Is Propranolol safe for dogs and cats?
High risk for petsPropranolol is considered one of the most dangerous beta-blockers for dogs among the accidental household ingestion scenarios — the non-selective beta-blockade causes both profound cardiovascular depression AND bronchospasm in dogs, and the high lipophilicity results in CNS toxicity. Veterinary use: propranolol is used therapeutically in dogs for ventricular arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and as adjunct for pheochromocytoma; dosing 0.1–0.3 mg/kg TID. Toxic dose: ASPCA data indicate cardiac signs at 1–2 mg/kg; severe toxicity at >5 mg/kg; lower margin than cardioselective beta-blockers. Bronchospasm: the beta-2 blockade component causes significant bronchospasm in dogs, adding respiratory compromise to the cardiovascular effects — more dangerous than metoprolol at equivalent doses. CNS toxicity: propranolol crosses the blood-brain barrier readily (high lipophilicity) — CNS depression, seizures, and disorientation occur in OD, unlike atenolol or other hydrophilic beta-blockers. Treatment: intensive care; atropine for bradycardia; glucagon (0.05–0.15 mg/kg IV); high-dose insulin euglycemia; bronchodilators (terbutaline) for bronchospasm; benzodiazepines for seizures; cardiac pacing for complete heart block; epinephrine infusion for refractory shock. Prognosis: worse than metoprolol OD due to multi-system effects; prompt intensive care required.
What is propranolol?
The IUPAC name is 1-naphthalen-1-yloxy-3-(propan-2-ylamino)propan-2-ol.
Also known as: 1-naphthalen-1-yloxy-3-(propan-2-ylamino)propan-2-ol, Propanolol, beta-Propranolol, Betalong.
- IUPAC name
- 1-naphthalen-1-yloxy-3-(propan-2-ylamino)propan-2-ol
- CAS number
- 525-66-6
- Molecular formula
- C16H21NO2
- Molecular weight
- 259.34 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(C)NCC(COC1=CC=CC2=CC=CC=C21)O
- PubChem CID
- 4946
Risk for dogs
High riskPropranolol is considered one of the most dangerous beta-blockers for dogs among the accidental household ingestion scenarios — the non-selective beta-blockade causes both profound cardiovascular depression AND bronchospasm in dogs, and the high lipophilicity results in CNS toxicity. Veterinary use: propranolol is used therapeutically in dogs for ventricular arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and as adjunct for pheochromocytoma; dosing 0.1–0.3 mg/kg TID. Toxic dose: ASPCA data indicate cardiac signs at 1–2 mg/kg; severe toxicity at >5 mg/kg; lower margin than cardioselective beta-blockers. Bronchospasm: the beta-2 blockade component causes significant bronchospasm in dogs, adding respiratory compromise to the cardiovascular effects — more dangerous than metoprolol at equivalent doses. CNS toxicity: propranolol crosses the blood-brain barrier readily (high lipophilicity) — CNS depression, seizures, and disorientation occur in OD, unlike atenolol or other hydrophilic beta-blockers. Treatment: intensive care; atropine for bradycardia; glucagon (0.05–0.15 mg/kg IV); high-dose insulin euglycemia; bronchodilators (terbutaline) for bronchospasm; benzodiazepines for seizures; cardiac pacing for complete heart block; epinephrine infusion for refractory shock. Prognosis: worse than metoprolol OD due to multi-system effects; prompt intensive care required.
Regulatory consensus
1 regulatory bodyhas classified Propranolol.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | — | Approved | Approved for hypertension, angina, atrial arrhythmias, prevention of MI, essential tremor, migraine prophylaxis, pheochromocytoma adjunct, infantile hemangiomas (Hemangeol), and hypertrophic subaortic stenosis |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where pets encounter propranolol
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Propranolol:
-
Therapeutic alternatives (consult prescriber)
Trade-offs: Drug-specific. Cannot substitute without medical guidance.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is propranolol safe for pets?
Propranolol is considered one of the most dangerous beta-blockers for dogs among the accidental household ingestion scenarios — the non-selective beta-blockade causes both profound cardiovascular depression AND bronchospasm in dogs, and the high lipophilicity results in CNS toxicity. Veterinary use: propranolol is used therapeutically in dogs for ventricular arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and as adjunct for pheochromocytoma; dosing 0.1–0.3 mg/kg TID. Toxic dose: ASPCA data indicate cardiac signs at 1–2 mg/kg; severe toxicity at >5 mg/kg; lower margin than cardioselective beta-blockers. Bronchospasm: the beta-2 blockade component causes significant bronchospasm in dogs, adding respiratory compromise to the cardiovascular effects — more dangerous than metoprolol at equivalent doses. CNS toxicity: propranolol crosses the blood-brain barrier readily (high lipophilicity) — CNS depression, seizures, and disorientation occur in OD, unlike atenolol or other hydrophilic beta-blockers. Treatment: intensive care; atropine for bradycardia; glucagon (0.05–0.15 mg/kg IV); high-dose insulin euglycemia; bronchodilators (terbutaline) for bronchospasm; benzodiazepines for seizures; cardiac pacing for complete heart block; epinephrine infusion for refractory shock. Prognosis: worse than metoprolol OD due to multi-system effects; prompt intensive care required.
What products contain propranolol?
Propranolol appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
See Propranolol in the pets app
Look up products containing propranolol, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in pets View raw API dataSources (2)
- FDA Prescribing Information: Propranolol (Inderal/Hemangeol) — non-selective beta-blocker; asthma contraindication; infantile hemangioma Hemangeol approval; thyroid storm; performance anxiety; CNS penetration seizures; most dangerous beta-blocker OD profile (2023) (2023) — regulatory
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Cardiac Drug Toxicosis in Pets — statin myopathy in cats; beta-blocker bradycardia dogs; CCB toxicity (amlodipine/diltiazem); ACE inhibitor renal effects; warfarin anticoagulant; furosemide; toxic dose thresholds (2023) (2023) — veterinary
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →