Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu
Rabbit: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsOral amoxicillin (and other oral beta-lactams) selectively destroy gram-positive hindgut flora in rabbits, allowing Clostridium spiroforme overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never administer oral beta-lactams to rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route, but is not established as safe in rabbits.
Guinea Pig: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsOral amoxicillin reliably causes Clostridium difficile-mediated fatal enterotoxemia in guinea pigs. Same mechanism as in rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route; parenteral ceftiofur specifically has been given to guinea pigs and chinchillas without adverse effect.
Chinchilla: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillas
Chinchillas are hindgut fermenters with the same flora dependence as rabbits and guinea pigs. Oral penicillins and oral cephalosporins trigger Clostridium overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never give oral beta-lactams; parenteral routes and trimethoprim-sulfa, fluoroquinolones, or chloramphenicol are the safer choices.
Hamster: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersHamsters are exquisitely susceptible to antibiotic-associated Clostridium difficile enterocolitis — the hamster is the classic laboratory model for it. Oral penicillins and cephalosporins are reliably fatal. Never administer oral beta-lactams.
Degu: Oral beta-lactams risk fatal dysbiosis in degusDegus are caviomorph hindgut fermenters closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs. Degu-specific data is limited, so this warning is extrapolated from those related hystricomorphs — but the shared physiology makes oral beta-lactam enterotoxemia the expected outcome. Treat as contraindicated; use the safer alternatives.
Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Amoxicillin-Clavulanate is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg PO q12h in ferrets, per Williams BH. Therapeutics in ferrets. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3(1):131-153.; Fox JG, Bell JA. Diseases of the genitourinary system. In: Fox JG, Marini RP, eds. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret. 3rd ed. Wiley Blackwell; 2014:335-361. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.73, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). GI upset (vomiting, diarrhea). Broad-spectrum first-line antibiotic. Give with food.
Species with Amoxicillin-Clavulanate dosing data (16 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 16 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 15 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008; Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis. Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(3):163-e43. doi:10.1111/vde.12168 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.72, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73.
· 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. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770
· 177. Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 668. Orosz SE, Jones MP, Cox SK, et al. Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva aestiva). J Avian Med Surg. 2000;14:107-112. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 doi:10.1647/1082-6742(2000)014[0107:poapca]2.0.co;2 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
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Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.73, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73.
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702. Phalen DN. Common bacterial and fungal infectious diseases in pet birds. Suppl Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 2003;25:43-48. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.406 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Greenacre, C.B., Luna, G.L., and Morishita, T.M. (2018). Backyard poultry and waterfowl. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J.W. Carpenter), 377-432. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. — Source: Greenacre & Morishita, Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Ed, p.588
· Heatley J. Hedgehogs. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN Jr., [eds].; Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith [ed].; Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy [hedgehogs].; Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: [Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary] — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.73, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73.
· Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008; Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis. Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(3):163-e43. doi:10.1111/vde.12168 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.72, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73.
· Williams BH. Therapeutics in ferrets. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3(1):131-153.; Fox JG, Bell JA. Diseases of the genitourinary system. In: Fox JG, Marini RP, eds. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret. 3rd ed. Wiley Blackwell; 2014:335-361. doi:10.1002/9781118782699.ch15 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.73, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73.