Bacterial Infections in Mice

Pocket Pet · Mus musculus · typical adult weight 0.02–0.04 kg

18 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in mice: Amikacin, Amoxicillin-Clavulanate, Ampicillin, Azithromycin, Cephalexin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin, Clindamycin, Doxycycline, Enrofloxacin, Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Marbofloxacin, Metronidazole, Neomycin, Tetracycline, Trimethoprim-sulfonamide, 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 mice — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Amikacin(Amiglyde-V, Amikin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM, IV	5–15 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection (aminoglycoside)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Amoxicillin-Clavulanate(Clavamox, Augmentin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.770 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Ampicillin(Polyflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50–200 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)
SC, IM	25 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Azithromycin(Zithromax)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50 mg/kg	q12h x 14 days	Bacterial infection (macrolide)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Cephalexin(Keflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	60 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (1st-gen cephalosporin)	Moderate	130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)
SC, IM	15 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (1st-gen cephalosporin)	Moderate	51. Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1

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Chloramphenicol

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	30–50 mg/kg	q8-12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	48. Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015.; 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Ciprofloxacin(Cipro, Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Clindamycin(Antirobe, Cleocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC	7.5 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection; good bone penetration	Moderate	130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Doxycycline(Vibramycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	70–100 mg/kg	q7d	Bacterial infection (long-acting depot)	Moderate	130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Enrofloxacin(Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC, IM	5–20 mg/kg	q12-24h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone); chronic respiratory infection	Moderate	2. Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237.; 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015.; 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Erythromycin(Erythro-100, Gallimycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (macrolide)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.772 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Gentamicin(Gentocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	2–5 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (aminoglycoside)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.772 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Marbofloxacin(Zeniquin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC, IM	2–5 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.772 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Metronidazole(Flagyl)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–40 mg/kg	q24h	Anaerobic bacterial infection	Moderate	130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.773 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Neomycin(Biosol)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	25 mg/kg	q12h	Enteric bacterial infection (non-absorbed)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.773 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Tetracycline(Panmycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	2. Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.774 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Trimethoprim-sulfonamide

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC, IM	15–30 mg/kg	q12-24h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015.; 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.774 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

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Tylosin(Tylan)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC	10 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (macrolide)	Moderate	122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015.; 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.; 174. Wyre NR. Rats, chronic respiratory disease. In: Mayer J, Donnelly TM, eds. Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets; W.B. Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:242-252. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.774 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) PMID: 26833139

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All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for Mice →

Other conditions in Mice

Pain Management Ectoparasites Sedation Endoparasites Flea and Tick Control Systemic Fungal Infections Coccidiosis Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)

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.