Bacterial Infections in African Pygmy Hedgehogs

Pocket Pet · Atelerix albiventris · typical adult weight 0.30–0.60 kg

11 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in african pygmy hedgehogs: Amikacin, Amoxicillin, Cefovecin, Cephalexin, Chloramphenicol, Chlortetracycline, Ciprofloxacin, Clarithromycin, Orbifloxacin, Penicillin G procaine, Piperacillin.

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 pygmy hedgehogs — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Amikacin(Amiglyde-V, Amikin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	2.5–5 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection (aminoglycoside)	Moderate	45. Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:155-172. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.732 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30099-3

Full Amikacin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Amoxicillin(Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxil)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC, IM	15 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	29. Isenbügel E, Baumgartner R. Diseases of the hedgehog. In: Fowler M, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy, 3rd ed., WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 1993:294-302. \| 45. Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:155-172. \| 68. Smith A. General husbandry and medical care of hedgehogs. In: Bonagura JD, eds. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIII: Small Animal Practice; WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:1128-1133. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.732 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) PMID: 42151241

Full Amoxicillin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Cefovecin(Convenia)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC	8 mg/kg	q5-6d	Bacterial infection (third-generation cephalosporin)	Weak	11a. Cueral J, Abad C, Gilabert JA, et al. Pharmacokinetics of cefovecin (ConveniaTM) in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). Proc 3rd Internat Conf Avian, Herpetol Exot Mam Med (ICARE); 2017:594. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.732 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Cefovecin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Cephalexin(Keflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	25 mg/kg	q8h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	45. Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:155-172. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.732 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30099-3

Full Cephalexin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Chloramphenicol

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	30–50 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Weak	34. Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.732 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Chloramphenicol dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Chlortetracycline(Aureomycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (tetracycline)	Weak	51. Morrisey J, Carpenter J. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter J, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:566-575. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Chlortetracycline dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Ciprofloxacin(Cipro, Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone)	Weak	34. Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147. \| 52. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry Q, Orcutt C, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Ciprofloxacin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Clarithromycin(Biaxin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5.5 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (macrolide)	Weak	52. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry Q, Orcutt C, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Orbifloxacin(Orbax)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–20 mg/kg	q12-24h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone)	Weak	27. Helmer PJ, Carpenter JW. Hedgehogs. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:443-458. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.734 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Orbifloxacin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Penicillin G procaine

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	40000 IU/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection	Weak	29. Isenbügel E, Baumgartner R. Diseases of the hedgehog. In: Fowler M, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy, 3rd ed., WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 1993:294-302. \| 52. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry Q, Orcutt C, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.734 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Penicillin G procaine dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

Piperacillin

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC	10 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	25. Heatley J. Hedgehogs. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN Jr., eds. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice; Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2009:433-455. \| 34. Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147. \| 45. Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:155-172. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.734 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30099-3

Full Piperacillin dosing in African Pygmy Hedgehogs →Calculate for this african pygmy hedgehog →

All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for African Pygmy Hedgehogs →

Other conditions in African Pygmy Hedgehogs

Sedation Endoparasites Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)Pain Management Ectoparasites GI Ulceration

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.