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GI protectant / Mucosal coating agent · For Cats

Sucralfate dosage reference for cats (Carafate)

This page's standard weight-based reference is 75 mg per kg (34.01 mg per lb), with every 8-12 hours on empty stomach recorded as the reference frequency. Use the calculator to see the arithmetic for your cat's weight, then confirm the indication, product, and actual dose with a veterinarian.

Onset
30 minutes (forms protective coating)
Duration
6-8 hours
Class
GI protectant / Mucosal coating agent

Weight-based calculator estimate from the references listed on this page. This page has not been independently DVM-reviewed — see our methodology .

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your veterinarian before giving medication to your pet. Do not use this calculator for emergencies, overdoses, pregnancy, very young animals, very old animals, pets with liver/kidney disease, or pets taking multiple medications.

Each medication page lists the references recorded for its data. The calculator math and editorial presentation are maintained by PetDosageChart; a page is independently DVM-reviewed only when a named reviewer byline appears. See our methodology and limitations.

Sucralfate (often known by brand names such as Carafate and Sulcrate) is a GI protectant / mucosal coating agent commonly used in veterinary medicine for gastric ulcers, esophagitis, post-doxycycline esophageal damage, stress ulcers, and GI erosion protection. Understanding the correct dosage, administration, and potential side effects of Sucralfate is critical for your cat’s safety and well-being.

A typical Sucralfate dose for cats is around 75 mg/kg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach, within a usual range of 50-100 mg/kg. Available forms include tablet and liquid suspension.

Calculator Warning: Use this only as an educational estimate. Your veterinarian may prescribe a different dose based on your pet’s condition, age, weight, other medications, and medical history.

Sucralfate Dosage Calculator for Cats

Enter your cat’s weight below to estimate the Sucralfate dose from the 75 mg/kg guideline. Your veterinarian may adjust it for your cat’s age, condition, and other medications, so treat the result as an educational starting point, not a prescription.

Dosage Calculator · 01

Enter your cat's weight

Quick Dosage Chart

Typical Sucralfate amounts for common cat weights, for quick reference:

Dosage Chart · 02

Carafate weight-based reference chart for cats

Scroll sideways to see full table

Weight Lower Reference Standard Reference Upper Reference Frequency
3 lbs (1.4 kg) 70.0 mg 105.0 mg 140.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
4 lbs (1.8 kg) 90.0 mg 135.0 mg 180.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
5 lbs (2.3 kg) 115.0 mg 172.5 mg 230.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
6 lbs (2.7 kg) 135.0 mg 202.5 mg 270.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
7 lbs (3.2 kg) 160.0 mg 240.0 mg 320.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
8 lbs (3.6 kg) 180.0 mg 270.0 mg 360.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
9 lbs (4.1 kg) 205.0 mg 307.5 mg 410.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
10 lbs (4.5 kg) 225.0 mg 337.5 mg 450.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
12 lbs (5.4 kg) 270.0 mg 405.0 mg 540.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
14 lbs (6.3 kg) 315.0 mg 472.5 mg 630.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
16 lbs (7.3 kg) 365.0 mg 547.5 mg 730.0 mg every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
18 lbs (8.2 kg) 410.0 mg 615.0 mg 820.0 mg (1000mg tablet) every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
20 lbs (9.1 kg) 455.0 mg 682.5 mg 910.0 mg (1000mg tablet) every 8-12 hours on empty stomach
25 lbs (11.3 kg) 565.0 mg 847.5 mg (1000mg tablet) 1130.0 mg (1000mg tablet) every 8-12 hours on empty stomach

Parenthetical tablet amounts are arithmetic comparisons only. They do not account for scoring, release type, concentration, product labeling, or whether this medication is appropriate for an individual animal.

By Weight

Carafate reference by cat weight

Choose a common weight to open its optional reference page. Use the main medication calculator for a different exact weight.

Common-weight pages are convenience views of the same educational reference, not separate medical recommendations.

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How to Give Sucralfate to Your Cat

Give sucralfate on an EMPTY stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. It works by forming a physical protective coating over ulcerated tissue, so it must contact the stomach lining directly. For cats, quarter a 1000 mg tablet (250 mg per dose) or use a liquid suspension. The tablet can be crushed and mixed with a small amount of water to form a slurry for easier administration via syringe. It is especially important after doxycycline administration, which can cause severe esophagitis in cats if it gets stuck in the esophagus.

It may interact with fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin — reduces absorption), omeprazole (give separately), tetracyclines, and digoxin.

Side Effects and Safety

Common side effects include constipation, decreased appetite, mild nausea, and dry mouth. More serious side effects can occur, such as aluminum toxicity (rare, with renal failure), severe constipation, bezoar formation (rare), and intestinal obstruction (rare).

Cautions · 12

When Carafate should be used with caution or avoided

Some cats should not take Carafate, or need a different dose and closer monitoring. Tell your veterinarian about your pet's full health history and every other medication or supplement they take before giving Carafate.

