What is Erythromycin (Prokinetic) used for?

Erythromycin (Prokinetic) is indicated for: delayed gastric emptying, Gastroparesis.

Which species have cited Erythromycin (Prokinetic) dosing data?

Erythromycin (Prokinetic) dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 2 species: Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic).

Is Erythromycin (Prokinetic) a controlled substance?

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

What are the warnings or contraindications for Erythromycin (Prokinetic)?

Prokinetic doses are 0.5-1 mg/kg, much lower than antimicrobial doses. GI upset at higher doses. Tachyphylaxis develops within days.

What are the side effects of Erythromycin (Prokinetic)?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Erythromycin (Prokinetic): Prokinetic doses are 0.5-1 mg/kg, much lower than antimicrobial doses. GI upset at higher doses. Tachyphylaxis develops within days.

How does Erythromycin (Prokinetic) work?

At sub-antimicrobial doses, acts as a motilin receptor agonist stimulating gastric antral contractions and accelerating gastric emptying.

Erythromycin (Prokinetic)

US brand names:E-Mycin, Erythrocin

Calculate dosage

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.

Erythromycin (Prokinetic) is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q8h in dogs, per 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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.502 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Backed by a published source

· 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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.502 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

Sample dosing (2 of 2 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 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)	PO	0.5–1 mg/kg	q8h	Moderate	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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.502 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
Cat (Domestic)	PO	0.5–1 mg/kg	q8h	Weak	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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.502 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.475, Erythromycin monograph spanning p.473-476; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207,

Erythromycin (Prokinetic)

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Erythromycin (Prokinetic) dosing data (2 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Backed by a published source

Sample dosing (2 of 2 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Erythromycin (Prokinetic)

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Erythromycin (Prokinetic) dosing data (2 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Backed by a published source

Sample dosing (2 of 2 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

More Gastrointestinal drugs