Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Cefotaxime is dosed at 25–50 mg/kg IM q8h in rabbits, per Pichardo C, Docobo-Pérez F, Pachón-Ibáñez ME, et al. Efficacy of beta-lactam against experimental pneumococcal endocarditis caused by strains with different susceptibilities to penicillin. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2005;56:732-737. doi:10.1093/jac/dki304 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.841 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.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. Cefotaxime is used in rabbits for Severe infections. Routes documented in rabbits: IM. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Cefotaxime in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Claforan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 25–50 mg/kg | q8h | 7-14 days |
| Severe infections |
| Moderate |
| Pichardo C, Docobo-Pérez F, Pachón-Ibáñez ME, et al. Efficacy of beta-lactam against experimental pneumococcal endocarditis caused by strains with different susceptibilities to penicillin. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2005;56:732-737. doi:10.1093/jac/dki304 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.841 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.73 | Rabbits, Primates: 50 mg/kg i.m., i.v. q8h |
| 50 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.1 | 50 mg/kg IM q8h |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Third-generation cephalosporin with broad gram-negative activity including CNS penetration. Active metabolite (desacetylcefotaxime) provides additional activity.
Good CNS penetration for meningitis. May cause pain at injection site. Adjust dose in renal failure.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Cefotaxime dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: IM 25–50 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Cefotaxime in rabbits: IM.
Cited course lengths for Cefotaxime in rabbits include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Cefotaxime is indicated in rabbits for: Severe infections.
These are general warnings for Cefotaxime across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Good CNS penetration for meningitis. May cause pain at injection site. Adjust dose in renal failure.
Why a species-specific page? Cefotaxime pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in rabbits — 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.