat after 15 min if needed

Amlodipine

Dog

0.05–0.1 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Cat

Routine treatment and monitoring: 0.125 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h; increase slowly (weekly) up to 0.5 mg/kg

Emergency treatment: Initial dose 0.125–0.25 mg/kg, PO; then tritrate up to 0.5 mg/kg (2.5 mg/cat) q 4–8 h for up to 24 h

Sildenafil 

Dog, cat

1–2 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h

Antiarrhythmics

Magnesium chloride

Dog

0.1–0.2 mEq/kg, slow IV, over 5–15 min 

Sodium channel blockers

Lidocaine

Dog

Loading dose 2 mg/kg, IV, over 30 sec–2 min (max. 3 doses over 5 min); then 25–80 mcg/kg/min, CRI

Cat

Loading dose 0.1–0.4 mg/kg, IV, over 1 min (max. 3 doses over 5–20 min); then 10–20 mcg/kg/min, CRI, if effective

Procainamide

Dog

Loading dose 2 mg/kg, IV, over 5 min; then titrate up to 15 mg/kg over 10–15 min, then 25–40 mcg/kg/min, CRI, or 10–20 mg/kg, IM or SC, q 6–8 h

Maintenance dose 5–20 mg/kg, PO, q 6–8 h

Mexiletine

Dog

5–8 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h

Beta-blockers 

Start low and titrate up 

Atenolol

Dog

0.2–1 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Cat

2–3 mg/kg (5–12.5 mg/cat), PO, q 12–24 h

Esmolol

Dog, cat

0.25–0.5 mg/kg, slow IV bolus over 2–5 min; then 10–100 mcg/kg/min, CRI, if needed

Propranolol

Dog

0.2–1 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h

Cat

0.4–1.2 mg/kg (2.5–5 mg/cat), PO, q 8 h

Carvedilol

Dog

0.2–0.4 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h; then titrate q 2 wk up to 1.5 mg/kg q 12 h

Cat

1.6–3.125 mg, PO, q 12 h

Potassium channel blockers

Sotalol

Dog, cat

1–2.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Amiodarone

Dog

PO: Loading dose 8–10 mg/kg, q 12 h for 7–10 days; maintenance dose 4–6 mg/kg, q 24 h

IV: 2–5 mg/kg, infusion over 30–60 min; 0.8 mg/kg/h, CRI for 6 h, then 0.5 mg/kg/h

Calcium channel blockers

Diltiazem regular 

Dog, cat

0.1–0.4 mg/kg, IV bolus over 5 min; 0.05–0.15 mg/kg/h, CRI

Dog

0.5–2 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h

Cat

1.5–3 mg/kg (7.5–15 mg/cat), PO,  q 8 h

Diltiazem extended-release

Dog

3 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Cat

3–6 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Vagolytics

Atropine

Dog, cat

0.02–0.04 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

Glycopyrrolate

Dog, cat

0.005–0.01 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

Antitussives

Hydrocodone

Dog

0.25–0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 6–12 h

Butorphanol

Dog

0.55–1.1 mg/kg, PO, q 6–12 h

Antithrombotics

Aspirin

Dog

0.5–15 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Clopidogrel

Dog

1.1–3 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Cat

PO: Loading dose 37.5 mg/cat; maintenance dose 18.75 mg/cat, q 24 h

Enoxaparin

Dog

0.8 mg/kg, SC, q 6 h

Cat

0.75–1 mg/kg, SC, q 6–12 h

Dalteparin

Dog

100–175 IU/kg, SC, q 8 h

Cat

75–150 IU/kg, SC, q 6–12 h

Rivaroxaban

Dog

1–2 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Cat

0.5–1 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Apixaban

Dog

0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 8–12 h; reduce if renal disease

Cat

For cats < 5 kg: 0.625 mg/cat, PO, q 12 h

For cats > 5 kg: 1.25 mg/cat, PO, q 12 h