Bacterial Infections in African Grey Parrots

Bird · Psittacus erithacus · typical adult weight 0.40–0.65 kg

25 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in african grey parrots: Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin-Clavulanate, Ampicillin, Cefazolin, Cefoxitin, Ceftriaxone, Cephalexin, Cephalothin, Cephradine, Chloramphenicol, Clarithromycin, Clindamycin, Enrofloxacin, Kanamycin, Marbofloxacin, Neomycin, Piperacillin, Piperacillin-Tazobactam, Spectinomycin, Tetracycline, Ticarcillin, Tobramycin, Trimethoprim, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole, Tylosin.

General coverage of susceptible bacterial pathogens. Drug selection turns on the suspected organism's gram-stain, the patient's species (oral β-lactams unsafe in rabbits/guinea pigs), and the infection site (penetration to bone, CSF, or biliary tree).

The overview above describes Bacterial Infections across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to african grey parrots — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Amoxicillin(Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxil)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	150–175 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Susceptible bacterial infections	Moderate	Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105.; Rupley AE. Critical care of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:11- 41. doi:10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30153-6 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).

Full Amoxicillin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Amoxicillin-Clavulanate(Clavamox, Augmentin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	125 mg/kg	q12h	Broad-spectrum bacterial infection (beta-lactamase producers)	Moderate	702. Phalen DN. Common bacterial and fungal infectious diseases in pet birds. Suppl Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 2003;25:43-48. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Amoxicillin-Clavulanate dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Ampicillin(Polyflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	100–200 mg/kg	q8-12h	7-14 days	Susceptible bacterial infections	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Ampicillin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Cefazolin(Ancef, Kefzol)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	25–50 mg/kg	q12h	Susceptible bacterial infection (first-generation cephalosporin, limited activity against gram-negative pathogens)	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Cefazolin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Cefoxitin

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	50–100 mg/kg	q6-12h	Bacterial infection (gram-positive and gram-negative)	Moderate	Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, ed. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO, 2013:183-437. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds), psittacine cefoxitin row: '50-100 mg/kg IM, IV q6-12h391 \| Psittacines'.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Cefoxitin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Ceftriaxone(Rocephin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	75–100 mg/kg	q4-8h	Bacterial infection, including some Pseudomonas activity	Moderate	391. Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.408 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Ceftriaxone dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Cephalexin(Keflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, IM	40–100 mg/kg	q6-8h	Bacterial infection (gram-positive, some gram-negative)	Moderate	391. Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.408 — Carpenter 6th ed, Table 5.6 is not involved - the row is in Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds), Cephalexin block. NOTE the served reference is Carpenter citing its OWN 4th edition (ref 391), so the ultimate provenance of 40-100 mg/kg remains unestablished.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Cephalexin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Cephalothin

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	100 mg/kg	q6-8h	Bacterial infection (gram-positive, some gram-negative)	Moderate	391. Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Cephalothin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Cephradine

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	35–50 mg/kg	q4-6h	Bacterial infection; deep pyoderma	Moderate	767. Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Cephradine dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Chloramphenicol

