Bacterial Infections in Lovebirds

Bird · Agapornis roseicollis · typical adult weight 0.04–0.06 kg

15 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in lovebirds: Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin-Clavulanate, Ampicillin, Cefotaxime, Cefoxitin, Cephalexin, Ciprofloxacin, Clindamycin, Enrofloxacin, Erythromycin, Piperacillin-Tazobactam, Spectinomycin, Tobramycin, 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 lovebirds — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Amoxicillin(Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxil)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	150–175 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (broad-spectrum beta-lactamase-sensitive aminopenicillin)	Moderate	177. Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.405 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Amoxicillin-Clavulanate(Clavamox, Augmentin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	125 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (beta-lactamase-protected aminopenicillin)	Moderate	702. Phalen DN. Common bacterial and fungal infectious diseases in pet birds. Suppl Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 2003;25:43-48. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) PMID: 21872782

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Ampicillin(Polyflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	100 mg/kg	q4h	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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Cefotaxime(Claforan)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	75–100 mg/kg	q4-8h	Bacterial infection (third-generation cephalosporin, broad gram-positive and gram-negative spectrum)	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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.407 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Cefoxitin

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	50–100 mg/kg	q6-12h	Bacterial infection (second-generation cephalosporin)	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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.408 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Cephalexin(Keflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, IM	40–100 mg/kg	q6-8h	Bacterial infection (first-generation cephalosporin)	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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.408 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Ciprofloxacin(Cipro, Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, IM	15–20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone; activity against Chlamydia and Mycoplasma)	Moderate	241. 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

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Clindamycin(Antirobe, Cleocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	25 mg/kg	q8h	Anaerobic bacterial infection; bone penetration (lincosamide)	Moderate	289. Flammer K. Common bacterial infections and antibiotic use in companion birds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Exotics; Supplement to Comp Cont Edu Pract Vet. 1998;20(3A):34-48. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.411 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Enrofloxacin(Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC, IM	5–15 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection; drug of choice for Salmonella typhimurium	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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.413 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Erythromycin(Erythro-100, Gallimycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (macrolide; gram-positive aerobes/anaerobes, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma)	Moderate	802. Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine; Mosby, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:388-418. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7

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Piperacillin-Tazobactam(Zosyn)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	100 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection incl. resistant organisms (beta-lactamase-protected extended-spectrum penicillin)	Moderate	646. NemetzLP, Lennox AM. Zosyn: a replacement for Pipracil in the avian patient. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2004:11-13. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.419 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Spectinomycin(Trobicin, Spectam)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	10–30 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection (aminoglycoside)	Moderate	90. Beynon PH, Forbes NA, Lawton MP.C. Manual of Psittacine Birds, Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1996. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.420 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Tobramycin

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	2.5–5 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection (extended-spectrum aminoglycoside)	Moderate	177. Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.421 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole(Bactrim, TMS)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection (potentiated sulfonamide, broad spectrum)	Moderate	802. Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine; Mosby, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:388-418. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.422 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7

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Tylosin(Tylan)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	20–40 mg/kg	q8h	Bacterial infection (macrolide; Mycoplasma, Chlamydia)	Moderate	802. Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine; Mosby, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:388-418. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.423 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7

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All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for Lovebirds →

Other conditions in Lovebirds

Endoparasites Pain Management Systemic Fungal Infections Giardiasis

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.