Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Doxycycline is dosed at 2.5 mg/kg PO q12h in rabbits, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.842, ref 166 = Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2021:620-630 (the same row appears there in Table A.1, p.621). Doxycycline is used in rabbits for Respiratory infections, Pasteurella, Pasteurella multocida, snuffles. Routes documented in rabbits: PO. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Doxycycline in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vibramycin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2.5 mg/kg | q12h | 14-28 days | Respiratory infections, Pasteurella | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.842, ref 166 = Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2021:620-630 (the same row appears there in Table A.1, p.621) |
| PO | 2.5 mg/kg | q12h | 14-30 days | Pasteurella multocida, snuffles | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.842, ref 166 = Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th ed, 2021:620-630 (Table A.1, p.621: Rabbits 2.5 mg/kg PO q12h) |
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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.
Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-tRNA attachment.
Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Doxycycline dose ranges in rabbits, with cited source references: PO 2.5 mg/kg q12h; PO 2.5 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Doxycycline in rabbits: PO.
Cited course lengths for Doxycycline in rabbits include: 14-28 days; 14-30 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Doxycycline is indicated in rabbits for: Respiratory infections, Pasteurella, Pasteurella multocida, snuffles.
These are general warnings for Doxycycline across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Can cause esophageal strictures in cats if not followed by water. Photosensitivity. Avoid in pregnant animals (tooth discoloration in fetus).
Why a species-specific page? Doxycycline 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.