What is Oxytetracycline used for?

Oxytetracycline is indicated for: Bacterial infections, Bacterial pneumonia, Bovine respiratory disease, chlamydial abortion, Chlamydophila (alternative to doxycycline), CRD complex, ehrlichiosis, foot rot, hexamitiasis, Infectious sinusitis, infectious synovitis, Lyme disease, Potomac horse fever, Respiratory infections, Susceptible infections, synovitis.

Which species have cited Oxytetracycline dosing data?

Oxytetracycline dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 10 species: African Grey Parrot, Bearded Dragon, Cattle (Beef/Dairy), Chicken (Poultry), Dog (Domestic), Goat (Caprine), Horse (Equine), Sheep (Ovine), Swine (Pig), Turkey.

Is Oxytetracycline a controlled substance?

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

What are the warnings or contraindications for Oxytetracycline?

Tissue irritation with IM injection. Avoid in young animals (tooth/bone discoloration). Chelation with divalent cations reduces absorption. Photosensitivity.

What are the side effects of Oxytetracycline?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Oxytetracycline: Tissue irritation with IM injection. Avoid in young animals (tooth/bone discoloration). Chelation with divalent cations reduces absorption. Photosensitivity.

How does Oxytetracycline work?

Inhibits protein synthesis by binding 30S ribosomal subunit. Broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agent.

Oxytetracycline

US brand names:Terramycin, Liquamycin

Calculate dosage

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

Oxytetracycline is dosed at 6–10 mg/kg PO, IM, IV q24h in bearded dragons, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed., Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles, p.218; refs 107 + 243. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

POIMIV

Indications

Bacterial infections Bacterial pneumonia Bovine respiratory disease

Backed by 12 published sources

· Bollen PJA, Hansen AK, Alstrup AKO. The Laboratory Swine. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2010:11-13, 45-71.; Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016. (refs for the corroborating Carpenter's p.990 row) doi:10.1016/c2013-0-00632-9 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1002 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed., Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles, p.218; refs 107 + 243
· FARAD Withdrawal Guidelines
· Madigan J, Pusterla N. Ehrlichial Diseases. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice. 2000;16:3. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1001 (2026-08-01).
· OXYTET 100- Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Injection, Solution. Northern Ireland: Norbrook Laboratories Limited; 2019. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1001 (2026-08-01).
· OXYTETRACYCLINE INJECTION 200- oxytetracycline injection, solution. Published online 2011. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1001 (2026-08-01).
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook

Sample dosing (1 of 14 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 10 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)	IM	7–11 mg/kg	q24h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed

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· Samour J. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine; Mosby, Philadelphia, PA; 2000:388-418. doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 (2026-08-01).

· US FDA. Oxytet Soluble (oxytetracycline HCl), NADA 130-435, Huvepharma. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=56af4da6-217e-4edc-8c68-60ccbbaf8221 - turkeys; synovitis 400 mg/gal, hexamitiasis 200-400 mg/gal water, max 14 d; no slaughter withdrawal stated; no eggs for food.

· US FDA. Terramycin 200 (oxytetracycline) Type A Medicated Article, NADA 095-143, Phibro Animal Health. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4099c63d-cab8-4882-a037-102b0493909d - chickens, 100-200 g/ton (synovitis/fowl cholera) or 400 g/ton (CRD) in feed 7-14 d; withdraw 24 h at 500 g/ton, zero at lower levels.

· US FDA. Terramycin 50 (oxytetracycline) Type A, NADA 095-143, Phibro. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=72014c42-d6fc-4cbc-9f92-a1ee555bb513 - turkeys, chickens, swine, cattle, sheep; turkey synovitis 200 g/ton feed 7-14 d; withdraw 5 d at >=200 g/ton.

Oxytetracycline

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Oxytetracycline dosing data (14 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 14 dose rules

Backed by 12 published sources

Sample dosing (1 of 14 cited rules)

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Other formulations of Oxytetracycline

Oxytetracycline

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Oxytetracycline dosing data (14 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 14 dose rules

Backed by 12 published sources

Sample dosing (1 of 14 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Other formulations of Oxytetracycline

More Antibiotic drugs