Read this before using the checker
This tool does not suggest, calculate or check doses against any range. Only your veterinarian sets your dog's dose. The checker does one thing: it re-expresses the dose you were given as mg/kg so you can copy it into your records accurately. If any number here surprises you, change nothing and call your vet.
Fill in the dose and weight to see it as mg/kg.
Write this next to the dose in your log, and compare it with what your vet told you. Surprised by it? Change nothing and call your vet.
Why mg/kg is worth writing down
Vets think in milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Prescriptions, published research and referral letters all use it. Your bottle, meanwhile, says things like "give 1½ tablets twice daily", and that's where copying errors creep in:
- mg vs ml: liquid medications have a concentration, and the two get swapped in notes all the time
- tablet strength: 1½ tablets of 60 mg and of 100 mg are very different doses
- pounds vs kilograms: a 2.2× error hiding in plain sight
- weight drift: the dose stayed the same while your dog grew or slimmed down
Keeping the mg/kg figure in your record means any of those errors stands out the moment you compare notes with your vet.
Why we don't show "normal" ranges
Published veterinary literature does describe dose ranges for medications like phenobarbital, levetiracetam (Keppra) and zonisamide. We deliberately don't print them next to a calculator, because a range without your dog's history, bloodwork and response reads like advice, and dosing decisions belong to the professional who has all three. If you want to understand the literature, the IVETF consensus on medical management is open access and linked below. Bring questions from it to your vet.