What is Enrofloxacin used for?

Enrofloxacin is indicated for: Bacterial infections, Bacterial infections (pneumonia, abscess), Bacterial infections (respiratory, GI), Bacterial infections (respiratory, UTI), Bacterial infections (skin, UTI, respiratory), Bacterial respiratory, chronic respiratory, Complicated UTI, Dermal hemangiosarcoma (post-operative care), E. coli, Gram-negative enteritis, Mycoplasma haemofelis, Mycoplasma respiratory (acute), Osteomyelitis, Otitis media/interna, OVH, Paracloacal transitional cell carcinoma, Pasteurella, Pasteurella multocida, Perioperative antibiotic, Pneumonia (community-acquired), Post-operative antibiotic (infection control), Potential tissue necrosis, Prostatitis, pyelonephritis, respiratory, Respiratory infections (Bordetella, Streptococcus), Severe systemic infections, skin, snuffles, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, Susceptible bacterial infections, treatment of infections.

What routes can Enrofloxacin be administered by?

Available routes: PO, IM, SC, IV.

Which species have cited Enrofloxacin dosing data?

Enrofloxacin dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 18 species: 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), Russian Tortoise, Sugar Glider, Turkey.

Is Enrofloxacin a controlled substance?

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

How does Enrofloxacin work?

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

Enrofloxacin

US brand names:Baytril

Calculate dosage

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)

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.

Evidence levels across 52 dose rules

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

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

Backed by 30 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	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
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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· 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, Table 4.1 Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles, Enrofloxacin, p.215 (row ref 485 = 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). Corroborated by Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery 3rd ed, Table 72.1, printed p.747 (PDF p.878).

· 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]

· 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).

· 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).

· 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).

· 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).

Enrofloxacin

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Enrofloxacin dosing data (52 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 52 dose rules

Backed by 30 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 52 cited rules)

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Other formulations of Enrofloxacin

Enrofloxacin

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Enrofloxacin dosing data (52 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 52 dose rules

Backed by 30 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 52 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Other formulations of Enrofloxacin

Articles mentioning Enrofloxacin

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