ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/meropenem
US brand names:Merrem
Meropenem is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg IM q8-12h in african grey parrots, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1 (corpus PDF pp.405-408); located 2026-08-06 by chapter-governed table: this table is in the chapter covering this species and names this drug. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it. The held copy has no printed page numbers, so the numbered table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Ultra-broad spectrum beta-lactam. Binds PBPs 2 and 3. Stable against most beta-lactamases including AmpC and ESBLs. Bactericidal.
Reserve for serious MDR infections. Lower seizure risk than imipenem. Reconstituted solution stable only 1-4 hours at room temperature.
Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Domestic Pigeon drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | SC, IM, IV | 10 mg/kg | q12h | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — CORRECTED 2026-08-10: Plumb's 10th ed printed p.838 (corpus plumb p.865) CATS: block prints "10 mg/kg IV, SC, or IM every 12 hours" for MDR UTIs incl. P aeruginosa and "10 mg/kg SC, IM, or IV every 12 hours" for systemic/soft-tissue Enterobacteriaceae. Papich p.525: "Cats - 10 mg/kg IM, SC, or IV, q12h." VPT p.873: "The dose for cats, based on pharmacokinetic studies, is 10 mg/kg twice daily, SC, IM, or IV." |
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 12–24 mg/kg | q8h | Moderate |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Bidgood T, Papich MG. Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue fluid concentrations of meropenem after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2002;63(12):1622-1628. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1622 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.865 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |