Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Erythromycin is dosed at 25–37.5 mg/kg PO q8-12h in horses, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. Erythromycin is used in horses for Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin), Rhodococcus equi pneumonia (foals). Routes documented in horses: PO. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Erythromycin in horses, 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 | 25–37.5 mg/kg | q8-12h | 4-12 weeks | Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook |
| PO | 25 mg/kg | q6-8h | 4-9 weeks | Rhodococcus equi pneumonia (foals) | Strong | Lavoie J-P, Drolet R. Proliferative enteropathy in foals. 2003 PMID: 35074397 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.503 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your horse'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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Erythromycin dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: PO 25–37.5 mg/kg q8-12h; PO 25 mg/kg q6-8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Erythromycin in horses: PO.
Cited course lengths for Erythromycin in horses include: 4-12 weeks; 4-9 weeks. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Erythromycin is indicated in horses for: Rhodococcus equi in foals (with rifampin), Rhodococcus equi pneumonia (foals).
These are general warnings for Erythromycin across species; consult the horse 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 horses — 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.