Is Amoxicillin-Clavulanate a controlled substance?

Amoxicillin-Clavulanate is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Amoxicillin-Clavulanate

US brand names:Clavamox, Augmentin

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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 chinchillasChinchillas 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 125 mg/kg PO q12h in african grey parrots, per 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). 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. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

Indications

abscessabscess (non-respiratory)Bacterial infection Bacterial infection (beta-lactamase producers)Bacterial infection (β-lactamase-producing organisms)Bite woundBroad-spectrum bacterial infection (β-lactamase producers)dentalrespiratorySkin infectionsSkin/soft tissue infectionSporadic bacterial cystitis (notUTI

Mechanism of Action

Amoxicillin inhibits cell wall synthesis; clavulanate irreversibly inhibits beta-lactamase, extending spectrum to beta-lactamase-producing organisms.

Side effects & warnings

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 (14 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot African Pygmy Hedgehog Amazon Parrot Blue-and-Gold Macaw Cat (Domestic)Chicken (Poultry)Dog (Domestic)Domestic Pigeon Ferret Green-cheeked Conure Lovebird Mouse Pet Rat

Evidence levels across 14 dose rules

Moderate×10Strong×2Weak×2

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 11 published sources

· 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 — 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
· 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). 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

Sample dosing (2 of 14 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 14 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.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	12.5–25 mg/kg	q12h	Strong	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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.99 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.72, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate monograph spanning p.70-73; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
Cat (Domestic)	PO

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