MDose · Veterinary drug reference
PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE
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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
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View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
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.
Indications2
Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (spay incontinence) — first-line medical therapy; retrograde ejaculation (3–4 mg/kg q12h)
DogOn-label (ON_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (spay incontinence) — first-line medical therapy; retrograde ejaculation (3–4 mg/kg q12h) — Authorized (Proin — FDA-approved dogs)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Urethral sphincter hypotonus incontinence
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Urethral sphincter hypotonus incontinence — Extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens3
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects106
Restlessness, anxiety, irritability, anorexia — Common
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hypertension, tachycardia, urine retention — Dose-related
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Rare "stroke" reports at therapeutic doses — Idiosyncratic
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Vomiting496 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS451 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')449 reports
- Emesis425 reports
- Panting311 reports
- Accidental exposure309 reports
- Diarrhoea297 reports
- Agitation250 reports
- Overdose233 reports
- Anorexia228 reports
- Emesis (multiple)195 reports
- Underdose191 reports
Cat
- Accidental exposure1 reports
- Emesis1 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS1 reports
Monitoring1
Blood pressure (baseline + after starting/titration, esp. in older dogs); resting HR; continence response; behavior/appetite
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions6
Monitor BP in senior patients — incontinence dogs are often older, and PPA is a pressor.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hypertension, cardiac disease, glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Human PPA stroke association led to its OTC-decongestant withdrawal — veterinary urethral use at lower doses continues with monitoring
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
PPA is the pharmacologic backbone of canine spay-incontinence: it restores urethral closing pressure by alpha-adrenergic stimulation — response rates 74–92%, with SR formulations rescuing half of immediate-release failures.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The estrogen alternatives (DES/estriol) and the Surgery options exist, but PPA-first is the standard algorithm; if it fails or causes agitation/hypertension → estriol (Incurin) or combination.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions4
MAOIs (selegiline, amitraz) — Hypertensive crisis risk (class sympathomimetic rule)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Other sympathomimetics, tricyclics — Addative pressor effect
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Antihypertensives — Opposing actions
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Halogenated anesthetics — Arrhythmia risk
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics4
Mechanism — Indirect alpha+beta agonist (releases norepinephrine) → ↑ urethral smooth/sphincter tone + bladder neck closure
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Onset/duration — 15–30 min onset, ~3 h duration (human decongestant data); t½ 3–4 h
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Elimination — 80–90% unchanged in urine
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Tachyphylaxis — NE-depletion theoretical; NOT documented for USMI use
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
May ↓ ovum implantation (lab data); clinical experience uneventful — use only if needed in breeding bitches.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 967–968 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references17
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Phenylpropanolamine (Proin) increases intraocular pressure and alters tear production in dogs.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Placement of an artificial urethral sphincter for treatment of passive urinary incontinence after inadvertent prostatectomy and balloon dilation treatment for stricture formation in a 5-month-old dog.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Role of melatonin in intestinal mucosal injury induced by restraint stress in mice.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Myocardial hypertrophy associated with long-term phenylpropanolamine use in a dog.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Changes in blood pressure following escalating doses of phenylpropanolamine and a suggested protocol for monitoring.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 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.
Available products
Products listed in the Health Canada Drug Product Database for this active ingredient. A listing does not establish that a product is authorized for the clinical uses described on this page.