Propranolol: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Cardiovascular

Also known as

Inderal, Ciplar, Provanol

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Horses and Ferrets

General dose range

0.2–1 mg/kg PO q8h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO, IV

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Supraventricular tachycardia / rate control
• Feline HCM with dynamic LV outflow obstruction
• Systemic hypertension (adjunct)
• Hyperthyroidism — control tachycardia/tremor pending definitive therapy
• Some ventricular arrhythmias (catecholamine-driven)

Propranolol 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

• Arrhythmia / hypertension: Papich 5e: 0.2–1 mg/kg q8h PO, titrated. Plumb’s p.1020: start 0.1–0.2 mg/kg q8h, up to 1.5 mg/kg q8h (Ware 2000); heart failure adjunct 0.1–0.2 mg/kg q8h (Fox). Do not stop abruptly; avoid in bronchospasm.
• Acute rate control (IV, in-hospital): Papich 5e: 20–60 µg/kg IV over 5–10 min, titrated. Plumb’s p.1020: 0.02 mg/kg IV slowly, up to 0.1 mg/kg (Ware). ECG monitoring.

Cats

• HCM / hyperthyroid tachycardia (per cat): Papich 5e: 0.4–1.2 mg/kg (2.5–5 mg per cat) q8h PO. Plumb’s p.1020: 2.5 mg (up to 10 mg) per cat q8–12h (Ware; Fox); hypertension 2.5–5 mg q8–12h; hyperthyroid adjunct 2 mg/kg (6.25 mg per cat) once daily.

Horses

• Ventricular tachycardia (oral): Papich 5e: 0.4–0.8 mg/kg q8h PO. Plumb’s p.1020 (Kimberly & McGurrin 2006): 0.3–0.7 mg/kg PO q8h — less effective than lidocaine; bradycardia, AV block and bronchoconstriction possible. ARCI Class 3.
• Ventricular tachycardia (IV): Plumb’s p.1020: 0.03–0.15 mg/kg IV (Kimberly) or 0.05–0.16 mg/kg IV (Mogg 1999). Papich 5e: 0.1 mg/kg IV slowly, repeat in 6–8 h; if ineffective 0.5 mg/kg, increasing gradually toward 2 mg/kg. Negative inotrope.

Ferrets

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Carpenter's 6th ed (Ferret cardiopulmonary table): 0.2–1 mg/kg PO q8–12h — β-blocker for HCM; may cause lethargy and inappetence. Plumb’s p.1020: 0.5–2 mg/kg PO or SC once or twice daily (Williams 2000); 0.2–2 mg/kg PO q8–12h (Heatley 2009).

Contraindications

Decompensated congestive heart failure, significant bradyarrhythmia / high-grade AV block, bronchospastic disease/asthma (β2 blockade), and hypotension. Diabetes (masks hypoglycaemia). Abrupt withdrawal (rebound). Concurrent strong negative chronotropes. Known hypersensitivity.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Useful in HCM/hyperthyroidism but avoid in cats with concurrent asthma (bronchospasm) and in decompensated heart failure.

Adverse effects

• Bradycardia, hypotension, lethargy
• Negative inotropy — can worsen heart failure
• Bronchoconstriction (non-selective)
• Masks signs of hypoglycaemia (diabetics)
• GI upset

Drug interactions

• Calcium-channel blockers (diltiazem/verapamil): additive bradycardia/AV block/myocardial depression
• Other negative chronotropes (digoxin): additive AV slowing
• Sympathomimetics (terbutaline/salbutamol): mutual antagonism (avoid in airway patients)
• Insulin/oral hypoglycaemics: masks hypoglycaemia signs

Pregnancy and lactation

Beta-blockers may cause fetal bradycardia/growth effects; use only if maternal benefit outweighs risk.

Monitoring

• Heart rate, rhythm (ECG), blood pressure
• Respiratory status (bronchospasm)
• Signs of worsening CHF
• Blood glucose in diabetics; taper to discontinue

Toxicity and overdose

Overdose: profound bradycardia, AV block, hypotension, heart failure, bronchospasm, hypoglycaemia and CNS depression/seizures (lipophilic — crosses BBB). Potentially life-threatening; non-selective blockade adds bronchospasm risk.

Management: GLUCAGON is the key antidote for beta-blocker overdose (bypasses the β-receptor to raise cAMP — supports rate/contractility); plus atropine, IV fluids, high-dose catecholamines, and consider high-dose insulin-euglycaemia therapy and IV lipid emulsion for refractory cases. Treat bronchospasm and hypoglycaemia; continuous ECG.

Clinical pearls

• Non-selective β-blocker — useful for SVT, feline HCM and hyperthyroid tachycardia, but its β2 blockade risks bronchospasm (prefer atenolol for routine cardiac use)
• A practical adjunct in hyperthyroid cats/dogs to control tachycardia and tremor while definitive therapy works
• Glucagon is the antidote in overdose — keep that in mind for β-blocker toxicity
• Never stop abruptly (rebound tachycardia/hypertension); avoid in decompensated CHF and asthma

Mechanism of action

Competitively blocks β1 (cardiac) and β2 (bronchial/vascular) adrenoceptors. β1 blockade slows sinus rate and AV conduction, reduces myocardial contractility and oxygen demand, and lowers blood pressure/renin; in HCM it relieves catecholamine-driven dynamic outflow obstruction. β2 blockade causes the bronchoconstriction and masking of hypoglycaemia that limit its non-cardiac safety.

Formulations and products

• 10 mg tablet
• 20 / 40 mg tablet
• Injection 1 mg/mL
• Ciplar — 10 / 20 / 40 mg tablet; LA capsules, Tablet / LA capsule (human-label)
• Inderal — 10 / 40 mg tablet, Tablet (human-label)

Storage

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

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

• Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)
• Phenylephrine
• Pimobendan
• Procainamide
• Quinidine
• Ramipril
• Sildenafil
• Sodium Nitroprusside

Frequently asked questions