Bacterial Infections in Zebra Finches

Bird · Taeniopygia guttata · typical adult weight 0.01–0.02 kg

14 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in zebra finches: Amikacin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cephalothin, Chloramphenicol, Enrofloxacin, Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Lincomycin, Neomycin, Oxytetracycline, 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 zebra finches — 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, max 5 days	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Moderate	241. Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. \| 790. Rupiper DJ, Ehrenberg M. Introduction to pigeon practice. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 1994:203-211. — 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 Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Amoxicillin(Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxil)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	150 mg/kg	q8h	Broad-spectrum bacterial infection	Moderate	793. Rupley AE. Critical care of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:11-41. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.405 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.014

Full Amoxicillin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Ampicillin(Polyflex)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	150 mg/kg	q12-24h	Broad-spectrum bacterial infection	Moderate	239. Dorrestein GM. Infectious diseases and their therapy in Passeriformes Antimicrobial Therapy in Caged Birds and Exotic Pets, Veterinary Learning Systems, Trenton, NJ; 1995:11-27. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Ampicillin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Cephalothin

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	100 mg/kg	q2-6h	Gram-positive bacterial infection (first-generation cephalosporin)	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.409 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Cephalothin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Chloramphenicol

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	50 mg/kg	q8-12h	Broad-spectrum bacterial infection including anaerobes	Weak	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.409 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Chloramphenicol dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Enrofloxacin(Baytril)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–10 mg/kg	q8h	Gram-negative bacterial infection; Chlamydia, Mycoplasma	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)

Full Enrofloxacin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Erythromycin(Erythro-100, Gallimycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50–100 mg/kg	q8-12h	Gram-positive bacterial infection; Mycoplasma, Chlamydia	Moderate	240. Dorrestein GM. Antimicrobial drug use in companion birds. In: PrescottJF, Baggot JD, Walker RD, eds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine, 3rd ed., Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 2000:617-636. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1002/9781118675014.ch35

Full Erythromycin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Gentamicin(Gentocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	3–10 mg/kg	q6-12h	Gram-negative bacterial infection	Weak	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.416 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Gentamicin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Lincomycin(Lincocin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	35–50 mg/kg	q12-24h	Anaerobic bacterial infection; bone penetration	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.416 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Lincomycin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Neomycin(Biosol)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10 mg/kg	q24h	Enteric bacterial infection	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.418 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Neomycin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Oxytetracycline(Terramycin, Liquamycin)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	50–100 mg/kg	q2-3d	Chlamydia, Mycoplasma; broad-spectrum bacterial infection	Moderate	241. Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. \| 299. Flammer K, Aucoin DP, WhittDA, et al. Potential use of long-acting injectable oxytetracycline for treatment of chlamydiosis in Goffin’s cockatoos. Avian Dis. 1990;34:1017-1022. — 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 Oxytetracycline dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Tobramycin

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM, IV	2.5–5 mg/kg	q8-12h	Gram-negative bacterial infection	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)

Full Tobramycin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole(Bactrim, TMS)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10–50 mg/kg	q24h	Broad-spectrum bacterial infection	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.422 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4

Full Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

Tylosin(Tylan)

Antibiotic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50 mg/kg	q24h	Mycoplasma; gram-positive 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.423 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW)

Full Tylosin dosing in Zebra Finches →Calculate for this zebra finch →

All drugs cited for Bacterial Infections →All drugs for Zebra Finches →

Other conditions in Zebra Finches

Coccidiosis Endoparasites Sedation General Anesthesia Systemic Fungal Infections Pain Management

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.