Bird · Serinus canaria domestica · typical adult weight 0.01–0.03 kg
Erythromycin is dosed at 125 mg/L drinking water PO (drinking water) continuous in drinking water in canaries, per 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Erythromycin is used in canaries for Bacterial infection (gram-positive; Mycoplasma, Chlamydia), Bacterial infection (aviary/flock treatment). Routes documented in canaries: PO (drinking water), PO (in soft feed). A typical adult canary weighs 0.01–0.03 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Erythromycin in canaries, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Erythro-100, Gallimycin
Contraindicated in Chinchilla, Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Hamster, Degu
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO (drinking water) | 125 mg/L drinking water | continuous in drinking water | No course length printed in the row. | Bacterial infection (gram-positive; Mycoplasma, Chlamydia) | Moderate | 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
| PO (drinking water) | 132 mg/L drinking water | in water: 10 d on, 5 d off, 10 d on | Pulsed course as printed: 10 days on, 5 days off, 10 days on. Do not flatten to a continuous course. | Bacterial infection (gram-positive; Mycoplasma, Chlamydia) | Moderate | 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
| PO (in soft feed) | 200 mg/kg soft feed |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your canary's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Binds 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting translocation of peptidyl-tRNA, blocking bacterial protein synthesis.
CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits and hindgut fermenters. Prokinetic at sub-antimicrobial doses. GI upset common. Hepatotoxicity reported. Strong CYP inhibitor.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for canaries may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Erythromycin dose ranges in canaries, with cited source references: PO (drinking water) 125 mg/L drinking water continuous in drinking water; PO (drinking water) 132 mg/L drinking water in water: 10 d on, 5 d off, 10 d on; PO (in soft feed) 200 mg/kg soft feed Not stated (in-feed concentration). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Erythromycin in canaries: PO (drinking water), PO (in soft feed).
Cited course lengths for Erythromycin in canaries include: No course length printed in the row.; Pulsed course as printed: 10 days on, 5 days off, 10 days on. Do not flatten to a continuous course.; No duration stated in the row. The nearest in-water canary-inclusive row is printed as a cycle: 132 mg/L drinking water, 10 days on, 5 days off, 10 days on.. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Erythromycin is indicated in canaries for: Bacterial infection (gram-positive; Mycoplasma, Chlamydia), Bacterial infection (aviary/flock treatment).
These are general warnings for Erythromycin across species; consult the canary dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits and hindgut fermenters. Prokinetic at sub-antimicrobial doses. GI upset common. Hepatotoxicity reported. Strong CYP inhibitor.
Why a species-specific page? Erythromycin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in canaries — 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.
| Not stated (in-feed concentration) |
| No duration stated in the row. The nearest in-water canary-inclusive row is printed as a cycle: 132 mg/L drinking water, 10 days on, 5 days off, 10 days on. |
| Bacterial infection (aviary/flock treatment) |
| Moderate |
| 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.415 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |