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 5 mg/kg IM, IV q24h in rabbits, per 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). 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.

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. — Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.190Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Backed by 4 published sourcesShow

· 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).
· 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. — Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.190
· Jin YG, Liu Y, Zhang YN, Chen YX, Sun LJ, Li SH, Wang WR, Yang F. 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. PMID 39799859; PMCID PMC11770492. URL:

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