MDose · Veterinary drug reference
POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTATION
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One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
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
Prevention/treatment of hypokalemia (CKD losses, diuretic therapy, DKA, post-obstruction, anorexia); potassium citrate additionally for metabolic acidosis alkalinization (CKD)
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Prevention/treatment of hypokalemia (CKD losses, diuretic therapy, DKA, post-obstruction, anorexia); potassium citrate additionally for metabolic acidosis alkalinization (CKD) — OTC/extra-label supplement
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Prevention/treatment of hypokalemia (CKD losses, diuretic therapy, DKA, post-obstruction, anorexia); potassium citrate additionally for metabolic acidosis alkalinization (CKD) — OTC/extra-label supplement
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens5
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 effects36
Hyperkalemia (iatrogenic) — The risk of therapy — bradyarrhythmias, peaked T waves
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
GI distress (oral) — Common
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Vein irritation/phlebitis, tissue necrosis (extravasation) — IV KCl undiluted/fast
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — 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 reportsCat
- Anaemia NOS2 reports
- Ataxia2 reports
- Bladder distension2 reports
- Cellulitis2 reports
- Constipation2 reports
- Death by euthanasia2 reports
- Decreased urine concentration2 reports
- Dehydration2 reports
- Dilated renal pelvis2 reports
- Elevated cholesterol (total)2 reports
- Elevated creatine-kinase (CK)2 reports
- Elevated globulins2 reports
Monitoring1
Clinical: Serum potassium q24–48h on initiation; ECG during IV therapy; renal values; acid-base
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Hyperkalemia; renal failure/severe impairment; untreated Addison's; acute dehydration; severe hemolysis; GI motility impairment (solid forms)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions5
Digoxin patients (hypokalemia potentiates digoxin toxicity — dual reason to normalize K); acid-base status shifts potassium
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
IV rule: the RATE kills, not the dose — 0.5 mEq/kg/h ceiling (1.5 max with ECG in extremis); >10 mEq/h to a small patient is an overdose scenario. Never undiluted push.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
DKA potassium trap: insulin therapy drops serum K fast — start K supplementation before/during insulin once K >3.3, or arrest + arrhythmia follow.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
CKD pairing: potassium CITRATE fixes hypokalemia AND metabolic acidosis in one salt — the dual-indication elegance.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Oral-first principle: safer, slower, home-tractable — reserve IV for symptomatic/severe deficits.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions4
Digoxin — K-depleted patients = digoxin-toxic; supplement thoughtfully
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
ACE inhibitors / ARBs / K-sparing diuretics (spironolactone) — Hyperkalemia risk on addition
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Potassium penicillin, salt substitutes — Hidden potassium loads
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Insulin/dextrose (DKA) — Drives K intracellularly — the moving-target warning
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics2
Physiology — Principal INTRACELLULAR cation — serum level is a poor tank gauge (total-body vs serum mismatch)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Salt differences — Gluconate (oral, gentle), citrate (oral + alkalinizing — CKD dual purpose), chloride (IV, acidic)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
No specific restriction at therapeutic doses.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 989–991 — 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.
- Accuracy of potassium supplementation of fluids administered intravenously.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Increasing Dietary Potassium Enhances Urine Production and Reduces Risk of Calcium Oxalate Stone Formation in Senior Cats.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Rebound hyperkalemia in a dog with albuterol toxicosis after cessation of potassium supplementation.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Retrospective evaluation of acute salbutamol (albuterol) exposure in dogs: 501 cases.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Low Dose Clenbuterol Toxicity: Case Report and Review of Literature.
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.