Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Chloramphenicol is dosed at 30–50 mg/kg PO q12h in rabbits, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.248, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Binds to 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting peptidyl transferase and bacterial protein synthesis. Bacteriostatic.
Side effects & warnings
Human health hazard: wear gloves when handling (aplastic anemia risk in humans). May cause bone marrow suppression in cats. Monitor CBC during prolonged use.
Species with Chloramphenicol dosing data (50 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 50 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 31 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.
Plumb's 10th ed printed p.245, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Plumb's 10th ed printed p.245, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 241. Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 34. Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.732 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 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.771 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
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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.771 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· Avian Medicine: Principles and Application (Ritchie, Harrison & Harrison), p.811. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Chloramphenicol 22 mg/kg IM, IV q3h Ducks (PD), raptors". | SAFETY TEXT LOCATED 2026-08-20, Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook printed p.1380, verbatim: "Chloramphenicol may induce dose-dependent bone marrow suppression or idiosyncratic aplastic anemia […]" The low-risk clause is scoped to ophthalmic use in the source and is not carried over to these systemic rules. Comparator at printed p.555: "Florfenicol does not appear to have the same risk for aplastic anemia as chloramphenicol."
· Brumbaugh G. Clinical pharmacology and the pediatric patient. Presented at: 45th Annual AAEP Convention; 1999. doi:10.1007/s004670050514; USPC. Veterinary Information- Appendix III. In: Drug Information for the Health Professional. Vol 2. United States Pharmacopeial Convention; 1990:2811-2860. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.245, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, Table 4.1 antimicrobials continuation, Chloramphenicol, 'Most species' row; superscript 142 = Funk RS. A formulary for lizards, snakes, and crocodilians. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:333-358 10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30105-6
· Clark CH, Rogers ED and Milton JL (1985) Plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol in snakes. American Journal of Veterinary Research 46(12), 2654-2657 — Source: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.84
· Clark CH, Thomas JE, Milton JL, et al. Plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol in birds. Am J Vet Res. 1982;43(7):1249-1253. [page corrected from Carpenter's reference list, which prints "43:1949"; Crossref record for doi:10.2460/ajvr.1982.43.07.1249 gives volume 43, issue 7, pages 1249-1253] — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 doi:10.2460/ajvr.1982.43.07.1249 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.409 doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 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.771 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· Funk RS. A formulary for lizards, snakes, and crocodilians. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:333-358. / 243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30105-6
· Funk RS. A formulary for lizards, snakes, and crocodilians. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:333-358. doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30105-6 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· Funk RS. A formulary for lizards, snakes, and crocodilians. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:333-358. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.214 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary [Association] / 30. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcu[t]t CJ, Mans C, et al. 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 7.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· Hoeffer H. Antimicrobials in pet birds. In: Bonagura JD, ed. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XII: Small Animal Practice. W.B. Saunders; 1995:1278-1283. PMID: 42192709 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.245, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.
· Invertebrate Medicine, 3rd ed (Lewbart, 2022), Table 9.6 "Cephalopod formulary". Published 2026-08-06.
· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.245, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.245, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.247, Chloramphenicol monograph.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.247, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.248, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.84.
· Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.651. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Chloramphenicol Chloramphenicol Raptors IM 50 mg/kg tid Effective in flock treatment for Salmonella spp.". | SAFETY TEXT LOCATED 2026-08-20, Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook printed p.1380, verbatim: "Chloramphenicol may induce dose-dependent bone marrow suppression or idiosyncratic aplastic anemia […]" The low-risk clause is scoped to ophthalmic use in the source and is not carried over to these systemic rules. Comparator at printed p.555: "Florfenicol does not appear to have the same risk for aplastic anemia as chloramphenicol."
· 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 (antimicrobial guidelines working group of the international society for companion animal infectious diseases). Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(3):163-e43. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.247, Chloramphenicol monograph spanning p.245-248.
Chinchilla Drug Dosing: A Vet Reference
Antibiotic, analgesic, anesthetic, and dental-disease dosing for Chinchilla lanigera. Same dysbiosis warnings as rabbits, plus the chinchilla-specific sensitivities to anesthesia and stress that change post-op care.