Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Metronidazole is dosed at 20 mg/kg PO q12h x 3-5 days in rabbits, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.843 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.876, Metronidazole monograph spanning p.873-876; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Metronidazole is used in rabbits for Anaerobic infections, Giardia. Routes documented in rabbits: PO. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Metronidazole in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Flagyl
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO |
| 20 mg/kg |
| q12h x 3-5 days |
| 5-7 days |
| Anaerobic infections, Giardia |
| Moderate |
| Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.843 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.876, Metronidazole monograph spanning p.873-876; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.1 | 5 mg/kg IV q12h 20 mg/kg PO q12h × 3-5 days 40 mg/kg PO q24h × 3 days,194 |
| 20 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.1 | 5 mg/kg IV q12h 20 mg/kg PO q12h × 3-5 days 40 mg/kg PO q24h × 3 days,194 |
| 40 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.1 | 5 mg/kg IV q12h 20 mg/kg PO q12h × 3-5 days 40 mg/kg PO q24h × 3 days,194 |
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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These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Disrupts DNA structure in anaerobic organisms via reduction of nitro group, forming cytotoxic intermediates.
Neurotoxicity at high doses or prolonged use (ataxia, seizures). Avoid in pregnant animals. Hepatotoxic at high doses.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Metronidazole dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: PO 20 mg/kg q12h x 3-5 days. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Metronidazole in rabbits: PO.
Cited course lengths for Metronidazole in rabbits include: 5-7 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Metronidazole is indicated in rabbits for: Anaerobic infections, Giardia.
These are general warnings for Metronidazole across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Neurotoxicity at high doses or prolonged use (ataxia, seizures). Avoid in pregnant animals. Hepatotoxic at high doses.
Why a species-specific page? Metronidazole pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in rabbits — 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.