Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Gentamicin is dosed at 6.6 mg/kg IV q24h in horses, per Durham AE. An evaluation of serum gentamicin concentrations and bacterial susceptibility to gentamicin in equine practice. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32:1194-1201. doi:10.1111/jvim.15078; Potier JFN, Durham AE. Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from ambulatory practice and from a referral hospital. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2020;34:300-306. doi:10.1111/jvim.15685 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.605 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.578, Gentamicin, Systemic monograph spanning p.576-579; 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. Gentamicin is used in horses for Gram-negative sepsis, Gram-negative septicemia. Routes documented in horses: IV. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Gentamicin in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Gentocin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 6.6 mg/kg | q24h | 5-7 days | Gram-negative sepsis | Strong | Durham AE. An evaluation of serum gentamicin concentrations and bacterial susceptibility to gentamicin in equine practice. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32:1194-1201. doi:10.1111/jvim.15078; Potier JFN, Durham AE. Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from ambulatory practice and from a referral hospital. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2020;34:300-306. doi:10.1111/jvim.15685 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.605 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.578, Gentamicin, Systemic monograph spanning p.576-579; 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 |
| IV | 6.6 mg/kg | q24h | 5-10 days | Gram-negative septicemia | Strong | Durham AE. An evaluation of serum gentamicin concentrations and bacterial susceptibility to gentamicin in equine practice. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32:1194-1201. doi:10.1111/jvim.15078; Potier JFN, Durham AE. Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from ambulatory practice and from a referral hospital. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2020;34:300-306. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.605 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.578, Gentamicin, Systemic monograph spanning p.576-579; 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.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6.6 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.382 | • Adult: 4-6.6 mg/kg q24h IM or IV. |
| 12–14 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.382 | • Foals younger than 2 weeks: 12-14 mg/kg q24h IM 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.
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Irreversibly binds 30S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Concentration-dependent killing with post-antibiotic effect.
Highly nephrotoxic. Monitor renal values. Maintain hydration. Ototoxic. Avoid in dehydrated patients. Neuromuscular blockade risk. Extended-interval dosing preferred.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Gentamicin dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: IV 6.6 mg/kg q24h; IV 6.6 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Gentamicin in horses: IV.
Cited course lengths for Gentamicin in horses include: 5-7 days; 5-10 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Gentamicin is indicated in horses for: Gram-negative sepsis, Gram-negative septicemia.
These are general warnings for Gentamicin across species; consult the horse dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Highly nephrotoxic. Monitor renal values. Maintain hydration. Ototoxic. Avoid in dehydrated patients. Neuromuscular blockade risk. Extended-interval dosing preferred.
Why a species-specific page? Gentamicin 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.