What routes can Enrofloxacin be administered by?

Available routes: PO, IM, SC, IV.

Is Enrofloxacin a controlled substance?

Enrofloxacin is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Enrofloxacin

US brand names:Baytril

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Enrofloxacin is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg IM q24h in ball pythons, per Mader's Reptile & Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, Table 72.1 'Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Mycoplasmosis in Reptiles', corpus p.878 (printed 747); also Mader's Table 127.1, corpus p.1402: 'Enrofloxacin 5-10 mg/kg q24h PO, SC, IM, ICe - Most species'. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

POIMSCIV

Indications

Bacterial infections Bacterial infections (pneumonia, abscess)Bacterial infections (respiratory, GI)Bacterial infections (respiratory, UTI)Bacterial infections (skin, UTI, respiratory)Bacterial respiratorychronic respiratoryComplicated UTIDermal hemangiosarcoma (post-operative care)E. coliGram-negative enteritisMycoplasma haemofelisMycoplasma respiratory (acute)OsteomyelitisOtitis media/internaOVHParacloacal transitional cell carcinomaPasteurellaPasteurella multocidaPerioperative antibioticPneumonia (community-acquired)Post-operative antibiotic (infection control)Potential tissue necrosisProstatitispyelonephritisrespiratoryRespiratory infections (Bordetella, Streptococcus)Severe systemic infectionsskinsnufflesStreptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicusSusceptible bacterial infectionstreatment of infections

Mechanism of Action

Inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, preventing DNA replication and transcription.

Side effects & warnings

Avoid in growing animals (cartilage damage). Do NOT use in cats at doses >5mg/kg (retinal toxicity). Avoid concurrent use with theophylline.

Species with Enrofloxacin dosing data (52 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot African Pygmy Hedgehog Ball Python Bearded Dragon Cat (Domestic)Chicken (Poultry)Chinchilla Degu Dog (Domestic)Ferret Guinea Pig Horse (Equine)Pet Rat Prairie Dog Rabbit (Domestic)

Evidence levels across 52 dose rules

Strong×17Moderate×26Extrapolated×2Weak×4Anecdotal×3

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 32 published sources

· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).
· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237.; Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015.; Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).
· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237.; Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015.; Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.; Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (2 of 52 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 18 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)	IM	5–10 mg/kg	q24h	Strong	Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, Enrofloxacin, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs - printed p.289 (corpus PDF p.317). Corroborating figures: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th Ed, Enrofloxacin, printed p.148 - 'Dogs: 5 mg/kg s.c. q24h. Higher doses (10 mg/kg q24h) should be considered for certain sites, including prostatitis.'
Cat (Domestic)	PO	5 mg/kg	q24h	Strong	Baytril - Enrofloxacin Tablet, Coated [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Elanco US Inc; 2020. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=5012fe70-6394-45f5-be75-04297e39574d — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.480 (2026-08-01).

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Other formulations of Enrofloxacin

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· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin; Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part; Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).

· Agius JE, Kimble B, Govendir M, et al. Pharmacokinetic profile of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in Asian house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) after single-dose oral administration of enrofloxacin. Vet Anim Sci; 2020:100-116. doi:10.1016/j.vas.2020.100116 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01).

· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th edition, Part A - Canine and Feline; Enrofloxacin monograph, DOSES, printed p.148 (corpus PDF p.164). Secondary/contrast: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 9th ed, Enrofloxacin, printed p.453 (PDF p.480).

· Baytril - Enrofloxacin Tablet, Coated [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Elanco US Inc; 2020. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=5012fe70-6394-45f5-be75-04297e39574d — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.480 (2026-08-01).

· Bodley K. Appendix 4. Drug Formulary. In: Vogelnest L, Portas T, eds. Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals; CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Vic; 2019:702-727. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.703 (2026-08-01).

· Brust DM, Mans C. Sugar gliders. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:432-442. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.703 (2026-08-01).

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, pp.215-216 (Enrofloxacin, reptiles). Primaries printed in the chapter reference list: ref 409 = Salvadori M, Vercelli C, De Vito V, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations of a 10 mg/kg enrofloxacin intramuscular administration in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) [Carpenter refs p.391]; ref 188 = Hellebuyck T, Pasmans F, Haesebrouck F, et al. Designing a successful antimicrobial treatment against Devriesea agamarum infections in lizards. Vet Microbiol. 2009;139:189-192 [Carpenter refs p.364]

· ExoticRx 2026 (ferret dosing guide); Carpenter 6e

· Flammer K, Aucoin DP, WhittDA. Intramuscular and oral disposition of enrofloxacin in African grey parrots following single and multiple doses. J Vet Pharmacol Therap. 1991;41:359-366. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1991.tb00849.x — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.414 (2026-08-01).

· Haggett EF, Wilson WD. Overview of the use of antimicrobials for the treatment of bacterial infections in horses. Equine Vet Educ. 2008;20(8):433-448. doi:10.2746/095777308x338893 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.480 (2026-08-01).

· Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.413 (2026-08-01).

· Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147.; Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:155-172. doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30099-3; Smith A. General husbandry and medical care of hedgehogs. In: Bonagura JD, eds. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIII: Small Animal Practice; WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:1128-1133. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 (2026-08-01).

· Mader's Reptile & Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, Table 72.1 'Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Mycoplasmosis in Reptiles', corpus p.878 (printed 747); also Mader's Table 127.1, corpus p.1402: 'Enrofloxacin 5-10 mg/kg q24h PO, SC, IM, ICe - Most species'

· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).

· Mitchell MA. Enrofloxacin (Therapeutic Review). J Exot Pet Med 2006;15(1):66-69. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2005.11.011 (full-text PDF read) — states that no enrofloxacin pharmacokinetic study exists in ferrets or rodents, and relays a formulary range of 5-20 mg/kg PO, SC or IM for these species (its ref.

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01).

· Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.703 (2026-08-01).

· Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, Enrofloxacin, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs - printed p.289 (corpus PDF p.317)

· Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, Enrofloxacin, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs - printed p.289 (corpus PDF p.317). Corroborating figures: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th Ed, Enrofloxacin, printed p.148 - 'Dogs: 5 mg/kg s.c. q24h. Higher doses (10 mg/kg q24h) should be considered for certain sites, including prostatitis.'

· Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2018. — Verified against Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.857 (2026-08-01).

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed

· Raphael BL. Chelonians. In: Fowler ME, Miller RE, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2003:48-58. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01).

· Salvadori M, Vercelli C, De Vito V, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations of a 10 mg/kg enrofloxacin intramuscular administration in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps): a preliminary assessment. J Vet Pharm Ther. 2017;40:62-69. doi:10.1111/jvp.12320; Hellebuyck T, Pasmans F, Haesebrouck F, et al. Designing a successful antimicrobial treatment against Devriesea agamarum infections in lizards. Vet Microbiol. 2009;139:189-192. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.05.003 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.216 (2026-08-01).

· Verified against Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.857 (2026-08-01).

· Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.480 (2026-08-01).

· Weese JS, Blondeau JM, Boothe D, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for treatment of urinary tract disease in dogs and cats: antimicrobial guidelines working group of the international society for companion animal infectious diseases. Vet Med Int. 2011;2011:263768. doi:10.4061/2011/263768 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.480 (2026-08-01).

· White SD, Bourdeau P, Bruet V, et al. Reptiles with dermatological lesions: a retrospective study of 301 cases at two university veterinary teaching hospitals (1992-2008). Vet Dermatol. 2010;22:150-161. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00926.x — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.215 (2026-08-01).