ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/ciprofloxacin
US brand names:Cipro, Baytril(enrofloxacin metabolite)
Ciprofloxacin is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg IM q48h in ball pythons, per Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B - Exotic Pets, BSAVA, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK, Ciprofloxacin monograph, printed p.77: 'Reptiles: Topical: 1 drop to affected eyes or in wounds or topical application for stomatitis, Systemic: 5-10 mg/kg p.o., s.c., i.m. q24h.' CARPENTER TABLE 4.1 DOES NOT CONTAIN THIS ROW: its entire reptile ciprofloxacin block is two ORAL rows, 10 mg/kg PO q48h (Most species) and 11 mg/kg PO q48-72h (Pythons/PD), and mader p.1402 prints the same two. The 5-10 mg/kg IM figures below them on carpenter pp.215-216 are ENROFLOXACIN.. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, preventing DNA replication. Active metabolite of enrofloxacin in some species. Concentration-dependent killing.
Avoid in young growing animals (cartilage damage). May cause CNS stimulation. Drug interactions with antacids, sucralfate. Cats: retinal degeneration risk at high doses.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 20 mg/kg | q24h | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.265, Ciprofloxacin monograph spanning p.265-268; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.266, Ciprofloxacin monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 25 mg/kg | q24h | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Ciprofloxacin, p.295, DOGS row; superscript 1 = Papich MG. Ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in clinical canine patients. J Vet Intern Med. 2017;31(5):1508-1513. Corroborated by Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs 4th ed p.189 ('Dogs • 25 mg/kg q24h PO') and Riviere & Papich, Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 10th ed p.983 ('Ciprofloxacin | 25 (oral) | recommended daily dose 25-30 once daily | Papich, 2012') — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.268, Ciprofloxacin monograph spanning p.265-268; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, ; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, ; Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics — ISBN 9781118855829, |
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Species references:All African Clawed Frog drugsAll African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Axolotl drugsAll Ball Python drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Betta (Siamese fighting fish) drugsAll Blue-tongue Skink drugsAll Canary drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Chinchilla drugsAll Corn Snake drugsAll Crested Gecko drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Domestic Pigeon drugsAll Dwarf Hamster drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Fire Salamander drugsAll Goldfish drugsAll Guinea Pig drugsAll Houston Toad drugsAll Koi drugsAll Lovebird drugsAll Mouse drugsAll Pet Rat drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugsAll Russian Tortoise drugsAll Sugar Glider drugsAll Sulcata Tortoise drugsAll Syrian Hamster drugsAll Umbrella Cockatoo drugsAll White's Tree Frog drugs