Which species have cited Meropenem dosing data?

Meropenem dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 4 species: African Grey Parrot, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Domestic Pigeon.

Is Meropenem a controlled substance?

Meropenem is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Meropenem

US brand names:Merrem

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

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. 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. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

IVIMSC

Indications

Pseudomonas and anaerobic infectionsepsisSevere infectionsSevere MDR infections

Mechanism of Action

Ultra-broad spectrum beta-lactam. Binds PBPs 2 and 3. Stable against most beta-lactamases including AmpC and ESBLs. Bactericidal.

Side effects & warnings

Reserve for serious MDR infections. Lower seizure risk than imipenem. Reconstituted solution stable only 1-4 hours at room temperature.

Evidence levels across 4 dose rules

Moderate×3Weak×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 4 cited rules)

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) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Dog (Domestic)	IV	12–24 mg/kg	q8h	Moderate	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 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838.

Backed by 4 published sourcesShow

· 841. SchuetzS, Krautwald-Junghanns ME, LutzF, et al. Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of the carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem, in birds. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2001:183-190. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.417 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 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 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838.
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1. 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.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.837, Meropenem monograph spanning p.837-838.

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