# MOTS-c for dogs: dosage chart by weight

MOTS-c dosage for dogs by weight band, in pen units and micrograms: how long a cartridge lasts, the vial conversion and the research. Canitide VITAL.

Canonical: https://canitide.com/dosing/mots-c-for-dogs/
Updated: 2026-10-13

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for exercise capacity, metabolic homeostasis and age-related physical decline in mice.

Owners use it for the senior slowdown: the dog who still wants the walk but runs out of engine. Canitide VITAL is 10 mg of MOTS-c in a cartridge, given three times a week for eight weeks.

Printable chart (PDF): https://canitide.com/assets/downloads/mots-c-for-dogs-dosage-chart.pdf

## MOTS-c dose by weight band (Canitide VITAL, 3× per week · 8-week cycle)

| Weight band | Per dose | Per dose (mcg) | Per week | Cartridge lasts | Club cadence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 20 lb) | 10 units | 330 mcg | 30 units | ~10 weeks | every 8 weeks |
| Medium (20–50 lb) | 15 units | 495 mcg | 45 units | ~6 weeks | every 6 weeks |
| Large (50–90 lb) | 20 units | 660 mcg | 60 units | ~5 weeks | every 4 weeks |
| Giant (90 lb and up) | 25 units | 825 mcg | 75 units | ~4 weeks | every 4 weeks |

## If you use a vial

A 10 mg vial of MOTS-c in 3 mL of bacteriostatic water is 3.33 mg/mL, the same concentration as a VITAL cartridge. On a U-100 insulin syringe one unit is also 0.01 mL.

## Questions

### What is the MOTS-c dose for dogs?

VITAL doses 10, 15, 20 or 25 units three times a week by weight band. One unit carries about 33 mcg of MOTS-c.

### Is MOTS-c the same as a stimulant?

No. It is studied for how muscle uses fuel, not as a stimulant. Dogs on it are not wired; the research models show better exercise capacity over weeks.

### Can I combine VITAL with REPAIR?

Yes; the Senior Vitality Protocol does. Use separate cartridges and doses, never mix cartridges, and add one formula at a time, two weeks apart.

### What does the research say?

A 2015 study in Cell Metabolism found MOTS-c regulates insulin sensitivity and metabolic homeostasis in mice; a 2021 study found it is an exercise-induced regulator of age-dependent physical decline. There is no canine trial.

## The research

- The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Lee C et al. Cell Metab 2015 (mouse)
- MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Reynolds JC et al. Nat Commun 2021 (mouse (aged))