# Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine): veterinary dose and monograph

> Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) is a veterinary drug. An oral chelating agent whose primary veterinary use is COPPER chelation for COPPER-ASSOCIATED HEPATOPATHY — it binds hepatic copper for urinary excretion, central to managing copper storage disease in BEDLINGTON TERRIERS (and Labradors… Indications include copper-associated hepatopathy (copper storage disease) — Bedlington Terriers and other breeds; lead poisoning (oral chelation alternative); cystine urolithiasis (cystinuria) — dissolution/prevention. This monograph lists 8 reference doses for dogs, cats, cattle, horses, sheep and birds, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Veterinary drug
- **Also known as:** Cuprimine, Distamine, D-penicillamine
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Birds
- **General dose range:** 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h (empty stomach) — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Copper-associated hepatopathy (copper storage disease) — Bedlington Terriers and other breeds
- Lead poisoning (oral chelation alternative)
- Cystine urolithiasis (cystinuria) — dissolution/prevention
- Chronic copper toxicosis management (with low-copper diet ± zinc)

## Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) 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

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Copper-associated hepatopathy | 10–15 mg/kg | PO | q12h on empty stomach | — |
| Cystine urolithiasis | 15 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |
| Lead poisoning (after Ca-EDTA) | 110 mg/kg/day PO divided q6–8h for 1–2 weeks (33–55 mg/kg/day if poorly tolerated) | PO | q6–8h | 1–2 weeks |

- Copper-associated hepatopathy: Papich 5e: 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h, 30 min before a meal; Dobermans 250 mg per dog q12h. Plumb’s p.942: 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h on an empty stomach, starting low (Webb); 15 mg/kg twice daily with pyridoxine, chelating at least 6 months then re-biopsy (Center). Do not give with zinc or mineral supplements. Give with a little food if vomiting, accepting lower absorption.
- Cystine urolithiasis: Plumb’s p.942: 15 mg/kg PO twice daily; give with food or increase gradually if nausea or vomiting occur (Osborne; Lage).
- Lead poisoning (after Ca-EDTA): Plumb’s p.942 (Mount; Nicholson): 30 min before feeding; premedicate with dimenhydrinate 2–4 mg/kg if vomiting.

### Cats

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chelation (lead / copper) | 10–15 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |

- Chelation (lead / copper): Papich 5e (dogs and cats): 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h, 30 min before a meal. Plumb’s p.942 (Reid & Oehme): lead — if blood lead is >0.2 ppm 3–4 weeks after Ca-EDTA, 125 mg per cat PO q12h for 5 days. GI upset common.

### Cattle

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Heavy-metal chelation (lead / mercury / copper) | 10–15 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — | 21d slaughter / 72h milk |

- Heavy-metal chelation (lead / mercury / copper): Papich 5e (horses and cattle): 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h. Plumb’s p.942: lead or mercury 110 mg/kg PO for 1–3 weeks after clearing the GI tract (Osweiler). FARAD: minimum 21-day slaughter and 3-day milk withdrawal.

### Horses

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Heavy-metal chelation | 10–15 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |

- Heavy-metal chelation: Papich 5e (horses and cattle): 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h.

### Sheep

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for sheep*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Copper toxicity | 26–52 mg/kg | PO | q24h | 6 days | 21d slaughter / 72h milk |

- Copper toxicity: Plumb’s p.942: small ruminants 26–52 mg/kg PO once daily for 6 days (Boileau; Reilly — sometimes successful). FARAD: minimum 21-day slaughter and 3-day milk withdrawal.

### Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Heavy-metal chelation (lead / mercury / copper) | 10–15 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — | 21d slaughter / 72h milk |

- Heavy-metal chelation (lead / mercury / copper): Papich 5e (horses and cattle): 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h. Plumb’s p.942: lead or mercury 110 mg/kg PO for 1–3 weeks after clearing the GI tract (Osweiler). FARAD: minimum 21-day slaughter and 3-day milk withdrawal.

### Birds

*Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) doses for birds*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lead poisoning (adjunct) | 55 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 1–2 weeks (or 3–6 weeks after Ca-EDTA) |

- Lead poisoning (adjunct): Plumb’s p.942 (Jones 2007): 55 mg/kg PO q12h; Ca-EDTA plus penicillamine until signs resolve, then penicillamine for 3–6 weeks, has been suggested as the best regimen.

## Contraindications

Penicillin hypersensitivity (cross-reactivity possible). Pre-existing significant renal disease/proteinuria, or blood dyscrasias (penicillamine can cause immune-complex nephropathy and cytopenias). Pregnancy (teratogenic). Concurrent mineral supplements/antacids at the same time (reduce chelation). Known hypersensitivity.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Dogs: For copper hepatopathy it is long-term therapy — monitor liver/copper status, urine protein and CBC; combine with a low-copper diet and consider zinc (dosed at a separate time).

