Cabergoline: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Galastop, Dostinex, Caberlin

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats and Ferrets

General dose range

0.005–0.015 mg/kg PO q24h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• False (pseudo) pregnancy and suppression of unwanted lactation (prolactin inhibition)
• Pregnancy termination in mid-to-late gestation (luteolysis via prolactin suppression; often with a prostaglandin)
• Suppression of lactation (e.g. for weaning, mastitis management)
• Hyperprolactinaemia; off-label adjunct in PPID/pituitary disease

Cabergoline 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

• False pregnancy / lactation suppression: Papich 5e: 5 µg/kg PO once daily (0.1 mL/kg of the 50 µg/mL liquid) for 5 days. Plumb’s p.177: 5 µg/kg once daily for 4–5 days, extended to 8–10 days for failures (Romagnoli); 5–10 days (Gobello). Give with food to reduce vomiting.
• Pregnancy termination (mid–late gestation): Plumb’s p.177: after day 40, 5 µg/kg PO for 5 days (~50% effective alone — Romagnoli); days 35–45: 5 µg/kg PO daily for 7 days with cloprostenol 1 µg/kg SC on days 1 and 3, continuing cabergoline to day 12 if not terminated (Corrada 2006). Confirm with ultrasound.
• Oestrus induction: Plumb’s p.177: 5 µg/kg PO once daily induces fertile proestrus in 4–25 days (Davidson); continue until proestrus has been obvious for 2 days or oestrus begins (Concannon).

Cats

• Lactation suppression / pseudopregnancy: Plumb’s p.177: 5 µg/kg PO once daily to reduce prolactin (Romagnoli); pregnancy termination at 30 days — 5 µg/kg q24h with cloprostenol 5 µg/kg SC q48h (Davidson). Papich 5e: 0.5–1 mL of the 50 µg/mL liquid per cat.

Ferrets

• Pseudopregnancy: Carpenter's 6th ed (Ferret endocrine table): 5 µg/kg (0.005 mg/kg) PO once daily for 5 days for pseudopregnancy (prolactin inhibition).

Contraindications

Pregnancy when continuation is desired (it can terminate pregnancy). Known ergot/dopamine-agonist hypersensitivity. Hepatic impairment. Concurrent dopamine antagonists (phenothiazines, metoclopramide — negate effect). Use for abortion only with informed consent and veterinary oversight. Known hypersensitivity.

Species-specific warnings

Dogs: Abortifacient in the second half of pregnancy — confirm intent and pregnancy status before use; combine with prostaglandin and ultrasound monitoring for termination.

Adverse effects

• Vomiting / inappetence (less than bromocriptine; give with food)
• Lethargy, transient behavioural change
• Hypotension (dopaminergic)
• Drying up of milk (intended when used for lactation suppression)

Drug interactions

• Dopamine antagonists (phenothiazines/acepromazine, metoclopramide): negate the effect — avoid
• Prostaglandins (cloprostenol): combined for pregnancy termination (synergistic luteolysis)
• Antihypertensives: additive hypotension

Pregnancy and lactation

Abortifacient in mid-to-late gestation — do NOT use in a pregnancy intended to continue. Used deliberately for termination/lactation control with veterinary oversight.

Monitoring

• Resolution of false-pregnancy signs / drying of milk
• For termination: serial ultrasound (confirm complete resorption/abortion) and progesterone where relevant
• GI tolerance (give with food)
• Blood pressure if relevant

Toxicity and overdose

Well tolerated; overdose intensifies dopaminergic effects — vomiting, hypotension, lethargy/ataxia. No major organ toxicity at therapeutic use. The "intended toxicity" of pregnancy termination must be applied only when desired.

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive care for hypotension/GI signs; a dopamine antagonist (e.g. metoclopramide) can counter significant overdose. Effects are generally self-limiting.

Clinical pearls

• The prolactin-inhibitor of choice for false pregnancy and lactation suppression — better tolerated and longer-acting than bromocriptine; give with food
• For mid-to-late-gestation pregnancy termination it exploits prolactin's luteotrophic role (often paired with low-dose cloprostenol) under ultrasound monitoring
• Avoid dopamine antagonists (acepromazine, metoclopramide) — they negate it
• Never use in a wanted pregnancy (abortifacient); obtain informed consent for elective termination

Mechanism of action

A long-acting, selective dopamine D2-receptor agonist. Dopamine D2 stimulation on pituitary lactotrophs strongly inhibits PROLACTIN secretion. Lowered prolactin resolves the prolactin-driven signs of false pregnancy and suppresses lactation; and because prolactin is luteotrophic (supports the corpus luteum) in the second half of canine pregnancy, suppressing it causes luteolysis, a fall in progesterone, and pregnancy termination. Its high D2 selectivity and long half-life give good tolerability and infrequent dosing.

Formulations and products

• Oral solution 50 mcg/mL (Galastop, vet)
• 0.5 mg tablet (human)
• Galastop (Ceva) — 50 mcg/mL oral solution, Oral solution
• Dostinex / Caberlin — 0.5 mg tablet, Tablet (human-label)

Storage

Oral solution/tablets: 15–30 °C, protect from light. Keep tightly closed.

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.

Other hormones, emergency drugs, supplements and other drugs

• Budesonide
• Buserelin
• Buspirone
• Butaphosphan + Cyanocobalamin
• Calcitriol
• Calcium Borogluconate (IV Calcium)
• Calcium EDTA (Calcium Disodium Edetate)
• Carbimazole

Frequently asked questions