Skip to content
PawScales

Gabapentin Dosage Chart for Dogs and Cats

Gabapentin is a prescription medicine used for pain, seizures and anxiety in dogs and cats. For ongoing pain the Merck Veterinary Manual lists about 5 to 30 mg/kg every 8 hours for dogs and 3 to 10 mg/kg for cats. This page is a reference only; your vet sets the exact dose for your pet.

By Sikander Malik · Updated October 17, 2026 · Sources

Follow your vet’s prescription. Never start, stop or change a dose without your vet.

Gabapentin is a prescription medicine, so this page is a reference only, not a dose to give. The tables show the typical prescribed range by weight; your vet calculates the exact amount for your pet.

Reference only, not veterinary advice. Reviewed against the Merck Veterinary Manual gabapentin tables, October 2026. Medical disclaimer.

Never give a dog the human liquid form

The human liquid (oral solution) of gabapentin can contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and can cause liver failure. Give capsules or tablets, or a vet-compounded xylitol-free liquid. Always check the label.

Gabapentin dose for dogs

For ongoing use (chronic or nerve pain, and as an add-on for seizures), the Merck Veterinary Manual lists 5 to 30 mg/kg, every 8 hours. That is a wide range because the right amount depends on the dog and the condition.

Dog gabapentin range by weight
Dog gabapentin typical range by weight
WeightTypical range per dose
10 lb25–135 mg
20 lb50–270 mg
40 lb95–540 mg
60 lb140–815 mg
80 lb185–1085 mg
100 lb230–1360 mg
Approximate, rounded to 5 mg, every 8 hours. Your vet sets the exact dose. Vets usually start at the lower end and adjust.
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (gabapentin 5–30 mg/kg PO q8h).

For one-off use before a stressful event (a vet visit, fireworks, travel), Merck lists a higher dose range (20 to 50 mg/kg, about 90 minutes before). Your vet calculates this for your dog; we don’t show a per-weight number because it is a short-term, situation-specific dose.

Gabapentin dose for cats

For pain, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists 3 to 10 mg/kg, every 8 to 12 hours for cats.

Cat gabapentin range by weight (pain)
Cat gabapentin typical range by weight
WeightTypical range per dose
6 lb10–25 mg
8 lb15–35 mg
10 lb15–45 mg
12 lb20–50 mg
15 lb25–65 mg
Approximate, rounded to 5 mg, every 8 to 12 hours. Your vet sets the exact dose.
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (gabapentin 3–10 mg/kg PO q8–12h).

Gabapentin for cats before a vet visit

For a calmer vet visit, cats are often given a single dose of 50 to 100 mg per cat, once, about 90 minutes before the appointment (van Haaften et al., 2017). This is a flat per-cat dose, not by weight. Older cats and cats with kidney disease are often given less, so your vet decides.

Warnings

  • Do not stop suddenly after long-term use. Your vet tapers it; an abrupt stop can cause rebound pain or, if used for seizures, breakthrough seizures.
  • Sedation and wobbliness (ataxia) are common and dose-related. Keep your pet off stairs and furniture until it wears off.
  • Kidney disease: gabapentin is cleared by the kidneys, so dogs and older cats with kidney disease usually need a lower dose.
  • Prescription only, and a controlled substance in some US states. Only use gabapentin your vet prescribed for your pet, and don’t combine it with other sedatives unless your vet says so.

If you think your pet had too much

Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply), or go to your nearest emergency vet. Signs of too much include heavy sedation, severe wobbliness, or collapse.

Questions owners ask

How much gabapentin can I give my dog?
Only the amount your vet prescribes. For reference, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists about 5 to 30 mg/kg every 8 hours for ongoing pain or seizures, and 20 to 50 mg/kg as a one-off about 90 minutes before a stressful event. The range is wide, so vets usually start low and adjust. Never start or change gabapentin without your vet.
How much gabapentin for a cat?
For pain, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists about 3 to 10 mg/kg every 8 to 12 hours for cats, so a 10 lb cat is roughly 15 to 45 mg per dose. For a calmer vet visit, cats are often given a single 50 to 100 mg dose about 90 minutes before. Your vet decides the amount, especially for older cats or those with kidney disease.
How much gabapentin for a cat before a vet visit?
A common, well-studied approach is a single dose of 50 to 100 mg per cat, by mouth, about 90 minutes before you leave for the appointment (van Haaften et al., 2017). It is a flat per-cat dose, not by weight. Older cats and cats with kidney disease are often given less, so ask your vet for the right amount for your cat.
What are the side effects of gabapentin?
The most common are sedation and wobbliness (ataxia), which are dose-related and wear off. Keep your pet off stairs and furniture until steady. Some pets are more sleepy than others. If your pet is very hard to rouse, collapses, or seems unwell, call your vet.
Can I stop gabapentin suddenly?
No, not after long-term use. Stopping abruptly can cause rebound pain, and in pets taking it for seizures it can trigger breakthrough seizures. Your vet will taper the dose down over time. Always follow your vet on starting, changing or stopping it.
How long does gabapentin take to work?
It is usually given to take effect in about 1 to 2 hours, which is why the pre-visit dose for cats is given roughly 90 minutes ahead. Effects generally last several hours. Timing and dose depend on the use and the individual pet, so follow your vet’s instructions.

Related tools

A calm white dog resting on a sunlit grassy field
Benadryl dosage calculator
A calm brown dog lying relaxed on a sunlit wooden deck
Trazodone dosage chart
A yellow Labrador looking up at the camera in daylight
Chocolate toxicity calculator

Sources

Reference only, not veterinary advice. Reviewed against the Merck Veterinary Manual gabapentin tables, October 2026. Medical disclaimer.