Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Erythromycin 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. Erythromycin is used in dogs for Prokinetic (GI motility enhancement), Susceptible bacterial infections. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Erythromycin in dogs, 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 | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q8h | As needed | Prokinetic (GI motility enhancement) | 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 |
| PO | 10–20 mg/kg | q8h | 7-14 days | Susceptible bacterial infections | Strong | 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, |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–20 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.169 | 10-20 mg/kg p.o. q8-12h. |
| 0.5–1 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.169 | 0.5-1 mg/kg p.o. q8h. |
| 10–20 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.327 | • 10-20 mg/kg q8-12h PO. |
| 0.5–1 | PO |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog'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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Erythromycin dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 0.5–1 mg/kg q8h; PO 10–20 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Erythromycin in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Erythromycin in dogs include: As needed; 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Erythromycin is indicated in dogs for: Prokinetic (GI motility enhancement), Susceptible bacterial infections.
These are general warnings for Erythromycin across species; consult the dog 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 dogs — 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.
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.327 |
| • Prokinetic effects (GI): 0.5-1 mg/kg q8-12h PO or IV. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.