# Buspirone: veterinary dose and monograph

> Buspirone is a veterinary drug. An azapirone NON-SEDATING anxiolytic (a serotonin 5-HT1A partial agonist) used mainly in CATS for chronic anxiety, fear-based urine marking/spraying, and to help TIMID cats become more confident/interactive — it can paradoxically make a… Indications include feline anxiety; fear/anxiety-based urine spraying/marking (especially in multi-cat tension); increasing confidence in timid/fearful cats; generalised anxiety (adjunct to behaviour modification). This monograph lists 4 reference doses for dogs, cats, horses and birds, each with route, frequency and source.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/buspirone · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Veterinary drug
- **Also known as:** Buspar, Buspin, Ansial
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats, Horses and Birds
- **General dose range:** 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q8–12h — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Feline anxiety; fear/anxiety-based urine spraying/marking (especially in multi-cat tension)
- Increasing confidence in timid/fearful cats
- Generalised anxiety (adjunct to behaviour modification)
- Canine anxiety (less commonly; SSRIs/clomipramine usually preferred)

## Buspirone 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

*Buspirone doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Anxiety (adjunct) | 0.5–2 mg/kg | PO | q8–12h | — |

- Anxiety (adjunct): Papich 5e: 1 mg/kg PO q12h, or 2.5–10 mg per dog q12–24h. Plumb’s p.168: 1 mg/kg q8–24h for mild anxiety; 1–2 mg/kg q12h (Siebert); global anxiety 0.5–2 mg/kg q8–12h, 2–4 weeks to effect (Horwitz); 10–15 mg per dog q8–12h for more severe anxiety or storm phobia (Overall).

### Cats

*Buspirone doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Anxiety / urine marking / timidity | 0.5–1 mg/kg | PO | q8–12h | — |

- Anxiety / urine marking / timidity: Papich 5e: 2.5–5 mg per cat q12h, increasing to 5–7.5 mg twice daily in some cats (0.5–1 mg/kg q12h). Plumb’s p.168: 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q8–12h (Overall; Virga); urine marking 2.5–7.5 mg per cat q12h (Levine). Allow 1–4 weeks for effect; pair with behaviour modification; may increase assertiveness in multi-cat homes.

### Horses

*Buspirone doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Anxiety (behavioural) | 0.5 mg/kg | PO | q24h | — |

- Anxiety (behavioural): Papich 5e: 100–250 mg per horse q24h PO (about 0.5 mg/kg).

### Birds

*Buspirone doses for birds*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Anxiety / behavioural disorder | 0.5 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |

- Anxiety / behavioural disorder: Carpenter's 6th ed (Bird psychotropic table): 0.5 mg/kg PO q12h — non-sedating anxiolytic; used in a case to control paradoxical anxiety from clomipramine.

## Contraindications

Severe hepatic or renal impairment. Concurrent MAO inhibitors / selegiline (serotonin/hypertensive reaction) and caution with other serotonergic drugs. Known hypersensitivity. Multi-cat households where increased confidence might worsen aggression dynamics (assess carefully).

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cats: As a timid treated cat gains confidence, inter-cat aggression can occasionally increase — assess household dynamics and combine with behaviour/environmental modification.

## Adverse effects

- Usually well tolerated and non-sedating
- Occasional increased affection/restlessness; GI upset
- Possible INCREASED inter-cat aggression as a timid cat gains confidence
- Rare bradycardia/tachycardia

## Drug interactions

- MAO inhibitors / selegiline: hypertensive/serotonergic reaction — avoid
- Other serotonergic drugs (SSRIs, TCAs): additive serotonergic effects — caution
- CYP3A4 inhibitors (azoles, macrolides): increased buspirone levels
- No significant additive sedation (non-sedating)

## Pregnancy and lactation

Limited data; avoid in pregnancy unless clearly needed.

## Monitoring

- Anxiety/behaviour response over 1–4 weeks (set owner expectations — gradual onset)
- Multi-cat household dynamics (treated cat may become more confident/assertive)
- GI tolerance; no sedation expected
- Use within a behaviour-modification plan

## Toxicity and overdose

Wide safety margin; overdose causes GI upset, restlessness or mild CNS effects (and rare cardiovascular changes). It is non-sedating and non-addictive, so the toxicity profile is benign compared with benzodiazepines. The notable behavioural "adverse effect" is occasionally worsened inter-cat aggression as a timid cat becomes bolder.

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive care; effects are generally mild and self-limiting. Manage serotonin-related signs supportively (cyproheptadine if a serotonergic reaction). Decontaminate large recent ingestions.

## Clinical pearls

- A NON-sedating, non-addictive feline anxiolytic — great for chronic anxiety and fear-based urine marking, and it can turn a timid cat more confident
- Give it 1–4 weeks to work (like an SSRI) and combine with behaviour modification/environmental change
- A key cat advantage: no benzodiazepine-style sedation/dependence and none of oral diazepam's rare feline hepatotoxicity
- In multi-cat homes, watch the dynamic — the newly confident cat may assert itself and shift aggression patterns

## Mechanism of action

A partial agonist at presynaptic and postsynaptic serotonin 5-HT1A receptors (with some dopaminergic activity), modulating serotonergic neurotransmission to reduce anxiety WITHOUT the GABA-mediated sedation, muscle relaxation or dependence of benzodiazepines. The anxiolytic effect develops gradually as serotonergic adaptation occurs (days to weeks), similar to the delayed onset of SSRIs.

## Formulations and products

- 5 mg tablet
- 10 mg tablet
- Buspin / Ansial — 5 / 10 mg tablet, Tablet (human-label)

## Storage

Tablets: 15–30 °C, dry, protect from light.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** 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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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Buspirone for dogs?

Reference doses for Buspirone in dogs: 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q8–12h (Anxiety (adjunct)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Buspirone for cats?

Reference doses for Buspirone in cats: 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q8–12h (Anxiety / urine marking / timidity). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Buspirone for horses?

Reference doses for Buspirone in horses: 0.5 mg/kg PO q24h (Anxiety (behavioural)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Buspirone not be used?

Severe hepatic or renal impairment. Concurrent MAO inhibitors / selegiline (serotonin/hypertensive reaction) and caution with other serotonergic drugs. Known hypersensitivity. Multi-cat households where increased confidence might worsen aggression dynamics (assess carefully).

### What are the side effects of Buspirone in animals?

Usually well tolerated and non-sedating; Occasional increased affection/restlessness; GI upset; Possible INCREASED inter-cat aggression as a timid cat gains confidence; Rare bradycardia/tachycardia.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition
- Carpenter, Exotic Animal Formulary

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