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50–80 mg/kg	q8-12h	7-14 days	Susceptible bacterial infections	Moderate	Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Chloramphenicol dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Clarithromycin(Biaxin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	25–50 mg/kg	q12h	Weeks to months	Mycobacterial infections	Weak	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Clarithromycin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Clindamycin(Antirobe, Cleocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	100 mg/kg	q12h for 7 days	7 days	Susceptible infections, bone infections	Extrapolated	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, lookup p.411, row "100 mg/kg PO q12h ×7 days702 — Psi acines"; superscript 702 → Phalen DN. Common bacterial and fungal infectious diseases in pet birds. Suppl Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 2003;25:43-48 (resolved via ref lookup, carpenter refs p.597). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Clindamycin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Enrofloxacin(Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	10–15 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Bacterial infections	Moderate	Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.46 (Protocols Used in Treating Mycobacteriosis in Birds.a,b).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
PO	15 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Bacterial infections (respiratory, GI)	Moderate	Flammer K, Aucoin DP, WhittDA. Intramuscular and oral disposition of enrofloxacin in African grey parrots following single and multiple doses. J Vet Pharmacol Therap. 1991;14(4):359-366. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1991.tb00849.x — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
SC	10–15 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Bacterial infections	Moderate	Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.46 (Protocols Used in Treating Mycobacteriosis in Birds.a,b).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Enrofloxacin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Kanamycin(Kantrex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	10–20 mg/kg	q12h	Enteric bacterial infection	Moderate	391. Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.416Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Kanamycin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Marbofloxacin(Zeniquin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	2.5–5 mg/kg	q24h	7-14 days	Bacterial infections	Extrapolated	Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds), Marbofloxacin block. The row is printed for BLUE AND GOLD MACAWS and is framed /PK. 146. Carpenter JW, Hunter RP, Olsen JH, et al. Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in blue and gold macaws (Ara ararauna). Am J Vet Res. 2006 -- 67:947-950. EXTRAPOLATED to African grey parrot: no held text prints a marbofloxacin dose for Psittacus erithacus.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Marbofloxacin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Neomycin(Biosol)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10 mg/kg	q8-12h	Enteric bacterial infection (poorly absorbed orally)	Weak	129. Burke TJ. Antibiotic therapy in pet birds and reptiles. In: Weber AJ, Grey S, Townsend K, et al. Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Biologicals, 5th ed., Veterinary Medicine Publishing Co, Lenexa, KS; 1986. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.417 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Neomycin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Piperacillin

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	100–200 mg/kg	q6-12h	Pseudomonas / broad-spectrum bacterial infection	Moderate	793. Rupley AE. Critical care of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:11- 41. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.419 doi:10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30153-6 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).

Full Piperacillin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Piperacillin-Tazobactam(Zosyn)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	100 mg/kg	q8-12h	Broad-spectrum / resistant bacterial infection	Moderate	646. NemetzLP, Lennox AM. Zosyn: a replacement for Pipracil in the avian patient. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2004:11-13. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.419 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Piperacillin-Tazobactam dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Spectinomycin(Trobicin, Spectam)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	10–30 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	90. Beynon PH, Forbes NA, Lawton MP.C. Manual of Psittacine Birds, Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1996. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.420 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Spectinomycin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Tetracycline(Panmycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	200–250 mg/kg	q12-24h	Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, broad-spectrum bacterial infection	Weak	767. Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.421 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed — "Tetracycline 200-250 mg/kg PO q12-24h(767) — Most species/gavage". The row's qualifier is an ADMINISTRATION METHOD, not an indication: the figure is printed for delivery by gavage (crop tube), and the source names no disease for it. The indication served here is the formulary's own attribution, not the book's.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Tetracycline dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Ticarcillin(Ticar)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	200 mg/kg	q6-12h	Pseudomonas / broad-spectrum bacterial infection	Weak	391. Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.421 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Ticarcillin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Tobramycin

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	2.5–5 mg/kg	q8-12h	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Moderate	177. Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.421 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Tobramycin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Trimethoprim(Tribrissen)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	30–50 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Susceptible infections (TMP-sulfa)	Moderate	Flammer K. Treatment of bacterial and mycotic diseases of the avian gastrointestinal tract. Proc North Am Vet Conf; 2002:851-852. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Trimethoprim dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole(Bactrim, TMS)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	16–24 mg/kg	q12h	7-10 days	Bacterial infections	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Tylosin(Tylan)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20–40 mg/kg	q8h (BSAVA prints q8-12h)	10-14 days	Mycoplasma, susceptible infections	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Tylosin dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for African Grey Parrots →

Other conditions in African Grey Parrots

Pain Management Seizures and Epilepsy Endoparasites Sedation General Anesthesia Hypocalcaemia Coccidiosis Systemic Fungal Infections

Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.