  • severe renal failure (aluminum accumulation)
  • intestinal obstruction
  • known hypersensitivity
  • pregnancy

Interactions · 13

Carafate drug interactions

Carafate can interact with other drugs. This list is not complete — always give your veterinarian a full list of your cat's medications and supplements.

fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin — reduces absorption)
omeprazole (give separately)
tetracyclines
digoxin

Calculator Limits · 14

When not to use this calculator

This calculator gives a general educational estimate for a healthy adult cat at a known weight. Do not rely on it in these situations — talk to your veterinarian instead:

  • In an emergency, or after accidental ingestion or a suspected overdose
  • For pregnant or nursing pets
  • For very young or very old cats
  • For pets with liver disease, kidney disease, or another chronic illness
  • For pets taking several medications at once
  • When you are not sure of your cat's current, accurate weight
  • For combination products that contain additional active ingredients

Overdose · 15

Suspected overdose: what to do

If you think your cat had too much Carafate, or swallowed any medication by accident, act right away. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.

  • Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital.
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

A consultation fee may apply to the poison hotlines. Have the medication packaging ready, and note how much your pet may have taken and when. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.

When to Call the Vet

If your cat experiences any of the following, contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately:

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked · 07

Questions about this medication

Why is sucralfate important after giving doxycycline to cats?
Doxycycline capsules and tablets can become lodged in a cat's esophagus and cause severe esophageal strictures (scarring and narrowing). This is a well-known and serious risk in cats. Sucralfate can help protect and heal esophageal tissue if irritation has occurred. Always follow doxycycline with water or food to ensure it reaches the stomach, and consider using liquid doxycycline for cats.
How do I dose sucralfate for a cat?
The typical dose is 250-500 mg per cat (one-quarter to one-half of a 1000 mg tablet) given every 8-12 hours on an empty stomach. You can quarter the tablet or crush it and mix with a small amount of water to create a slurry that can be given by syringe. Liquid suspensions are also available from compounding pharmacies.
Can sucralfate be given with other medications?
Sucralfate can bind to and reduce absorption of many other drugs. Give it at least 2 hours apart from other oral medications, especially antibiotics like enrofloxacin, tetracyclines, and acid reducers like omeprazole. Ask your vet about specific timing with your cat's other medications.
How long does a cat need to take sucralfate?
Treatment duration depends on the condition being treated. For acute esophagitis, 1-2 weeks is typical. For gastric ulcers, 2-4 weeks may be needed. Your vet will determine the appropriate duration. Sucralfate has minimal systemic absorption, making it very safe for short to medium-term use.
Is sucralfate safe for cats with kidney disease?
Use with caution in cats with significant kidney disease. Sucralfate contains aluminum, which is normally excreted by the kidneys. In cats with severely compromised kidney function, aluminum can accumulate and potentially cause toxicity. Your vet will weigh the benefits against this risk.

Use This Guide Safely · 08

What weight alone cannot tell you

The calculator performs one narrow job: it multiplies your cat's weight by the lower, standard, and upper mg/kg values recorded for Carafate. It cannot decide whether this drug, indication, formulation, or schedule is appropriate for an individual animal.

Context in this medication record

Commonly listed uses
gastric ulcers, esophagitis, post-doxycycline esophageal damage, stress ulcers, GI erosion protection
Recorded forms
tablet, liquid suspension
Reference timing
every 8-12 hours on empty stomach; onset 30 minutes (forms protective coating); duration 6-8 hours

Individual checks a calculator cannot perform

  • Confirm the diagnosis and the reason this medication is being considered.
  • Match the exact product, concentration, route, and whether a tablet may be split.
  • Account for age, pregnancy, organ function, genetics, allergies, and prior reactions.
  • Review every prescription, over-the-counter product, and supplement your pet takes.

Recorded cautions

severe renal failure (aluminum accumulation); intestinal obstruction; known hypersensitivity; pregnancy.

Recorded interactions

fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin — reduces absorption); omeprazole (give separately); tetracyclines; digoxin.

These lists reproduce the structured record used by this page and may not be exhaustive. Show your veterinarian the product label and your cat's complete medication list before acting on a number.

For Dogs

Looking for Sucralfate dosage for dogs?

View the Sucralfate dosage chart and calculator for dogs.

Related · 08

Related medications for cats

Sources · 09

Sources & references

The structured medication record behind this page names the references below. The links open the publisher or official resource; they do not turn this page into a prescription for an individual animal.

Source names are shown at the record level; passage-level page and label citations are still being added. Read our methodology and limitations.

Transparency · 11

How this page was made

This page's structured medication record includes Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook among its source names. PetDosageChart applies the record's mg/kg values to the entered weight and presents the arithmetic result. A source record is not the same as an individualized prescription or an independent clinical review.

Sources cited
  • Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
  • Merck Veterinary Manual
Calculator formula
Doses scale linearly from a standard basis of 75 mg per kg (34.01 mg per lb) of body weight, given every 8-12 hours on empty stomach. The calculator multiplies that basis by your cat's weight and shows an arithmetic comparison with recorded tablet sizes. That comparison does not determine whether a tablet is scored, splittable, or appropriate for your pet.
Editorial owner
Prepared and maintained by the PetDosageChart editorial team, a software-led publisher and not a veterinary practice.
DVM review status
Not independently DVM-reviewed. A named reviewer and review date appear here only after a confirmed review.

More on our methodology and editorial process — how we source, calculate, and review cats dosage data.

Safety · 10

More resources