{"id":627592,"date":"2024-03-28T18:21:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T22:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=627592"},"modified":"2025-10-20T11:15:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:15:02","slug":"mirtazapine-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/mirtazapine-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mirtazapine for dogs: Dosage and safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Used as an <\/span>antidepressant<\/span><\/a> in human patients, <\/span>mirtazapine<\/span><\/a> is usually given to stimulate appetite in cats and dogs, particularly when they\u2019re sick and refuse to eat. However, veterinarians mostly use mirtazapine in cats who aren\u2019t eating because of chronic kidney disease or other sickness. Mirtazapine is well-studied in cats, but its use in dogs is not well-researched. For this reason, its use in dogs is off-label. When used in dogs, veterinarians base many of their decisions on what is known about the drug from its use in cats and people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is mirtazapine used for in dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Veterinarians use <\/span>mirtazapine<\/span><\/a> in dogs and cats to treat loss of appetite or nausea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mirtazapine works by changing the balance of the chemicals that pass signals between nerves. Researchers are unsure how it helps animals with poor appetites or nausea, but increased appetite and weight gain are common side effects when people take mirtazapine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Poor appetite (hyporexia or anorexia)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mirtazapine has not been studied in dogs, but <\/span>anecdotal evidence<\/span><\/a> suggests it can help dogs refusing food because they\u2019re sick. That\u2019s the usual reason dogs lose their appetite. However, dogs may also stop eating because of stress, separation anxiety, chronic pain, or dental problems. Mirtazapine does not fix the underlying cause. Instead, it makes the dog feel hungry. So, even though the dog still feels bad, it\u2019s more driven to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nausea and vomiting<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mirtazapine affects several nerve receptors, so it has many effects. One of its effects is to block the circuit that passes signals between the digestive system and the brain\u2019s \u201cnausea center.\u201d In this way, it dulls a dog\u2019s nausea reflex, reducing vomiting and making it more comfortable. Veterinarians may use it in a cat to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. Its use as an antiemetic in dogs hasn\u2019t been studied. However, it may help <\/span>when a dog isn\u2019t eating<\/span><\/a> but is also nauseous and vomiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is mirtazapine safe for dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mirtazapine has not been studied in dogs, but veterinarians believe it is safe for dogs based on their experience with cats and the drug\u2019s long history of use in human patients. Keep in mind that no drugs are ever 100% safe, even when they are well-researched.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some dogs should never be given mirtazapine. At the top of the list are dogs that have had allergic reactions to mirtazapine. Dogs taking a type of drug called an MAO inhibitor (<\/span>MAOI<\/span><\/a>) should also not take mirtazapine until the MAO inhibitor is discontinued for at least two weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Liver disease is another problem. The dog\u2019s liver breaks down mirtazapine, so the dog is more likely to experience both common and severe side effects. Again, this has not been studied in dogs, so veterinarians do not have specific guidelines for adjusting the dose in dogs with liver impairment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of mirtazapine in dogs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Veterinarians are very familiar with the side effects of mirtazapine in cats. For dogs, there is little information about side effects. Given the experience with cats, the potential side effects of mirtazapine in dogs could be:<\/span><\/p>\n