MDose · Veterinary drug reference
TIER2 TOPIC: DOPAMINE AGONISTS (BROMOCRIPTINE / CABERGOLINE)
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Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications3
Cabergoline: pseudopregnancy, estrus induction/synchronization, second-half pregnancy termination, mastitis, pre-mammary-tumor-surgery; bromocriptine: same niche but adverse-effect-heavy
DogExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Cabergoline: pseudopregnancy, estrus induction/synchronization, second-half pregnancy termination, mastitis, pre-mammary-tumor-surgery; bromocriptine: same niche but adverse-effect-heavy — Extra-label (human drugs)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pseudopregnancy/estrus manipulation (cabergoline); acromegaly (bromocriptine — weak)
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Pseudopregnancy/estrus manipulation (cabergoline); acromegaly (bromocriptine — weak) — Extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cabergoline in pituitary Cushing's
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Indications table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Cabergoline in pituitary Cushing's — Experimental tier
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Indications table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens0
No dose regimens recorded for this species selection.
Adverse effects0
No adverse effects or event reports recorded for this species selection.
Monitoring1
Reproductive response (proestrus onset, mammary regression), vomiting/adverse tolerance (bromocriptine), BP if symptomatic
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Intact desired pregnancy; bromocriptine in vomiting-prone patients
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Hypotension-prone patients; concurrent dopamine antagonists (metoclopramide-logic conflicts)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The same-axis pair with opposite tolerability: cabergoline = clean modern tool (5 µg/kg daily); bromocriptine = the emesis-laden ancestor — the lesson repeats across the library (compare alprazolam/sertralol-generation thinking).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Prolactin pharmacology in one line: dopamine is the prolactin brake → agonize D2 → prolactin falls → pseudopregnancy/mastitis/termination physiology follows.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pre-mammary-tumor-surgery prolactin suppression is the quirky reproductive-oncology crossover use.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
Dopamine antagonists (metoclopramide, some antipsychotics) — Pharmacologic opposition
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Erythromycin/CYP3A4 inhibitors (human) — ↑ cabergoline
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Other hypotensives — Additive
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics3
Mechanism — Dopamine (D2) agonism → prolactin inhibition from anterior pituitary — the prolactin axis switch
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cabergoline vs bromocriptine — Cabergoline: longer-acting, far better tolerated (rare vomiting) — the modern pick; bromocriptine: emesis-prone, hypotension, CNS depression
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Lactation interference — Both — by design (dopamine is the prolactin brake)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Contraindicated in intended pregnancy (termination is literally an indication); stops lactation.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 160–161 (bromocriptine), p. 176–177 (cabergoline) — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Sources: Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.