Clomipramine for Dogs: Dosage and Dosing
By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·
Clomipramine for dogs dosage is set by your veterinarian, not by a label on a bottle. Most dogs start in a range of about 1 to 2 mg per kilogram of body weight, and your vet adjusts from there based on how your dog responds. A clomipramine for dogs dosage chart is a starting point for discussion, not a prescription you can fill in yourself.
This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Quick Answer
- Clomipramine is a prescription-only tricyclic antidepressant used for anxiety and compulsive behaviors in dogs, and you cannot buy it legally without a veterinarian's authorization.
- Doses are calculated by body weight in kilograms, and typical starting points fall near 1 to 2 mg/kg, with your vet choosing the exact number.
- Do not give your dog human clomipramine tablets or split a human pill to match a weight chart. Veterinary formulations and human formulations differ, and the tablet strengths are not designed for dogs.
- Give the dose at the same times each day, with or without food as your vet directs, and never double up after a missed dose.
- Call your veterinarian or a poison control hotline right away if your dog gets too much, acts sedated, trembles, or has a racing or irregular heartbeat.
What Clomipramine Is and What Veterinarians Use It For
Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. In veterinary medicine it is used to reduce fear and anxiety and to help control compulsive behaviors. It is not a sedative and it is not a quick fix. It works on brain chemistry over weeks, not hours.
Veterinarians commonly reach for it in dogs with anxiety-related problems such as acral lick dermatitis and tail chasing. In controlled research, clomipramine reduced symptoms of fear and anxiety in adult dogs, and it was effective for acral lick dermatitis and tail chasing behaviors [1]. A separate randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 25 dogs with tail chasing found that improvement in the clomipramine group was significantly better than in the control group [2]. That study used 2 mg/kg of clomipramine hydrochloride given by mouth for 12 weeks [2].
Clomipramine is also sometimes combined with other behavior medications. A 2025 study in six healthy laboratory dogs looked at tasipimidine oral solution given alone and together with clomipramine at roughly 1 mg/kg twice daily, and the combination was well tolerated with respect to blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG [3]. Alertness was slightly reduced when the two were combined at the higher tasipimidine dose [3]. That is a reminder that combinations change how a dog feels and behaves, and your vet needs to know every drug and supplement your dog takes.
One more thing worth knowing: clomipramine can affect thyroid test results. A 2023 review in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine lists clomipramine among the drugs that can alter thyroid hormone physiology and lead to erroneous thyroid function test results [4]. If your dog is on clomipramine and gets thyroid testing, tell the lab and your vet. This matters because misreading those results can lead to a wrong diagnosis of hypothyroidism and unnecessary treatment [4]. If you are already managing thyroid disease, our guide on hypothyroidism in dogs: weight gain, lethargy and thyroxine dosing covers how those doses are handled.
How Clomipramine Works
Clomipramine changes the balance of chemical messengers in the brain, mainly serotonin and norepinephrine. In simple terms, it helps brain circuits that regulate mood, arousal, and repetitive behavior work more steadily. That is why it can quiet compulsive licking or tail chasing and take the edge off fear.
Because it works through brain chemistry, the effect builds slowly. Owners often see the first changes in a few weeks, and full benefit can take longer. The tail chasing study measured improvement across 12 weeks in four intervals, which reflects how this drug is judged over time instead of over days [2].
Clomipramine is not the only option. A 2024 review of three controlled studies found that both fluoxetine and clomipramine reduce fear and anxiety in adult dogs, and there is no evidence that one is more effective than the other [1]. If your dog does not respond to one, your vet may discuss switching. Do not switch on your own.
Clomipramine for Dogs Dosage Basics
Who Decides the Dose
Your veterinarian decides the dose. They weigh your dog, review the behavior history, check for other medical problems, and look at every other medication your dog takes. Then they pick a starting dose and a schedule.
Published research gives us reference points. The tail chasing study used 2 mg/kg of clomipramine hydrochloride orally once daily for 12 weeks [2]. The tasipimidine interaction study used clomipramine at approximately 1 mg/kg twice daily [3]. These are study protocols, not universal prescriptions. Your dog's dose may be higher or lower, and it may be split across the day.
