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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.877 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.877 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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.