Cephalexin for Gerbils

Pocket Pet · Meriones unguiculatus · typical adult weight 0.07–0.13 kg

Cephalexin is dosed at 25 mg/kg SC q24h in gerbils, per 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.771 — 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 — PRINTED DETAIL MISSING FROM THIS RULE (retrieved 2026-08-19): Although cephalexin has been used in some small mammal species, products licensed in the United Kingdom state: Do not use in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils, and other small rodents; potentially serious enterocolitis can result. — Plumb's 10th ed, printed p.235 (corpus plumb 262). Currently in internal_notes, which the migration that created it states is "deliberately NOT added to any response schema" — so no clinician has ever seen it.. Cephalexin is used in gerbils for Bacterial infection (row states no indication). Routes documented in gerbils: SC. A typical adult gerbil weighs 0.07–0.13 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Cephalexin in gerbils, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Keflex

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.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC	25 mg/kg	q24h	Bacterial infection (row states no indication)	Weak	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.771 — 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 — PRINTED DETAIL MISSING FROM THIS RULE (retrieved 2026-08-19): Although cephalexin has been used in some small mammal species, products licensed in the United Kingdom state: Do not use in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils, and other small rodents; potentially serious enterocolitis can result. — Plumb's 10th ed, printed p.235 (corpus plumb 262). Currently in internal_notes, which the migration that created it states is "deliberately NOT added to any response schema" — so no clinician has ever seen it.

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
25	SC	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.1	25 mg/kg SC q24h

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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Mechanism of action

Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to PBPs. First-generation cephalosporin with good gram-positive coverage.

Side effects & warnings

May cause GI upset. Use with caution in penicillin-allergic animals (cross-reactivity). Not effective against Pseudomonas.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for gerbils may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Cephalexin for Gerbils?

Cephalexin dose range in gerbils, with cited source references: SC 25 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Cephalexin administered in Gerbils?

Documented routes for Cephalexin in gerbils: SC.

What conditions does Cephalexin treat in Gerbils?

Cephalexin is indicated in gerbils for: Bacterial infection (row states no indication).

What are the side effects of Cephalexin in Gerbils?

These are general warnings for Cephalexin across species; consult the gerbil dosing table above for species-specific guidance. May cause GI upset. Use with caution in penicillin-allergic animals (cross-reactivity). Not effective against Pseudomonas.

Other Antibiotic drugs with gerbil dosing

Doxycycline Gentamicin Marbofloxacin Metronidazole Neomycin Oxytetracycline Sulfamethazine Sulfaquinoxaline Tylosin Vancomycin

Cephalexin dosing in other species

Dwarf Hamsters Ferrets Mice Pet Rats Rabbits Sugar Gliders Syrian Hamsters African Grey Parrots

See all species for Cephalexin See all drugs for Gerbils

Why a species-specific page? Cephalexin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in gerbils — 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.