Skip to main content Site footer The Top Doses PDF, free A printable two-pager of the most-looked-up exotic-pet doses, fully cited. Plus the occasional formulary update — never more than once a month.
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Dosage reference tool only. Not veterinary advice. Always verify against current literature.
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Drugs / Metronidazole ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/metronidazole
Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer —
our editorial process .
Metronidazole is dosed at 20 mg/kg PO q48h for at least 7 days in ball pythons, per Mader's Table 127.4 Antiparasitic Agents, corpus p.1406 (printed 1196); Plumb's Metronidazole REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS, corpus p.903: '100 mg/kg PO repeated in 2 weeks or 50 mg/kg PO once daily for 3 to 5 days'. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
C. difficile colitis
Clostridial colitis
Clostridial enterotoxemia adjunct
Clostridial infections
Colitis (large bowel diarrhea)
dental abscess
Diarrhea (acute, non-specific)
Entamoeba invadens
flagellate protozoal infections
Hepatic encephalopathy adjunct
Paracloacal gland carcinoma
peritonitis
Trichomonas/flagellate infections
trichomoniasis
Tyzzer disease
Mechanism of Action Disrupts DNA structure in anaerobic organisms via reduction of nitro group, forming cytotoxic intermediates.
Evidence levels across 30 dose rules Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process .
Backed by 17 published sources · Beck W, Pantchev N. Praktische Parasitologie bei Heimtieren, Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft MBH & Co, Hannover, Germany; 2006. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.778 (2026-08-01).· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., rodent antiparasitic/antimicrobial table, p.778 (corpus PDF), Metronidazole row, superscript 122 → Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B: Exotic Pets, BSAVA, 2015· Gruffydd-Jones T, Addie D, Belak S, et al. Giardiasis in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg. 2013;15(7):650-652. PMID: 23813834 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.902 (2026-08-01).· Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.437 (2026-08-01).· Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30099-3 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 (2026-08-01).Sample dosing (2 of 30 cited rules) A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 13 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 Dog (Domestic) PO 15–25 mg/kg q12h Strong Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed Dog (Domestic) IV 10–15 mg/kg q12h Strong Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.902 (2026-08-01).
Upgrade for Full Details Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.
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Practical clinical reference for the workup and management of oral disease in African pygmy hedgehogs, covering anesthetic oral examination, biopsy, dental disease therapy, surgical and palliative options for oral squamous cell carcinoma, and cited analgesic and antimicrobial dosing with evidence-level labels.
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How to choose an antibiotic for rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots, and reptiles — with the species-specific contraindications general practice reaches for first by reflex.
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Antibiotic, antiparasitic, and supportive-care dosing for Python regius — and the snake-specific physiology that drives the choices.
Source citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
· Mader's Table 127.1, corpus p.1403 (printed 1193); Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, Metronidazole, REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS section, corpus p.903
· Mader's Table 127.4 Antiparasitic Agents, corpus p.1406 (printed 1196); Plumb's Metronidazole REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS, corpus p.903: '100 mg/kg PO repeated in 2 weeks or 50 mg/kg PO once daily for 3 to 5 days'
· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.778 (2026-08-01).
· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.778 (2026-08-01).
· Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.704 (2026-08-01).
· Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2018. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.843 (2026-08-01).
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
· Tully TN. Psittacine therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:59-90. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.417 (2026-08-01).
· Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.902 (2026-08-01).
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