Contraindicated in Chinchilla, Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Hamster, Degu
Chinchilla: Oral erythromycin causes fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasOral erythromycin is among the antibiotics classically associated with fatal enterotoxemia in chinchillas. Avoid.
Guinea Pig: Oral erythromycin causes fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsOral erythromycin is one of the antibiotics classically fatal to guinea pigs via Clostridium enterotoxemia. Avoid.
Rabbit: Oral erythromycin causes fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsOral erythromycin disrupts the rabbit hindgut flora and can precipitate fatal enterotoxemia, the same mechanism as oral beta-lactams and lincosamides. (Azithromycin is used with relative safety and is not flagged here.)
Hamster: Oral erythromycin causes fatal enterocolitis in hamstersHamsters are exquisitely sensitive to antibiotic-associated enterocolitis; oral erythromycin, like oral beta-lactams and lincosamides, can precipitate fatal Clostridium enterotoxemia. Avoid.
Degu: Oral erythromycin risks fatal dysbiosis in degusDegus are hindgut fermenters; oral erythromycin disrupts the gram-positive gut flora and can precipitate fatal enterotoxemia, the same mechanism as the oral beta-lactams and lincosamides already contraindicated in this species. Degu-specific data is limited, so this warning is extrapolated from the related hystricomorphs, as the other two degu contraindications are.
Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Erythromycin is dosed at 10 mg/kg PO q6h in ferrets, per Besch-Williford CL. Biology and medicine of the ferret. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1987;17:1155-1183. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.932 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Ferrets). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Binds 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting translocation of peptidyl-tRNA, blocking bacterial protein synthesis.
Side effects & warnings
CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits and hindgut fermenters. Prokinetic at sub-antimicrobial doses. GI upset common. Hepatotoxicity reported. Strong CYP inhibitor.
Species with Erythromycin dosing data (25 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 25 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.
Plumb's 10th ed printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Hall JA, Washabau RJ. Gastric prokinetic agents. In: Bonagura JD, ed. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy: XIII Small Animal Practice. W.B. Saunders; 2000:609-617. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.772 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· 207. De Herdt P, Devriese LA, De Groote B, et al. Antibiotic treatment of Streptococcus bovis infections in pigeons. Proc Eur Conf Avian Med Surg; 1993:297-304. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 doi:10.1080/03079459308418947 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 240. Dorrestein GM. Antimicrobial drug use in companion birds. In: PrescottJF, Baggot JD, Walker RD, eds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine, 3rd ed., Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 2000:617-636. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 doi:10.1002/9781118675014.ch35 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
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· 29. Isenbügel E, Baumgartner R. Diseases of the hedgehog. In: Fowler M, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy, 3rd ed., WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 1993:294-302. | 33. Johnson-Delaney C. Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook for Veterinarians, Zoological Education Network, Lake Worth, FL; 2008. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 5. Greenacre, C.B., Luna, G.L., and Morishita, T.M. (2018). Backyard poultry and waterfowl. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J.W. Carpenter), 377-432. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. — Source: Greenacre & Morishita, Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Ed, p.588
· 802. Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, ed. Avian Medicine. Mosby, Philadelphia, PA -- 2000:388-418. Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds).
· 802. Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine; Mosby, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:388-418. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Besch-Williford CL. Biology and medicine of the ferret. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1987;17:1155-1183. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.932 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Ferrets).
· Dorrestein GM. Infectious diseases and their therapy in Passeriformes Antimicrobial Therapy in Caged Birds and Exotic Pets, Veterinary Learning Systems, Trenton, NJ; 1995:11-27. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Gallimycin-100 Injection [product label]. LettSueur, MN: Bimeda-MTC Animal Health. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.473, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476. — 21 CFR § 522.820 (Erythromycin), conditions of use for Cattle: 8.8185-8.8185 mg/kg (the regulation prints this per pound; converted at 2.2046226 lb/kg). Related tolerances: 21 CFR § 556.230. Retrieved from the eCFR API, snapshot 2026-01-01. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-522.820
· Greenacre, C.B., Luna, G.L., and Morishita, T.M. (2018). Backyard poultry and waterfowl. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J.W. Carpenter), 377-432. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. — Source: Greenacre & Morishita, Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Ed, p.588
· Hall JA, Washabau RJ. Gastric prokinetic agents. In: Bonagura JD, ed. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy: XIII Small Animal Practice. W.B. Saunders; 2000:609-617. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476.
· Lavoie J-P, Drolet R. Proliferative enteropathy in foals. 2003 PMID: 35074397 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.476, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476. | ORIGINAL SOURCE THE BOOK CITES (2026-08-20): the dose row carries superscript 17 — "25 mg/kg PO once daily17 Chemistry/Synony" — which resolves in the monograph's own reference list to: Albarellos GA, Montoya L, Landoni MF. Pharmacokinetics of erythromycin after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration to cats. Veterinary Journal. 2011;187(1):129-132. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.09.019 This records what the handbook attributes the figure to. It is NOT a statement that the reference was read or that it validates the dose.
· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.473, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476.
· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.473, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476.
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.123.
· Visser C, Wijnbergen A, Bleich A. Maeuse und ratten. In: Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P, eds. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.772 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
Antibiotic, analgesic, and antifungal dosing for Cavia porcellus — and why they're not just small rabbits.