Dog Medication Dose Calculator
Calculate the total dose for a dog from a mg/kg dosing rate and body weight. For reference only — always follow your vet's prescription.
How to use this tool
- Enter your dog's body weight in kilograms.
- Enter the mg/kg dose rate from your vet's prescription or the drug label.
- Enter how many times per day the dose is given.
- Cross-check the result with your vet or pharmacist before giving the medication.
Use this calculator to double-check a weight-based dose for your dog. It does not replace a veterinarian's prescription.
Never administer medication without explicit veterinary guidance. Many human medications are toxic to dogs.
Not veterinary advice. These results are estimates for general guidance only. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before making health, nutrition, or medication decisions for your pet.
Formula
Dose per administration (mg) = body weight (kg) × dosing rate (mg/kg)
Total daily dose (mg) = dose per administration × doses per day
How it works
This calculator multiplies the dog's body weight in kilograms by the prescribed milligrams-per-kilogram dosing rate to find the amount of drug to give in a single administration, then multiplies by the number of daily administrations to find the total daily drug load.
Results are rounded to one decimal place for practical measuring. This tool is for reference and dose-checking only; always follow the exact prescription issued by a licensed veterinarian, as dosing rates vary by drug, indication, and individual patient factors.
Worked example
Worked example
- Dog weight: 20 kg; dosing rate: 10 mg/kg; doses per day: 2.
- Single dose = 20 × 10 = 200 mg.
- Total daily dose = 200 × 2 = 400 mg.
Dose per administration = 200.0 mg; total daily dose = 400.0 mg
Key terms
- mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram)
- A weight-based dosing unit expressing how many milligrams of a drug are given per kilogram of the patient's body weight.
- Dosing rate
- The amount of medication prescribed per unit of body weight, set by a veterinarian based on the drug, condition being treated, and species.
- Administration
- A single instance of giving a dose — for example, twice-daily dosing means two separate administrations 12 hours apart.
- Daily drug load
- The total amount of a medication received in a 24-hour period; used to monitor for potential overdose or toxicity.
- Weight-based dosing
- A prescribing method that scales drug quantity to body weight, ensuring consistent drug concentration in patients of different sizes.
Frequently asked questions
- What does mg/kg mean?
- mg/kg is the milligrams of medication per kilogram of body weight. Multiplying the dose rate by the dog's weight gives the total mg for that administration.
- Can I use human medications for my dog?
- Many human medications — including ibuprofen, paracetamol, and xylitol — are highly toxic to dogs. Always use veterinary-prescribed medications only.