Bacterial Infections in Canaries

Bird · Serinus canaria domestica · typical adult weight 0.01–0.03 kg

12 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in canaries: Amikacin, Cephalothin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin, Furazolidone, Gentamicin, Lincomycin, Oleandomycin, Tetracycline, Ticarcillin, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim/sulfatroxazole.

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

Amikacin(Amiglyde-V, Amikin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM, IV	15–20 mg/kg	q8-12h x 5 days max	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.405 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Amikacin dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Cephalothin

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	100 mg/kg	q2-6h	Bacterial infection (gram-positive and some gram-negative)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Cephalothin dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Chloramphenicol

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	100 mg/kg	q6h	Bacterial infection (broad spectrum including anaerobes)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4
IM	50 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection (broad spectrum including anaerobes)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4
IM	50–80 mg/kg	q12-24h	Bacterial infection (broad spectrum including anaerobes)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

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Ciprofloxacin(Cipro, Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, IM	15–20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (gram-negative and some gram-positive; Chlamydia, Mycoplasma)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.410 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4
PO, IV	20–40 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (gram-negative and some gram-positive; Chlamydia, Mycoplasma)	Weak	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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.410 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Furazolidone

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	15–20 mg/kg	q24h	Gastrointestinal bacterial infection	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

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Gentamicin(Gentocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	2.5–5 mg/kg	IM q8-12h	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Weak	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.416 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)
PO	40 mg/kg	q8-24h	Enteric (luminal) bacterial infection	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.416 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Gentamicin dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Lincomycin(Lincocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	35–50 mg/kg	q12-24h	Anaerobic bacterial infection; osteomyelitis/pododermatitis	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.416 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Lincomycin dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Oleandomycin

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	25 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (gram-positive)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4
PO	50 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (gram-positive)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Oleandomycin dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Tetracycline(Panmycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50 mg/kg	q8h	Bacterial infection; Chlamydia, Mycoplasma	Weak	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.421 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Tetracycline dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Ticarcillin(Ticar)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	150–200 mg/kg	q2-4h	Bacterial infection including Pseudomonas and anaerobes	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.421 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Ticarcillin dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole(Bactrim, TMS)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–50 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (broad spectrum)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.422 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

Trimethoprim/sulfatroxazole

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–50 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (broad spectrum)	Moderate	Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.422 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Trimethoprim/sulfatroxazole dosing in Canaries →Calculate for this canary →

All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for Canaries →

Other conditions in Canaries

Sedation

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.