Nandrolone Decanoate: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Deca-Durabolin, Nandrolone, Durabolin

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Horses and Reptiles

General dose range

1–5 mg/kg IM every 1–3 weeks (depot IM) — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IM

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Anaemia of chronic renal failure and other non-regenerative anaemias (erythropoiesis stimulation)
• Catabolic/debilitating states — cachexia, chronic illness, convalescence (protein anabolism/appetite)
• Adjunct support of weight gain/recovery in selected patients

Nandrolone Decanoate 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

• Non-regenerative anaemia / catabolic state: Papich 5e: 1–1.5 mg/kg/week IM. Plumb’s p.877: CKD anaemia 1–1.5 mg/kg IM weekly (2–3 months to effect; weak evidence) or 5 mg/kg (max 200 mg/week) every 2–3 weeks; aplastic anaemia 1–3 mg/kg weekly; myelofibrosis 2 mg/kg weekly for 3 weeks; disuse atrophy 1.5 mg/kg weekly up to 8 weeks. Erythropoietin is preferred for CKD anaemia. Controlled anabolic steroid; hepatotoxicity possible.

Cats

• Non-regenerative anaemia / debilitation: Papich 5e: 1 mg/kg/week IM. Plumb’s p.877 (per cat): FeLV anaemia or marrow stimulation 10–20 mg IM weekly (questionable benefit); anaemia with cardiomyopathy 50 mg IM weekly.

Horses

• Debilitation / anabolic support: Papich 5e: 1 mg/kg IM every 4 weeks. Prohibited in competition — observe medication rules.

Reptiles

• Protein catabolism in renal disease (lizards): Plumb’s p.877 (de la Navarre 2003): lizards 1 mg/kg IM every 7–28 days to reduce protein catabolism in renal disease.

Contraindications

Pregnancy (virilisation of the fetus). Prostatic/mammary or other androgen-dependent neoplasia. Significant hepatic or cardiac disease. Nephrosis. Known hypersensitivity. Competition animals (prohibited substance). Breeding males where fertility suppression is undesirable.

Species-specific warnings

Horses: Anabolic steroids are prohibited substances in competition horses — observe medication rules; androgenic behavioural effects also occur.

Adverse effects

• Androgenic effects: behavioural change/aggression, clitoral/prepucial changes, oligospermia
• Hepatotoxicity (mainly oral alkylated anabolics; less with injectable nandrolone)
• Sodium/water retention (caution in cardiac/renal disease)
• Injection-site reaction; premature epiphyseal closure in the young

Drug interactions

• Anticoagulants (warfarin): potentiated (increased bleeding)
• Insulin/oral hypoglycaemics: altered glucose control
• Corticosteroids: additive sodium/water retention
• Hepatotoxic drugs: additive (mainly with oral alkylated anabolics)

Pregnancy and lactation

Contraindicated in pregnancy (fetal virilisation/masculinisation).

Monitoring

• PCV/haematocrit and reticulocytes (erythropoietic response — slow, over weeks)
• Liver values (especially with oral alkylated anabolics)
• Androgenic side effects/behaviour; fluid retention in cardiac/renal disease
• Competition medication rules (prohibited substance)

Toxicity and overdose

Chronic/high-dose use: androgenic effects (behaviour, reproductive changes), sodium/water retention, and — particularly with ORAL 17-alpha-alkylated anabolics — hepatotoxicity/cholestasis (injectable nandrolone is less hepatotoxic). Premature growth-plate closure in young animals. The erythropoietic benefit develops slowly. It is a controlled/prohibited substance in many jurisdictions/competitions.

Management: No specific antidote. Discontinue; supportive care and monitor liver values (esp. alkylated oral anabolics) and fluid/electrolyte status. Androgenic effects wane after stopping the depot (over weeks).

Clinical pearls

• A depot anabolic steroid for non-regenerative anaemia (esp. CKD) and catabolic/debilitated patients — but the erythropoietic effect is SLOW (weeks) and recombinant erythropoietin/darbepoetin is now preferred for CKD anaemia
• Injectable nandrolone is far less hepatotoxic than the oral 17-alpha-alkylated anabolics
• Contraindicated in pregnancy (fetal virilisation) and a PROHIBITED substance in competition animals
• Modern appetite stimulants (mirtazapine/capromorelin) have largely replaced its "tonic/appetite" use

Mechanism of action

A synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid that binds androgen receptors to promote nitrogen retention and protein anabolism (muscle/tissue building, appetite, weight gain) and to stimulate renal erythropoietin production and bone-marrow erythropoiesis (raising red-cell mass). Its structure gives a higher anabolic:androgenic ratio than testosterone, and the decanoate ester provides slow depot release over weeks.

Formulations and products

• Injection 25 / 50 mg/mL (decanoate, depot)
• Deca-Durabolin — 25 / 50 mg/mL, Depot IM injection (human-label)

Storage

Injection (oil depot): 15–30 °C, protect from light; do not freeze. Deep IM.

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

• Mitotane (o,p'-DDD)
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
• Naloxone HCl
• Neostigmine
• Oclacitinib
• Octreotide
• Oral Calcium / Phosphorus Bolus (Calcimust)

Frequently asked questions