What is Difloxacin used for?

Difloxacin is indicated for: E. coli infections, Skin infections, UTI.

Which species have cited Difloxacin dosing data?

Difloxacin dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 3 species: Dog (Domestic), Domestic Pigeon, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Difloxacin a controlled substance?

Difloxacin is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What are the side effects of Difloxacin?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Difloxacin: Avoid in growing animals (cartilage damage). May lower seizure threshold. Primarily approved for dogs.

Difloxacin

US brand names:Dicural

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Difloxacin is dosed at 10 mg/kg IM not stated in the cited source in domestic pigeons, per Jin et al. Pharmacokinetics of difloxacin after single intravenous, oral and intramuscular administration in pigeons. Poultry Science. 2025;104(2):104800. DOI 10.1016/j.psj.2025.104800. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11770492/. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

Indications

E. coli infectionsSkin infectionsUTI

Mechanism of Action

Inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Concentration-dependent bactericidal activity.

Side effects & warnings

Avoid in growing animals (cartilage damage). May lower seizure threshold. Primarily approved for dogs.

Species with Difloxacin dosing data (6 dose rules)

Dog (Domestic)Domestic Pigeon Rabbit (Domestic)

Species references:All Dog (Domestic) drugs All Domestic Pigeon drugs All Rabbit (Domestic) drugs

Evidence levels across 6 dose rules

Weak×5Strong×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 4 published sources

· Abd El-Aty AM, Goudah A, Ismail M, et al. Disposition kinetics of difloxacin in rabbits after intravenous and intramuscular injection of Dicural. Vet Res Commun. 2005;29:297-304. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.842 — 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
· Arrioja-Dechert A, editor: Compendium of Veterinary Products, ed 5, Port Huron, 1999, North American Compendiums, Inc.; Pirro F, et al: Bactericidal and inhibitory activity of enrofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones in small animal pathogens. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 21(Suppl):19, 1999. — Verified against Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.202 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.202' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.190; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.190. — SOURCE EDITION: Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology — ISBN 9781416000280, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781416000280

Sample dosing (1 of 6 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 3 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
Dog (Domestic)	PO	5–10 mg/kg	q24h	Strong	Arrioja-Dechert A, editor: Compendium of Veterinary Products, ed 5, Port Huron, 1999, North American Compendiums, Inc.; Pirro F, et al: Bactericidal and inhibitory activity of enrofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones in small animal pathogens. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 21(Suppl):19, 1999. — Verified against Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.202 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.202' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.190; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.190. — SOURCE EDITION: Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology — ISBN 9781416000280, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781416000280

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