Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Diphenhydramine is dosed at 2 mg/kg PO, SC q8-12h in rabbits, per Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. 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.877 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits). Diphenhydramine is used in rabbits for Antihistamine; torticollis. Routes documented in rabbits: PO, SC. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diphenhydramine in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Benadryl
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, SC | 2 mg/kg | q8-12h | Antihistamine; torticollis | Moderate | Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. 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.877 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.108 | 2 mg/kg p.o., s.c., i.m. q12h for torticollis |
| 1–2 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.10 | 1-2 mg/kg PO q12h |
| 2 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.10 | 2 mg/kg PO, SC q8-12h |
| 2 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.10 | 2 mg/kg IV |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
Typical range: 1–5 kg
If provided, volume will be calculated alongside dose.
Reference only. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Competitive antagonist at histamine H1 receptors. Also has anticholinergic, anti-motion sickness, and mild sedative properties.
Sedation common (first-generation). Anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, urinary retention). Ensure product does not contain xylitol or pseudoephedrine. Dogs and cats. Less effective than second-gen antihistamines for pruritus.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diphenhydramine dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: PO, SC 2 mg/kg q8-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diphenhydramine in rabbits: PO, SC.
Diphenhydramine is indicated in rabbits for: Antihistamine; torticollis.
These are general warnings for Diphenhydramine across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Sedation common (first-generation). Anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, urinary retention). Ensure product does not contain xylitol or pseudoephedrine. Dogs and cats. Less effective than second-gen antihistamines for pruritus.
Why a species-specific page? Diphenhydramine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in rabbits — 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.