Salbutamol (Albuterol): veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Albuterol, Ventolin, Asthalin, Salbutamol sulphate

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats and Horses

Routes

Inhaled, PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Acute bronchospasm / asthma crisis (rescue) — feline asthma especially
• Canine chronic bronchitis with reversible bronchoconstriction
• Equine recurrent airway obstruction / inflammatory airway disease (bronchodilation)
• Pre-treatment before inhaled corticosteroid to improve drug delivery

Salbutamol (Albuterol) 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

• Bronchodilation (oral): Plumb’s p.45: 0.05 mg/kg PO q8h (Johnson 2000); 0.02 mg/kg q12h for 5 days, then 0.05 mg/kg q8–12h if needed (Church 2003). Older references citing 50 mg/kg are a gross overdose — ignore. Papich 5e: 20–50 µg/kg q6–8h PO, maximum 100 µg/kg q6h.
• Bronchodilation (nebulised): Plumb’s p.45 (McConnell & Hughey 1992): based on a 60 lb dog. MDI via spacer can also be used.

Cats

• Acute asthma / bronchospasm (rescue, MDI + spacer): Plumb’s p.45: one puff as needed with inhaled fluticasone for mild–moderate asthma; severe crisis — oxygen, IV glucocorticoid and one puff every 30 min (Dowling 2003); intermittent signs two puffs twice daily, effect in 5–10 min (Padrid 2006). Reliever, not controller.

Horses

• Equine asthma — rescue bronchodilation (inhaled): Papich 5e: 360 µg per horse up to four times daily. Plumb’s p.45: 360 µg, repeatable every 15 min for up to 2 h in severe obstruction, then q4–6h (Davis & Rush); 0.8–3 µg/kg by inhalation (Foreman; Lavoie). Tolerance develops if used alone — combine with inhaled corticosteroid. ARCI Class 3.
• Foals — oral bronchodilation: Papich 5e: foals 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q8–12h PO.

Contraindications

Use as sole long-term therapy for inflammatory airway disease (no anti-inflammatory effect; over-reliance signals poor control). Significant tachyarrhythmia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy/cardiac disease (beta effects), and hypokalaemia. Caution with overuse (the racemic S-enantiomer may worsen airway inflammation with chronic frequent use). Known hypersensitivity.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Use as rescue only — pair with inhaled corticosteroid (e.g. fluticasone) for control. Over-reliance on salbutamol indicates inadequately treated airway inflammation.

Dogs: A chewed/punctured albuterol inhaler delivers a massive dose — life-threatening tachyarrhythmia and hypokalaemia; treat as an emergency.

Adverse effects

• Tremor, restlessness/agitation
• Tachycardia, arrhythmia
• Hypokalaemia (especially with overuse or systemic dosing)
• Worsening airway inflammation with chronic frequent (racemic) use
• Hyperglycaemia (high systemic doses)

Drug interactions

• Beta-blockers (e.g. propranolol/sotalol): antagonise bronchodilation — avoid in airway patients
• Other sympathomimetics: additive cardiac/tremor effects
• Potassium-lowering drugs (diuretics, corticosteroids): additive hypokalaemia
• Tricyclic/MAOI: potentiated cardiovascular effects

Pregnancy and lactation

Inhaled use gives low systemic exposure and is generally considered acceptable when bronchodilation is needed; high systemic doses can affect uterine tone.

Monitoring

• Respiratory rate/effort and response to the reliever
• Heart rate/rhythm with frequent or systemic use
• Serum potassium with overdose or heavy use
• Frequency of rescue use — escalating need means inadequate anti-inflammatory control

Toxicity and overdose

Overdose (commonly from a dog chewing/puncturing an MDI canister, which releases a large rapid dose) causes marked tachycardia/arrhythmia, severe tremor, agitation, and pronounced HYPOKALAEMIA — a genuine emergency. Systemic overdose mirrors beta-agonist excess.

Management: No specific antidote. Treat hypokalaemia (IV potassium with ECG monitoring) and tachyarrhythmia (a cardioselective beta-blocker, e.g. esmolol/propranolol, cautiously if airway disease allows) — beta-blockade also counters tremor/tachycardia. IV fluids and supportive/monitored care; effects resolve over hours. Inhaler-puncture cases often need overnight ECG/electrolyte monitoring.

Clinical pearls

• It is a RELIEVER, not a controller — every asthmatic cat on salbutamol also needs an inhaled (or systemic) corticosteroid for the underlying inflammation
• Deliver by MDI + spacer + snug mask (e.g. AeroKat-type chamber) for fast, low-side-effect bronchodilation
• Rising rescue-inhaler use is a red flag for poor control — step up anti-inflammatory therapy
• Watch for the classic emergency: a dog that chews an albuterol inhaler — expect tachycardia and dangerous hypokalaemia
• Avoid chronic frequent racemic salbutamol; over-use can paradoxically worsen airway inflammation

Mechanism of action

Selective beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist. Stimulation of beta-2 receptors on airway smooth muscle activates adenylate cyclase, raising intracellular cAMP, which relaxes bronchial smooth muscle and reverses bronchoconstriction within minutes. It also stabilises some mast-cell mediator release. Beta-2 effects elsewhere (skeletal muscle, heart, potassium shift) account for tremor, tachycardia and hypokalaemia.

Formulations and products

• Metered-dose inhaler 100 mcg/puff
• Nebuliser solution 5 mg/mL
• Syrup 2 mg/5 mL (0.4 mg/mL)
• 2 / 4 mg tablet
• Asthalin — 100 mcg/puff MDI; 5 mg/mL respules; 2 mg/5 mL syrup, Inhaler / nebuliser / syrup (human-label)
• Ventolin / Levolin — 100 mcg/puff MDI; 2 / 4 mg tablet, Inhaler / tablet (human-label)

Storage

MDI canisters: 15–30 °C, do not puncture or incinerate (pressurised); keep away from pets that may chew them. Nebuliser solution/syrup/tablets: 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.

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Frequently asked questions