Antibiotics safe for use in rabbits
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. |
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Ivana Milošević
Sterile abscess in a rabbit, after injection
of enrofloxacin |
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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. No adverse reaction has been noted with
injected treatment. *Never* give orally; this has fatal consequences. Is used sometimes to treat treponematosis. |
15 mg/kg (?) |
SC, IM |
q 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 |
q 2nd/3rd 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 2nd/3rd day |
|
Cephalexin (see: Remarks) |
*ONLY* as injection. Normally no cross reaction with
Penicillin, in some cases of renal failure > nephrotoxic |
10-15 mg/kg |
SC
|
bid, tid |
|
20 mg/kg |
SC |
sid |
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Chloramphenicol |
Exceptionally leads to a decrease of
appetite |
30-50 mg/kg |
PO, SC, IM |
sid |
|
15 mg/kg |
PO |
bid |
||
|
Chlortetracycline |
. |
50 mg/kg |
PO |
bid |
|
Ciprofloxacin |
Hindered absorption, when concurrent
administration of antacids. |
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 (see: Remarks) |
High dosage treatment (20 mg/kg) over a
longer period of time may lead to seizure. Cartilage damage in juveniles. In rare cases, enrofloxacin
treatment leads to: - a decreased appetite,
- the 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 (see: Remarks) |
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 |
. |
tid |
||
|
Marbofloxacine |
Cartilage
damage in juveniles |
2 – 5 mg/kg |
PO |
sid |
|
Metronidazole |
3
to 5 days |
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 |
*Only* as injection. For the treatment of Treponematosis |
20.000 –
60.000 IU/kg |
SC, IM |
q 48 h. to q
once per week |
|
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 |
. |
15 - 30 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 |
e-mail: info@medirabbit.com
