VETINUITY
What is the most furosemide a dog can get in the first hours of CHF?
The ACVIM 2019 mitral valve guideline describes 2 mg/kg IV or IM boluses repeated hourly until breathing improves, without exceeding a cumulative 8 mg/kg in the first 4 hours.
● ANSWER
Sourced & dated
What is the furosemide dose for dogs and cats?
Furosemide for acute congestive heart failure is 2 mg/kg IV or IM in dogs and 1-2 mg/kg in cats, repeated hourly to effect, then about 2 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs and 1 mg/kg PO q12-24h in cats at home.
● VETINUITY FUROSEMIDE DOSE CALCULATOR
Vetinuity furosemide dose calculator
Injectable volumes use the 50 mg/mL veterinary product. Human vials are 10 mg/mL: five times the volume.
● WHAT'S DOCUMENTED
Vetinuity’s furosemide dose table: a dog in acute congestive heart failure gets 2 mg/kg IV or IM, repeated hourly until the respiratory rate falls (no more than 8 mg/kg in the first 4 hours), then a 0.66-1 mg/kg/h CRI if needed, and goes home on about 2 mg/kg PO every 12 hours; cats start at 1-2 mg/kg IV or IM and go home on 1 mg/kg once or twice daily. The Vetinuity furosemide dose calculator above converts each line, including the volume of 50 mg/mL injection. Brian Toncray, DVM, an emergency veterinarian, wrote Vetinuity’s clinical assistant around nights like the ones this drug is for.
Furosemide doses by indication
| Indication | Dog | Cat | Route and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema | 2 mg/kg, repeat hourly to effect, max 8 mg/kg in 4 h | 1-2 mg/kg, repeat q1-2h | IV or IM |
| CRI after initial boluses | 0.66-1 mg/kg/h | 0.25-0.5 mg/kg/h | IV |
| Chronic CHF, home | 2 mg/kg q12h (range 1-4 mg/kg q8-24h) | 0.5-2 mg/kg q12-24h | PO |
| Hypercalcemia, after volume expansion | 2-4 mg/kg q8-12h | 1-2 mg/kg q12h | IV, SC or PO |
Concentrations and routes
The veterinary injection is 50 mg/mL; human vials are 10 mg/mL, so a 30 kg dog’s 2 mg/kg bolus is 1.2 mL of one and 6 mL of the other. In a dyspneic animal that will not tolerate a catheter, give the first dose IM and place the catheter once oxygen has done its work. Tablets come in 12.5, 20, 40 and 50 mg strengths. Torsemide is the usual next step when oral furosemide stops controlling edema.
Cautions
Expect azotemia, hypokalemia, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and dehydration; recheck renal values and electrolytes within a week of any dose change. Owners can track the sleeping respiratory rate at home: a rate persistently above 30 breaths per minute is the usual trigger to call. Do not use furosemide to dry out a hypovolemic or dehydrated animal, and avoid it as a sole agent in hypercalcemia before saline volume expansion. Ototoxicity is reported with high IV doses, especially alongside aminoglycosides.
Related: CHF crisis, pimobendan, dobutamine.
● SOURCES
- 1. Keene BW, Atkins CE, Bonagura JD, et al. ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(3):1127-1140. PMID 30974015. Stage C acute (hospital) and chronic (home) therapy. Checked 2026-10-26.
- 2. DailyMed: furosemide injection label search. Strengths and administration. Checked 2026-10-26.
● RELATED ANSWERS
- CHF Crisis in Dogs and Cats: Furosemide Dosing
Vetinuity's CHF crisis table: furosemide 2 mg/kg IV or IM in dogs, repeated hourly up to about 8 mg/kg in 4 hours or run as a 0.66-1 mg/kg/h CRI, plus oxygen and pimobendan.
- Pimobendan (Vetmedin) Dose for Dogs and Cats
Pimobendan is dosed at 0.25-0.3 mg/kg PO every 12 hours in dogs (0.5 mg/kg/day total on the label), and extra-label at about 0.625-1.25 mg per cat every 12 hours in cats with heart failure.
- Dobutamine CRI Dose for Dogs and Cats
Dobutamine is given as an IV CRI at 2-15 mcg/kg/min in dogs, starting at 2.5-5 and titrated, and at 1-5 mcg/kg/min in cats, where higher rates can cause seizures.
- Amlodipine Dose for Dogs and Cats
Amlodipine for systemic hypertension is 0.625 mg per cat (1.25 mg for cats over 5 kg or with SBP of 200 or more) PO once daily, and 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO once daily in dogs, usually alongside an ACE inhibitor or ARB.
- Mannitol Dose for Dogs and Cats
Mannitol is dosed at 0.5-1 g/kg IV over 15-20 minutes for raised intracranial pressure in dogs and cats, which is 2.5-5 mL/kg of a 20% solution given through an in-line filter.
● FAQ
Why are cats dosed lower?
Cats dehydrate and develop azotemia and hypokalemia faster on loop diuretics, so they start at 1-2 mg/kg and go home on the lowest dose that keeps the respiratory rate down.
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