GI Ulceration in Rabbits
Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
4 cited drugs treat GI Ulceration in rabbits: Cimetidine, Famotidine, Omeprazole, Sucralfate.
Erosive disease of the gastric or duodenal mucosa, often precipitated by NSAID exposure, mast-cell tumour histamine release, or stress in equines. Proton-pump inhibitors and H2 blockers reduce acid secretion; sucralfate provides mucosal protection.
The overview above describes GI Ulceration across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to rabbits — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Cimetidine(Tagamet)
Gastrointestinal| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q6-12h | As needed | Gastric acid reduction | Weak | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, Table 10.10 'Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits' (corpus p.876) -- 'Cimetidine 5-10 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV q6-12h; Gastric and duodenal ulcers' — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Famotidine(Pepcid)
Gastrointestinal| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12-24h | As needed | Gastric ulceration | Extrapolated | Fiorello CV. Personal communication; 2011.; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.891 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.18 (Treatments Used in the Management of Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome (RGIS).a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Omeprazole(Prilosec, GastroGard)
Gastrointestinal| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q24h | 7-14 days | Suspected gastric ulceration | Extrapolated | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 10.10, p.879 (rabbit omeprazole row comment) + Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Omeprazole, DOGS, printed pp.954-955 (corpus p.982). The rabbit-specific figure on the same Carpenter row, 20 mg/kg SC q12h, carries superscript 138 = Lee M, Kallal S, Feldman M. Omeprazole prevents indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rabbits. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1996;10:571-576. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Sucralfate(Carafate)
Gastrointestinal| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 25 mg/kg | q8-12h | 7-14 days | GI ulceration | Extrapolated | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, rabbit miscellaneous-agents table, p.880: 'Sucralfate 25 mg/kg PO q8-12h'. Superscript 166 = Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt C, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2021:620-630 (verified at carpenter refs p.917). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350 |
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.