## Adverse effects

- GI upset (vomiting, anorexia) — common
- Immune-mediated effects with chronic use: proteinuria/nephropathy, skin reactions, blood dyscrasias
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) depletion (chronic use)
- Taste changes / hypersalivation

## Drug interactions

- Oral minerals (zinc, iron, calcium) / antacids / food: bind penicillamine and reduce absorption and chelation — separate dosing
- Other nephrotoxic/marrow-suppressive drugs: additive risk
- Zinc therapy (for copper disease): give at a different time (zinc reduces penicillamine absorption but both are used in copper management)
- Pyridoxine: supplement on long-term therapy (penicillamine is a B6 antagonist)

## Pregnancy and lactation

Contraindicated/avoid in pregnancy (teratogenic — connective-tissue defects).

## Monitoring

- Hepatic copper / liver values (copper hepatopathy) — response over months
- Urine protein (UPC) and CBC periodically (immune-mediated nephropathy/cytopenias)
- GI tolerance; pyridoxine status on long-term use
- Urinary cystine / stone recurrence (cystinuria); blood lead (lead poisoning)

## Toxicity and overdose

Acute toxicity is mainly GI (vomiting/anorexia). Chronic therapy carries idiosyncratic IMMUNE-MEDIATED risks — proteinuric nephropathy (immune-complex), blood dyscrasias (thrombocytopenia, neutropenia), and skin/mucocutaneous reactions — plus pyridoxine depletion. These warrant periodic urine-protein and CBC monitoring.

Management: No specific antidote. Discontinue; supportive care (fluids, anti-emetic); monitor renal function/urine protein and CBC. Supplement pyridoxine. Manage immune-mediated effects by stopping the drug ± immunosuppression. Decontaminate large recent ingestions.

## Clinical pearls

- The chelator for COPPER storage hepatopathy (classically Bedlington Terriers) — lowers hepatic copper over months alongside a low-copper diet ± zinc
- Give on an EMPTY stomach and separate from mineral supplements/food (they block absorption and chelation)
- Also dissolves/prevents CYSTINE stones and chelates lead
- Watch for the chronic immune-mediated effects (proteinuria, cytopenias) — monitor UPC and CBC; supplement pyridoxine; avoid in pregnancy

## Mechanism of action

A degradation product of penicillin that acts as a chelator: its thiol and amino groups bind copper, lead and other metals to form stable water-soluble complexes excreted in urine, lowering hepatic copper (and body lead) burdens. For cystinuria, its thiol group reacts with cysteine to form a soluble penicillamine-cysteine disulphide, increasing urinary cystine solubility and dissolving/preventing cystine stones. It also has some immunomodulatory activity (basis of its rare immune-mediated side effects).

## Formulations and products

- 125 / 250 mg capsule/tablet (Cuprimine)
- Cuprimine / Distamine — 125 / 250 mg capsule, Capsule (human-label)

## Storage

Capsules/tablets: 15–30 °C, dry, protect from light/moisture.

## 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.

## Other hormones, emergency drugs, supplements and other drugs

- [Octreotide](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/octreotide)
- [Oral Calcium / Phosphorus Bolus (Calcimust)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/calcimust-bolus)
- [Oral Iron + B12 + Folic Acid (Feritas / Ferikind)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/iron-b12-folic-bolus)
- [Oxytocin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/oxytocin)
- [Pentoxifylline](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/pentoxifylline)
- [Pergolide](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/pergolide)
- [Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/phenylpropanolamine)
- [Phytonadione (Vitamin K1)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/phytonadione)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) for dogs?

Reference doses for Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) in dogs: 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h on empty stomach (Copper-associated hepatopathy); 15 mg/kg PO q12h (Cystine urolithiasis); 110 mg/kg/day PO divided q6–8h for 1–2 weeks (33–55 mg/kg/day if poorly tolerated) PO q6–8h for 1–2 weeks (Lead poisoning (after Ca-EDTA)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) for cats?

Reference doses for Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) in cats: 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h (Chelation (lead / copper)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) for cattle?

Reference doses for Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) in cattle: 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h (Heavy-metal chelation (lead / mercury / copper)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the withdrawal period for Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine)?

Cattle, PO (Heavy-metal chelation (lead / mercury / copper)): 21d slaughter / 72h milk; Sheep, PO (Copper toxicity): 21d slaughter / 72h milk. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) not be used?

Penicillin hypersensitivity (cross-reactivity possible). Pre-existing significant renal disease/proteinuria, or blood dyscrasias (penicillamine can cause immune-complex nephropathy and cytopenias). Pregnancy (teratogenic). Concurrent mineral supplements/antacids at the same time (reduce chelation). Known hypersensitivity.

### What are the side effects of Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine) in animals?

GI upset (vomiting, anorexia) — common; Immune-mediated effects with chronic use: proteinuria/nephropathy, skin reactions, blood dyscrasias; Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) depletion (chronic use); Taste changes / hypersalivation.

## Sources

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

---

VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.