Bacterial Infections in Rabbits
Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
5 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in rabbits: Chloramphenicol, Enrofloxacin, Marbofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole.
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 rabbits — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Chloramphenicol
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 30–50 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.248, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 30–50 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections when oral not feasible | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.248, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Enrofloxacin(Baytril)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 5–20 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.450, Enrofloxacin monograph spanning p.450-454. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 5–20 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections (respiratory, UTI) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.450, Enrofloxacin monograph spanning p.450-454. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 5–20 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections | Moderate | Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.845Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Marbofloxacin(Zeniquin)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2–5 mg/kg | q24h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections | Moderate | Carpenter JW, Pollock CG, Koch DE, et al. Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after oral administration to rabbits. Am J Vet Res. 2009;70:522-526. doi:10.2460/ajvr.70.4.522 |
| SC | 2–5 mg/kg | q24h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections when oral not feasible | Weak | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed., Part B: Exotic Pets, Marbofloxacin, printed p.189: 'Mammals: 2-5 mg/kg p.o., s.c., i.m. q24h'Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Moxifloxacin
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, IM | 5 mg/kg | q24h | Susceptible bacterial infections | Weak | Fernandez-Varon E, Bovaira MJ, Espuny A, et al. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic integration of moxifloxacin in rabbits after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2005;28:343-348. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.844 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole(Bactrim, TMS)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 15–30 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections, coccidiosis | Moderate | Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2018. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a). — EDITION NOTE 2026-08-06: this rule's Plumb's reference names the 9th edition, which is not held and was never consulted. The held copy is the 10th ed (2023). The Plumb's line was never confirmed against the held edition, so rely on it only as background; any other source named in this citation is unaffected.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 15–30 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Bacterial infections when oral not feasible | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
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.