Dobutamine: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Cardiovascular

Also known as

Dobutrex, Cardiject

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats and Horses

Routes

IV

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Cardiogenic shock / acute low-output heart failure
• Severe systolic dysfunction (dilated cardiomyopathy) — short-term support
• Inotropic support during anaesthesia/critical illness
• Stress-echo pharmacologic challenge (specialist)

Dobutamine 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

• Inotropic support (CRI): Papich 5e: 5–20 µg/kg/min IV, starting low and titrating up. Plumb’s p.430: acute heart failure 5–20 µg/kg/min usually adequate (above 20 causes tachycardia; Kittleson); shock 5–15 (Haskins); decompensated CHF 2–20 with tachyphylaxis after 24–72 h; 2.5–10 (Reiser). Use an infusion pump; reduce if tachycardia or arrhythmia.

Cats

• Inotropic support (CRI): Papich 5e: 2 µg/kg/min IV. Plumb’s p.430: 1–5 µg/kg/min starting at 1 (Marks 2009); 1–3 (DeFrancesco); 5–15 (Kittleson). Cats may seize at higher rates — titrate carefully.

Horses

• Hypotension under anaesthesia / heart failure (CRI): Papich 5e: anaesthetic cardiovascular support 0.5 µg/kg/min; heart failure 5–10 µg/kg/min. Plumb’s p.430: 1–10 µg/kg/min (Mogg); foals after volume repletion 2–20 µg/kg/min (rule of 6: 6 × kg mg in 100 mL, 1 mL/h = 1 µg/kg/min). Watch heart rate and arrhythmias. ARCI Class 2.

Contraindications

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with dynamic outflow obstruction (increased contractility worsens obstruction — caution). Uncorrected hypovolaemia (fix volume first). Significant tachyarrhythmia (can worsen). Never as an IV bolus or undiluted. Known hypersensitivity.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Cats can seizure at higher infusion rates — start low (1–5 mcg/kg/min) and titrate carefully.

Adverse effects

• Tachycardia and tachyarrhythmias (dose-related)
• Hypertension or hypotension
• Increased myocardial oxygen demand
• Seizures reported in cats at higher doses
• Tolerance/down-regulation with prolonged (>48–72 h) use

Drug interactions

• Beta-blockers: blunt the inotropic effect (and can leave unopposed alpha effects)
• Other catecholamines/sympathomimetics: additive cardiac stimulation/arrhythmia
• Halothane and some anaesthetics: increased arrhythmogenicity
• Incompatible with alkaline solutions (e.g. sodium bicarbonate) in the same line

Pregnancy and lactation

Used in critical maternal illness when needed; limited specific data. Maternal perfusion is the priority.

Monitoring

• Continuous ECG (tachyarrhythmias), blood pressure, and perfusion (lactate, urine output)
• Infusion rate via pump (titrate to effect)
• Signs of myocardial ischaemia; volume status (correct hypovolaemia first)
• Limit duration (tolerance after ~48–72 h)

Toxicity and overdose

Overdose (excessive infusion rate) causes tachycardia, tachyarrhythmias, hypertension, increased myocardial oxygen demand/ischaemia, and (in cats) seizures. Because it is so short-acting, simply reducing/stopping the infusion rapidly reverses effects.

Management: Reduce or STOP the infusion (effects resolve within minutes due to short half-life). Treat significant tachyarrhythmia (e.g. lidocaine for ventricular arrhythmia, short-acting β-blocker like esmolol if needed) and support as required. Continuous ECG/BP monitoring.

Clinical pearls

• The inotrope of choice for low-output/cardiogenic heart failure — boosts contractility with little heart-rate/BP disturbance
• CRI ONLY, in mcg/kg/min, via an infusion pump — never bolus; correct hypovolaemia before starting
• Short half-life is a safety feature: titrate minute-to-minute and effects vanish fast when you turn it down
• Use lower rates in cats (seizure risk) and limit duration (receptor down-regulation/tolerance develops)

Mechanism of action

Predominantly a β1-adrenergic agonist (with weaker β2 and α1 effects that tend to balance vascular tone), increasing myocardial contractility and stroke volume (positive inotropy) with comparatively modest chronotropic and vasopressor effect. The net result is improved cardiac output and tissue perfusion without the marked heart-rate/blood-pressure swings of dopamine. Very short plasma half-life allows minute-to-minute titration.

Formulations and products

• Injection 12.5 mg/mL (250 mg/20 mL vial)
• Dobutrex / Cardiject — 250 mg/20 mL (12.5 mg/mL) vial, Injection (CRI) (human-label)

Storage

Vials: 15–30 °C, protect from light. Once diluted, use within 24 h; a pink discolouration (oxidation) does not necessarily mean loss of potency but follow label.

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 cardiovascular drugs

• Captopril
• Carvedilol
• Digoxin
• Diltiazem
• Dopamine
• Enalapril
• Esmolol
• Hydralazine

Frequently asked questions