Bacterial Infections in Pet Rats

Pocket Pet · Rattus norvegicus var. domestica · typical adult weight 0.25–0.70 kg

9 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in pet rats: Amikacin, Ampicillin, Cephalexin, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Marbofloxacin, Metronidazole, Penicillin G, Tetracycline.

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 pet rats — 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	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Moderate	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)

Full Amikacin dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Ampicillin(Polyflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50–200 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Weak	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	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)

Full Ampicillin dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Cephalexin(Keflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q8h	Bacterial infection (first-generation cephalosporin)	Moderate	Visser C, Wijnbergen A, Bleich A. Maeuse und ratten. In: Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P, eds. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)
SC, IM	15 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (first-generation cephalosporin)	Weak	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)

Full Cephalexin dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Ciprofloxacin(Cipro, Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone)	Moderate	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)

Full Ciprofloxacin dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Gentamicin(Gentocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	2–5 mg/kg	q24h	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Moderate	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)

Full Gentamicin dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Marbofloxacin(Zeniquin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO, SC, IM	2–5 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (fluoroquinolone)	Moderate	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)

Full Marbofloxacin dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Metronidazole(Flagyl)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–40 mg/kg	q24h	Anaerobic bacterial infection	Moderate	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)

Full Metronidazole dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Penicillin G(Pen-G, Crysticillin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	22000 IU/kg	q24h	Gram-positive bacterial infection	Moderate	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)

Full Penicillin G dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

Tetracycline(Panmycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q12h	Bacterial infection	Moderate	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)

Full Tetracycline dosing in Pet Rats →Calculate for this pet rat →

All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for Pet Rats →

Other conditions in Pet Rats

Pain Management Ectoparasites Endoparasites Coccidiosis Flea and Tick Control Systemic Hypertension Respiratory Infections 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.