Apomorphine: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Gastrointestinal

Also known as

Apokyn, apomorphine HCl

Species with doses

Dogs

General dose range

0.03–0.04 mg/kg IV single dose — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IV, IM, Ocular

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Acute toxin ingestion in dogs within 2 h of exposure (chocolate, NSAID, raisins, foreign body, etc.)
• Emergency decontamination in awake dog

Apomorphine dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Emesis induction (IV): Plumb’s p.108: 0.03 mg/kg IV — IV preferred (Beasley & Dorman); 0.04 mg/kg IV (Bailey; Jenkins). Vomiting usually within minutes; give once. Do not induce emesis after caustic/hydrocarbon ingestion, in obtunded or seizuring dogs, or if airway protection is compromised. Excess CNS depression can be reversed with naloxone.
• Emesis induction (IM/SC): Plumb’s p.108: 0.04 mg/kg IM (Beasley), 0.08 mg/kg IM or SC (Bailey 1989). Papich 5e: 0.03–0.05 mg/kg IM or 0.1 mg/kg SC. IV route preferred where possible.
• Emesis induction (conjunctival): Plumb’s p.108 (Jenkins 1988): 0.25 mg/kg into the conjunctival sac. Papich 5e: dissolve a 6 mg tablet in 1–2 mL saline and instil into the conjunctiva. Rinse the conjunctival sac once the dog has vomited.

Contraindications

CATS — NOT effective and risk of CNS depression. Suspected toxin already absorbed beyond 2 h post-ingestion. Caustic / corrosive ingestion (vomiting worsens damage). Sharp foreign body (perforation risk). Hydrocarbon / petroleum ingestion (aspiration risk). Unconscious / sedated patient (aspiration risk). Brachycephalic breeds with airway compromise (aspiration risk).

Species-specific warnings

Dogs: Standard emetic — IV 0.03–0.04 mg/kg, IM 0.04–0.08 mg/kg, conjunctival tablet. Single dose only. Pre-treat with maropitant 1 mg/kg SC to limit vomiting duration.

Cats: NOT effective in cats — only causes CNS depression. Use XYLAZINE 0.44 mg/kg IM for feline emesis.

Adverse effects

• Protracted vomiting (>30 min) — reverse with maropitant or naloxone
• CNS depression, ataxia
• Hypersalivation
• Restlessness initially
• Rare bradycardia, hypotension
• NOT effective in cats — causes only CNS depression

Drug interactions

• Maropitant: REVERSES apomorphine emesis (NK-1 antagonism) — use to stop protracted vomiting
• Naloxone: also reverses apomorphine effects (opioid component) — 0.04 mg/kg IV
• Phenothiazines (acepromazine, chlorpromazine): antagonise emesis (D2 blockade)
• Other dopamine antagonists (metoclopramide, droperidol): antagonise emesis
• CNS depressants: additive sedation

Pregnancy and lactation

Crosses placenta. Limited vet data. Use only when toxin exposure mandates emergency decontamination.

Monitoring

• Vomiting onset (3–10 min) — if no vomiting in 15 min, consider alternative (hydrogen peroxide 3% 1 mL/kg PO, max 45 mL)
• Recovered material — identify and quantify toxin
• Persistent vomiting >30 min — reverse with maropitant
• CNS status — naloxone if oversedated
• Recovery — most dogs back to normal within 1 h

Toxicity and overdose

Protracted vomiting (most common issue) — reverse with maropitant 1 mg/kg SC. CNS depression at high doses. Bradycardia, hypotension (rare). Cats: NOT effective, only causes CNS depression — use xylazine instead.

Management: Reverse with MAROPITANT 1 mg/kg SC (best for protracted vomiting) or NALOXONE 0.04 mg/kg IV (for CNS depression). Supportive: IV fluids, anti-emetic if vomiting persists, atropine for bradycardia. Maropitant pre-treatment is now standard in critical-care decontamination.

Clinical pearls

• STANDARD canine emetic — works in 95% of dogs within 5 min IV
• CATS: do NOT use — xylazine 0.44 mg/kg IM is the feline emetic
• Conjunctival route is gold standard in field / clinic without IV access — crush 3 mg tablet in saline, drip into conjunctival sac, rinse with saline once vomiting starts
• Pre-treat with maropitant 1 mg/kg SC if you want to limit duration of emesis — gives 1 productive vomit then stops
• Use within 2 h of toxin ingestion — beyond that, much of toxin is already absorbed and emesis less useful
• CONTRAINDICATIONS: caustic / sharp / hydrocarbon ingestion (aspiration / damage risk)
• NEVER REDOSE — protracted vomiting risk; if first dose fails, switch to other decontamination (gastric lavage, charcoal)
• Maropitant 1 mg/kg SC reverses protracted vomiting
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% 1 mL/kg PO (max 45 mL) is backup home emetic — but less reliable and more aspiration risk than apomorphine

Mechanism of action

Non-selective dopamine D2 receptor agonist. Stimulates the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CRZ / area postrema) directly, activating central emetic pathways. Onset is rapid (3–5 min IV, 5–10 min IM, 5–20 min conjunctival). Action lasts 30 min then dissipates. Conjunctival absorption via lacrimal duct → nasal mucosa → systemic circulation.

Formulations and products

• Apomorphine HCl 3 mg tablet (compounded conjunctival)
• Apomorphine 10 mg/mL injection (human compounded)
• Clevor 30 mg/mL ophthalmic solution (EU canine)
• Clevor (Orion Pharma) — 30 mg/mL, Ophthalmic solution (canine)
• Apokyn — 10 mg/mL, Subcutaneous injection (human Parkinson's) (human-label)

Storage

Tablets: 15–25 °C, protected from light AND OXYGEN (oxidises easily — turns green/blue). Injectable: refrigerate, protect from light. Discard if discoloured. Compounded solutions short shelf life.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

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• Hyoscine Butylbromide (N-Butylscopolammonium)
• Lactulose

Frequently asked questions