Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Azithromycin is dosed at 10 mg/kg PO q24h x5 days then q48h in horses, per 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.149 (2026-08-01).. Azithromycin is used in horses for Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin). Routes documented in horses: PO. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Azithromycin in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Zithromax
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q24h x5 days then q48h | 4-12 weeks | Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin) | Strong | 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.149 (2026-08-01). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your horse's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Binds to 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Concentrates in tissues with long half-life.
CONTRAINDICATED orally in rabbits and guinea pigs (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Long tissue half-life means prolonged effect after discontinuation.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Azithromycin dose range in horses, with cited source references: PO 10 mg/kg q24h x5 days then q48h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Azithromycin in horses: PO.
Cited course lengths for Azithromycin in horses include: 4-12 weeks. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Azithromycin is indicated in horses for: Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin).
These are general warnings for Azithromycin across species; consult the horse dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED orally in rabbits and guinea pigs (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Long tissue half-life means prolonged effect after discontinuation.
Why a species-specific page? Azithromycin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in horses — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.