Clomipramine for Dogs Dosage by Weight and per Pound
Doses in veterinary medicine are calculated in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). If you see a clomipramine for dogs dosage per pound figure, it is a conversion from the metric dose. One kilogram equals about 2.2 pounds.
Here is the practical version. Your vet takes your dog's weight in kilograms and multiplies by the chosen mg/kg figure. A 10 kg dog at 1 mg/kg gets 10 mg. The same dog at 2 mg/kg gets 20 mg. The math is simple, but the choice of mg/kg is not, because it depends on your dog's diagnosis, age, liver and kidney health, and other drugs.
This is also why a clomipramine for dogs dosage chart you find online can be misleading. A chart cannot see your dog. It cannot know that your dog is on another antidepressant, has a heart murmur, or has early kidney disease. Use any chart only as a way to understand what your vet is doing, never as a dosing instruction.
Why Human Pills Are Not Interchangeable
Human clomipramine comes in tablet strengths made for people, and those strengths rarely line up with a dog's calculated dose. Cutting a tablet to hit an exact milligram amount is imprecise, and some formulations are not scored for accurate splitting. Your veterinarian will prescribe a veterinary product or a specific compounded strength so the dose is accurate and repeatable.
Never give your dog a human antidepressant because it seems close enough. Tricyclic antidepressants have a narrow margin between a helpful dose and a dangerous one, and the consequences of a wrong dose are serious.
How It Is Given
Clomipramine is given by mouth. Your vet will tell you whether to give it with food or on an empty stomach, and whether to give it once or twice daily. Stick to the same times each day. A steady routine keeps blood levels steady and makes it easier to judge whether the drug is working.
Do not stop the drug suddenly on your own. Behavior medications are usually tapered under veterinary direction.
What to Do About a Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, give it when you remember unless it is almost time for the next one. If the next dose is close, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal schedule. Never give two doses at once to catch up. If you are unsure, call your veterinarian or your pet's pharmacy and ask.
Side Effects: Common and Serious
Clomipramine can cause side effects, and most are manageable when your vet knows about them early. Track what you see and report it.
| Side effect | How common or serious | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sleepiness or reduced alertness | Common, usually mild. Alertness was slightly reduced when clomipramine was combined with tasipimidine at the higher dose in healthy dogs [3] | Note the timing and severity. Call your vet if your dog seems overly dull or hard to rouse |
| Mild sedation | Expected with drugs that calm the nervous system. Mild sedation and slight heart rate reduction were seen with a related sedating drug class in healthy dogs [5] | Keep a log. Report it at your next visit or sooner if it worsens |
| Stomach upset, drooling, appetite change | Common early in treatment | Offer food as directed. Call your vet if vomiting or appetite loss continues |
| Changes in heart rate or rhythm | Less common but serious | Stop and call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away |
| Tremors, agitation, confusion, or a very high body temperature | Serious and time sensitive | Treat as an emergency. Call poison control or go to an emergency clinic now |
| Changes in thyroid test results | A laboratory finding, not a symptom. Clomipramine is among the drugs that can alter thyroid hormone physiology and cause erroneous thyroid function test results [4] | Tell your vet and the lab that your dog takes clomipramine before thyroid testing |
If your dog is on other medications, ask your vet about interactions before adding anything, including over-the-counter products. For example, if you are considering an antihistamine for itching or allergies, read our guide on Benadryl (diphenhydramine) dosage calculator for dogs and confirm with your vet first, because sedating drugs can stack.
Who Should Not Take It and Drug Interactions
Clomipramine is not right for every dog. Your veterinarian will screen for heart disease, seizure history, liver or kidney problems, glaucoma, and urinary retention. Dogs with certain heart rhythm problems or a history of seizures may need a different medication or extra monitoring.
Tell your vet about everything your dog takes, including prescriptions, supplements, and anything you buy without a prescription. Tricyclic antidepressants can interact with other drugs that affect serotonin or heart rhythm. Combining clomipramine with another sedating or behavior-modifying drug can increase sleepiness and change heart rate and blood pressure, which is exactly what the tasipimidine study measured in healthy dogs [3]. That study found the combination well tolerated for cardiovascular parameters, but it also found slightly reduced alertness at the higher tasipimidine dose [3]. Healthy study dogs are not the same as your dog, so your vet will decide whether a combination is safe and at what dose.
Do not start or stop any other medication, including flea, tick, or pain products, without asking your vet first.
Overdose and When to Call a Veterinarian or Poison Control
An overdose of a tricyclic antidepressant can be serious. Signs to watch for include heavy sedation, unsteadiness, tremors, vomiting, agitation, confusion, a racing or irregular heartbeat, and a high body temperature.
If you think your dog ate too much clomipramine, call for help immediately. Have the bottle with you so you can read the strength and the number of tablets or capsules involved. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
In the United States, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both may charge a consultation fee. Call your own veterinarian or the nearest emergency clinic as well.
Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian
This article gives general information. It cannot tell you the right dose for your dog. Only your veterinarian can do that after examining your dog and reviewing the full history.
Call your veterinarian the same day if your dog vomits repeatedly, refuses food for more than a day, seems much sleepier than usual, or develops new tremors or restlessness.
Go to an emergency clinic now if your dog collapses, has a seizure, breathes rapidly, has a racing or irregular heartbeat, feels hot to the touch, or you know or suspect an overdose.
Schedule a routine visit if the behavior is not improving after several weeks, if you are struggling to give the medication, or if you want to discuss tapering or switching drugs. Behavior change takes time, and your vet needs your observations to adjust the plan. If your dog has other conditions that require weight-based dosing, our overview of veterinary emergency drug dosing: weight-based calculations explains why weight and accuracy matter so much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give my dog human clomipramine?
No. Human tablets are made in strengths that do not match a dog's calculated dose, and splitting them is imprecise. Your veterinarian will prescribe a veterinary or compounded product at the correct strength for your dog.
How long until clomipramine starts working?
Most dogs need several weeks before owners see clear improvement. In one controlled study, improvement was tracked across a 12 week treatment period, which shows how slowly this drug is judged. Give it time and keep notes for your vet.
Can I stop clomipramine suddenly?
No. Stopping a behavior medication abruptly can cause problems, and your vet will usually taper the dose. Call your veterinarian before making any change to the schedule.
Is clomipramine the same as fluoxetine for dogs?
They are different drugs from different classes, but both are used for anxiety and compulsive behavior. A review of controlled studies found both reduce fear and anxiety in adult dogs, with no evidence that one works better than the other. Your vet will pick based on your dog's health and history.
Does clomipramine affect blood tests?
Yes, it can. Clomipramine is among the medications that can alter thyroid hormone physiology and produce misleading thyroid function test results. Always tell your veterinarian and the testing laboratory that your dog takes clomipramine.
Related Articles
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) Dosage Calculator for Dogs: Veterinary Dosage Guide
- Pimobendan Vetmedin Cardiac Dose: Weight-Based CHF Dog Dosing Chart
- Benadryl Diphenhydramine for Dogs: Weight-Based Dosing for Allergies
- Hypothyroidism in Dogs: Weight Gain, Lethargy and Thyroxine Dosing
- Veterinary Emergency Drug Dosing: Weight-Based Calculations
- Trazodone Dosage for Dogs: Calming Post-Surgery Rest Dose by Weight
- Clomipramine for Dogs: Side Effects, Anxiety, and Aggression
- Fluoxetine for Dogs: Dosage, Side Effects, and What to Expect
- Alprazolam Dosage for Dogs: What Owners Should Know
References
- Comparing the effectiveness of clomipramine and fluoxetine in dogs with anxiety-related behaviours. Veterinary evidence, 2024.
- Comparison of clomipramine and fluoxetine treatment of dogs with tail chasing. Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere, 2010.
- Concurrent Use of Tasipimidine Oral Solution and Clomipramine in Dogs. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 2025.
- Influence of medications on thyroid function in dogs: An update. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 2023.
- Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered Clonidine in Dogs. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 2026.