What is Azithromycin used for?

Azithromycin is indicated for: 3rd-line, Antimicrobial, Antimicrobial (general), Avian chlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci infection), Bacterial infection, Bacterial infection (macrolide), Bacterial otitis media (middle ear) - only, Chlamydophila (alternative), Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Feline upper respiratory infection, Giardia and other susceptible organisms, Intracellular infections (i.e., Chlamydia), Intracellular infections including Mycobacterium spp., most commonly dental disease, Mycobacterial infections, Mycoplasma, Nonintracellular (extracellular) bacterial infections, Resistant Mycoplasma, Respiratory infections, Respiratory infections (alternative), Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin), Upper respiratory infection.

Is Azithromycin a controlled substance?

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

Azithromycin

US brand names:Zithromax

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Azithromycin is dosed at 15–30 mg/kg PO q24h x 15 days in rabbits, per Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcuť CJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

Indications

3rd-lineAntimicrobialAntimicrobial (general)Avian chlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci infection)Bacterial infection Bacterial infection (macrolide)Bacterial otitis media (middle ear) - onlyChlamydophila (alternative)Cryptosporidiosis Cryptosporidium Feline upper respiratory infection Giardia and other susceptible organisms

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Intracellular infections (i.e., Chlamydia)Intracellular infections including Mycobacterium spp.most commonly dental diseaseMycobacterial infectionsMycoplasmaNonintracellular (extracellular) bacterial infectionsResistant MycoplasmaRespiratory infections Respiratory infections (alternative)Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin)Upper respiratory infection

Mechanism of Action

Binds to 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Concentrates in tissues with long half-life.

Side effects & warnings

CONTRAINDICATED orally in rabbits and guinea pigs (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Long tissue half-life means prolonged effect after discontinuation.

Species with Azithromycin dosing data (21 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot Ball Python Blue-and-Gold Macaw Cat (Domestic)Chinchilla Cockatiel Degu Dog (Domestic)Dwarf Hamster Guinea Pig Horse (Equine)Mouse Pet Rat Rabbit (Domestic)Syrian Hamster

Evidence levels across 21 dose rules

Moderate×12Strong×4Weak×5

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

Sample dosing (2 of 21 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 16 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	5–10 mg/kg	q24h	Strong	Plumb's 10th ed printed p.122, Azithromycin monograph spanning p.120-122.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Cat (Domestic)	PO	5–10 mg/kg	q24-48h	Strong	Plumb's 10th ed printed p.122, Azithromycin monograph spanning p.120-122. — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Azithromycin monograph, printed p.122, CATS: "a) Upper respiratory infections (extra-label): 5 - 10 mg/kg PO every 24 hours for 5 days, then every 72 hours." Same monograph, printed p.121: "Azithromycin also has activity against Mycobacterium spp, but it is not recommended for Mycobacterium avium complex."Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Backed by 18 published sourcesShow

· 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· 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. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.407
· 48. Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. | 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 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).

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Other formulations of Azithromycin

Calculate Dosage for Azithromycin

BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A — Canine and Feline, Azithromycin, printed p.40 (Use: "Useful in the management of respiratory tract, mild to moderate skin and soft tissue, and […]") and printed p.41 (DOSES: "Dogs: 5-10 mg/kg p.o. q24h. May increase dosing interval to q48h after 3-5 days of treatment."). Clinical caution from Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Azithromycin monograph, printed p.121: "Azithromycin also has activity against Mycobacterium spp, but it is not recommended for Mycobacterium avium complex."

· Carpenter JW, Olsen JH, Randle-Port M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in the blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) after intravenous and oral administration. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2005;36:606-609. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.407 doi:10.1638/04106.1 - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds).

· Carpenter JW, Olsen JH, Randle-Port M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in the blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) after intravenous and oral administration. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2005;36:606-609. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.407 doi:10.1638/04106.1 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 2.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Fish.ab-cdefgh).

· Chan KH, Swarts JD, Doyle WJ, et al. Efficacy of a new macrolide (azithromycin) for acute otitis media in the chinchilla model. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1988;114:1266-1269. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.770 doi:10.1001/archotol.1988.01860230060024 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).

· Coke RL, Hunter RP, Isaza R, et al. Pharmacokinetics and tissue concentrations of azithromycin in ball pythons (Python regius). Am J Vet Res. 2003;64:225-228. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.212 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Pharmacokinetics and tissue concentrations of azithromycin in ball pythons (Python regius). (American journal of veterinary research, 2003). doi:10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.225. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.225. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "nistration of a single dose. Animals 2 male and 5 female ball pythons. Procedures Using a crossover […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.

· Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. / 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. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).

· Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. | 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 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).

· Giguere S. Treatment of infections caused by Rhodococcus equi. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2017;33(1):67-85. PMID: 41600728; Giguere S, Jacks S, Roberts GD, Hernandez J, Long MT, Ellis C. Retrospective Comparison of Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, and Erythromycin for the Treatment of Foals with Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia. J Vet Intern Med. 2004;18(4):568-573. doi:10.1892/0891-6640(2004)18<568:rcoaca>2.0.co;2 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.122, Azithromycin monograph spanning p.120-122.

· 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. / 768. Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, Abridged, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1997:227-253.

· Mitchell M, Mans C. Retrospective evaluation of orally prescribed azithromycin in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera): 131 cases (2009-2025). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2026;264:1-4. doi:10.2460/javma.25.12.0873 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41849821

· Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcuť CJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.

· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.122, Azithromycin monograph spanning p.120-122.

· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.122, Azithromycin monograph spanning p.120-122. — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Azithromycin monograph, printed p.122, CATS: "a) Upper respiratory infections (extra-label): 5 - 10 mg/kg PO every 24 hours for 5 days, then every 72 hours." Same monograph, printed p.121: "Azithromycin also has activity against Mycobacterium spp, but it is not recommended for Mycobacterium avium complex."

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), printed p.122, CATS - Susceptible infections (extra-label). No superscript is printed on this dose sentence.

· Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Diaz-Figueroa O, Tully T Jr., et al. Evaluating 21-day doxycycline and azithromycin treatments for experimental Chlamydophila psiťaci infection in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). J Avian Med Surg. 2010;24:35-45. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Evaluating 21-day doxycycline and azithromycin treatments for experimental Chlamydophila psittaci infection in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). (Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 2010). doi:10.1647/2009-009r.1. https://doi.org/10.1647/2009-009r.1. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "rbidity, mortality, and results of polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed that infection was […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.