Bird · Columba livia domestica · typical adult weight 0.30–0.50 kg
Difloxacin is dosed at 10 mg/kg IM single dose in domestic pigeons, per 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: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11770492/. Difloxacin is used in domestic pigeons for bacterial infection (pharmacokinetic study dose), Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, IM or IV administration at 10 mg/kg BW is effective against bacterial infections with MIC values <= 0.1 ug/mL., Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, the oral dose (10 mg/kg BW) may be insufficient, particularly for infections caused by pathogens with MIC values exceeding 0.1 ug/mL (oral bioava. Routes documented in domestic pigeons: IM, IV, PO. A typical adult domestic pigeon weighs 0.30–0.50 kg. ExoticRx lists 6 cited dose rules for Difloxacin in domestic pigeons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Dicural
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10 mg/kg | single dose | bacterial infection (pharmacokinetic study dose) | Weak | 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: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11770492/ |
| IM | 10 mg/kg | See source | Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, IM or IV administration at 10 mg/kg BW is effective against bacterial infections with MIC values <= 0.1 ug/mL. | Weak | 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/ |
| IV | 10 mg/kg | single dose | bacterial infection (pharmacokinetic study dose) | Weak | 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: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11770492/ |
| IV | 10 mg/kg | See source | Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, IM or IV administration at 10 mg/kg BW is effective against bacterial infections with MIC values <= 0.1 ug/mL. | Weak | 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/ |
| PO | 10 mg/kg | single dose | bacterial infection (pharmacokinetic study dose) | Weak | 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: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11770492/ |
| PO | 10 mg/kg | See source | Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, the oral dose (10 mg/kg BW) may be insufficient, particularly for infections caused by pathogens with MIC values exceeding 0.1 ug/mL (oral bioava | Weak | 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/ |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your domestic pigeon's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Concentration-dependent bactericidal activity.
Avoid in growing animals (cartilage damage). May lower seizure threshold. Primarily approved for dogs.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for domestic pigeons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Difloxacin dose ranges in domestic pigeons, with cited source references: IM 10 mg/kg single dose; IM 10 mg/kg See source; IV 10 mg/kg single dose; IV 10 mg/kg See source.
Documented routes for Difloxacin in domestic pigeons: IM, IV, PO.
Difloxacin is indicated in domestic pigeons for: bacterial infection (pharmacokinetic study dose), Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, IM or IV administration at 10 mg/kg BW is effective against bacterial infections with MIC values <= 0.1 ug/mL., Single-dose pharmacokinetic study. Per the conclusion, the oral dose (10 mg/kg BW) may be insufficient, particularly for infections caused by pathogens with MIC values exceeding 0.1 ug/mL (oral bioava.
These are general warnings for Difloxacin across species; consult the domestic pigeon dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Avoid in growing animals (cartilage damage). May lower seizure threshold. Primarily approved for dogs.
Why a species-specific page? Difloxacin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in domestic pigeons — 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.