Antibiotics safe for use in rabbits

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Kim Chilson

Georgie showing the red irritated skin in his neck (arrow), caused by long-term injections of penicillin.

Skin irritation or formation of sterile abscesses after subcutaneous injection of antibiotics like penicillin or enrofloxacin (Baytril) is possible. When the antibiotic is dissolved in a water-based solution, e.g., enrofloxacin, the formation of sterile abscesses can be avoided by diluting the amount to be given by the same amount of a sterile saline solution. Beside sterile abscesses, the use of Baytril over longer periods of time may lead to muscle necrosis.

Fluoroquinilone antibiotics can moreover lead to cartilage damage of the cartilage and damage of joints (arthropathy) when used over a longer period in young rabbits.

Ivana Milošević Sterile abscess in a rabbit, after injection of enrofloxacin

Name of antibiotics

Remarks

Dosage

Way

Frequency

Amikacin	Nephrotoxic in dehydrated rabbits.	5-10 mg/kg	SC, IM, IV	sid, bid, tid
		8-16 mg/kg	SC, IM, IV	sid, bid, tid
Amoxicillin (see: Remarks)	*ONLY* as injection, never orally. Has recently been successfully used in rabbits, to treat infections due to bacteria, whose sensitivity tests indicate that amoxillin is the only effective antibiotic, e.g. osteomyeltitis. No adverse reaction has been noted with injected treatment. *Never* give orally; this has fatal consequences. Is used sometimes to treat treponematosis.	7 mg/kg	SC	q 24h or every second day
Azithromycin	Recommended for difficult to treat URI. May lead to a reduction of appetite.	30-50mg/kg	PO	sid
Bicillin in Units (penicillin G procaine and penicillin G benzathine) (see: Remarks)	*ONLY* as injection. for treatment of bacterial infections. In rare cases, penicillin treatment leads to: - a decreased appetite, - the formation of sterile abscesses.	47.000 - 84.000 IU/kg	SC	Depending on the type of infection, daily or every 2^nd day. To avoid problems of the digestive system (dysbiosis), probiotics can be given twice a day
Bicillin in mg/kg (penicillin G procaine and penicillin G benzathine) (see: Remarks)	*ONLY* as injection. for treatment of bacterial infections. In rare cases, penicillin treatment leads to: - a decreased appetite, - the formation of sterile abscesses.	20 mg/kg (procaine) + 15 mg/kg (benzathine)	SC	q 2^nd/3^rd day
Cephalexin (see: Remarks)	*ONLY* as injection. Normally no cross reaction with Penicillin, in some cases of renal failure > nephrotoxic	15-20 mg/kg	SC	bid, tid
		20 mg/kg	SC	sid
Chloramphenicol	Exceptionally leads to a decreased appetite	30-50 mg/kg	PO, SC, IM	bid
		15 mg/kg	PO	bid
Chlortetracycline	.	50 mg/kg	PO	bid
Ciprofloxacin	Hindered absorption, when concurrent administration of antacids. High dosage treatment (20 mg/kg) over a longer period of time may lead to seizure	5-20 mg/kg	PO	sid, bid
Clopidol	.	200 mg/kg food	.	.
Danofloxacine	.	1-5 mg/kg (?) 5 mg/kg (?)	IM SC	.
Difloxacine	.	5-10 mg/kg (?) 2,5-5 mg/kg	PO SC, IM	.
Dimetridazole	.	0.2 mg/ml water	PO	q 12 h.
Doxycycline	.	2.5 mg/kg	PO	bid
		4 mg/kg	PO	sid
Enrofloxacin	High dosage treatment (20 mg/kg) over a longer period of time may lead to seizure. Cartilage damage in juvenile rabbits. In rare cases, enrofloxacin leads to: - decreased appetite, - formation of sterile abscesses, if injected. This can be avoided by diluting the solution with a sterile saline solution, 50:50.	5-15 mg/kg	PO, SC, IM	bid - sid
Fusidic acid	In eye ointment	1 drop/eye	.	.
Gentamycin	Best avoided for use in rabbits Depending on dosage: Ototoxicity Nephrotoxic, neuromuscular block	5-8 mg/kg	SC, IM, IV	q 8-12 h.
		1-2 drops/eye	topical	bid
Marbofloxacine	Cartilage damage in juveniles High dosage treatment (10 mg/kg) over a longer period of time may lead to seizure	2 – 5 mg/kg	PO, SC, IV	sid
Metronidazole	3 to 5 days	15-20 mg/kg	PO	bid
Neomycin	Depending on dosage: ototoxicity Nephrotoxic, neuromuscular block	30 mg/kg	PO	bid
Oxytetracycline	.	15 mg/kg	SC, IM	sid, tid
		50 mg/kg	PO	bid
Penicillin G procaine for bacterial infections, e.g. abscesses, middle ear infections, etc.	*Only* as injection. SC pathway should be favored for owners giving the treatment at home. IM administration only for professionals and veterinarians.	20.000 – 60.000 IU/kg	SC, IM	q 24-48 h. If bacterial infection: daily administration, or every 2nd day.
Penicillin G procaine (long lasting) in the treatment of rabbit syphilis (Treponematosis)	*Only* as injection. SC pathway should be favored for owners giving the treatment at home.	80.000 IU/kg, once weekly (1x per week), during 3 to 5 weeks OR (40,000-60,000 IU/kg, every day (q24h) for 5 to 7 days	SC	IM injection is possible, but only by a veterinarian.
Robenidine	.	50-66 mg/kg feed	.	.
Spiramycin (see: Remarks)	Recommended for difficult to treat URI Cecal enlargement has been observed, with dosage of 200 and 400 mg/kg	1 ml/kg 25 mg/kg	SC, IM	.
Streptomycin	Depending on dosage: Ototoxicity Nephrotoxic, neuromuscular block	50 mg/kg	IM	sid
Sulfadimidene	.	1 – 5 mg/ml water	.	..
Sulfamethazine	.	100-233 mg/l water	.	.
Tetracycline	May lead to a reduction of appetite.	50 mg/kg	PO	q 8-12 h.
Trimethoprim Sulfa	.	30-40 mg/kg	PO	bid
		48 mg/kg	SC	bid
Toltrazuril	q 24 the first 2 days, repeat after 2 days	25 mg/kg	PO	q 24 h.
Tylosin (see: Remarks)	A test dose of 5 mg/kg should be give to check that no adverse reaction takes place.	10 mg/kg	PO, SC, IM	bid

for the meaning of the abbreviations, click here.

Further information

Dana G. Allen, J. K Pringle, Dale A. Smith, Handbook of Veterinary Drugs. Lippincott – Raven 1998.

Elizabeth V. Hillyer and Katherine E. Quesenberry, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. New York: WB Saunders Co. 1997.

Frances Harcourt-Brown, Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. Butterworth-Heinemann 2001.

Kathy Laber-Laird, Paul Flecknell and M. Michael Swindle, Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press 1996.

John E. Harkness and Joseph E. Wagner, The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1995.

Paul Flecknell, BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. British Small Animal Veterinary Association 2000.Virginia Richardson, Rabbits: Health, Husbandry and Disease, Blackwell Science Inc. 2000.

H. Schall, Kaninchen, In: Krankheiten der Heimtiere (K Gabrisch & P Zwart, eds), Schlütersche & Co, Hannover (D); pp 1-45, 1998

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