Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Oxytetracycline is dosed at 50 mg/kg PO q12h in rabbits, per Burgmann P, Percy DH. Antimicrobial drug use in rodents and rabbits. In: PrescottJF, Baggot JD, eds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine; Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1993:524-541. | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.844 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.972, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Inhibits protein synthesis by binding 30S ribosomal subunit. Broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agent.
Side effects & warnings
Tissue irritation with IM injection. Avoid in young animals (tooth/bone discoloration). Chelation with divalent cations reduces absorption. Photosensitivity.
Species with Oxytetracycline dosing data (59 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (1 of 59 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 41 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.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed., Oxytetracycline, Dosages > DOGS/CATS, printed p.974 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Oxytetracycline monograph, printed p.974: "DOGS/CATS: Susceptible systemic infections (extra-label): a) 10 mg/kg IV every 12 hours."Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 107. Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. | 243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· 107. Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. || 243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.773 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
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241. Dorrestein GM. Passerine and softbill therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:35-57. | 299. Flammer K, Aucoin DP, WhittDA, et al. Potential use of long-acting injectable oxytetracycline for treatment of chlamydiosis in Goffin’s cockatoos. Avian Dis. 1990;34:1017-1022. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30094-4 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 25. Heatley J. Hedgehogs. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN Jr., eds. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice; Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2009:433-455. | 45. Lightfoot T. Therapeutics of African pygmy hedgehogs and prairie dogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:155-172. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.734 doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30099-3 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 299. Flammer K, Aucoin DP, Whitt DA, et al. Potential use of long-acting injectable oxytetracycline for treatment of chlamydiosis in Goffin's cockatoos. Avian Dis. 1990;34:1017-1022. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 376. Harlin RW. Pigeons. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1994;24:157-173. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· 70. Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. | 88. Frye FL. Reptile Care: An Atlas of Diseases and Treatments. Neptune City, NJ: TFH Publications, Inc; 1991:1-637. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1403
· 923. Teare JA, Schwark WS, Shin SJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics of a long-acting oxytetracycline preparation in ring-necked pheasants, great horned owls and Amazon parrots. Am J Vet Res. 1985;46:2639-2643. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Besch-Williford CL. Biology and medicine of the ferret. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1987;17:1155-1183. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.933 PMID: 41926234 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Ferrets).
· 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 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.972, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 12.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a,b). — 21 CFR § 522.1662 (Oxytetracycline), conditions of use for swine: 6.6139-11.0231 mg/kg (the regulation prints this per pound; converted at 2.2046226 lb/kg). Retrieved from the eCFR API, snapshot 2026-01-01. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-522.1662
· Burgmann P, Percy DH. Antimicrobial drug use in rodents and rabbits. In: Prescott JF, Baggot JD, eds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine, 2nd ed., Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1993:524-541. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.773 PMID: 1237959 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· Burgmann P, Percy DH. Antimicrobial drug use in rodents and rabbits. In: Prescott JF, Baggot JD, eds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine, 2nd ed., Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1993:524-541. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.773 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· Burgmann P, Percy DH. Antimicrobial drug use in rodents and rabbits. In: PrescottJF, Baggot JD, eds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine; Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1993:524-541. | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.844 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.972, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed., Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles, p.218; refs 107 + 243 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. (co-cited: Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166.) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. | Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b).
· FARAD Withdrawal Guidelines — dose corroborated 2026-08-05 in Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed, Oxytetracycline monograph, printed p.974. NOTE: FARAD publishes meat/milk WITHDRAWAL intervals for extralabel use; it is not the source of the dose itself, so the dose is cited to Plumb's and FARAD retained for the withdrawal guidance.
· Flammer K. Common bacterial infections and antibiotic use in companion birds. Antimicrobial Therapy in Exotics; Supplement to Comp Cont Edu Pract Vet. 1998;20(3A):34-48. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.418 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Madigan J, Pusterla N. Ehrlichial Diseases. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice. 2000;16:3. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.974, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976.
· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.773 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· OXYTET 100- Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Injection, Solution. Northern Ireland: Norbrook Laboratories Limited; 2019. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.974, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — 21 CFR § 522.1662 (Oxytetracycline), conditions of use for beef cattle and nonlactating dairy cattle: 6.6139-11.0231 mg/kg (the regulation prints this per pound; converted at 2.2046226 lb/kg). Retrieved from the eCFR API, snapshot 2026-01-01. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-522.1662
· OXYTETRACYCLINE INJECTION 200- oxytetracycline injection, solution. Published online 2011. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.974, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — 21 CFR § 522.1662 (Oxytetracycline), conditions of use for beef cattle and nonlactating dairy cattle: 6.6139-11.0231 mg/kg (the regulation prints this per pound; converted at 2.2046226 lb/kg). Retrieved from the eCFR API, snapshot 2026-01-01. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-522.1662
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed., Oxytetracycline, Dosages > DOGS/CATS, printed p.974 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Oxytetracycline monograph, printed p.974: "DOGS/CATS: Susceptible systemic infections (extra-label): a) 10 mg/kg IV every 12 hours."
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.972, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.974, Oxytetracycline monograph.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.972, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976. — Plumb's 10th ed, Oxytetracycline monograph, printed p.973-972. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.975, Oxytetracycline monograph.
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.222.
· 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 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds.a).
· Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.654. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Oxytetracycline Various standard Raptors IM or PO 25-50 mg/kg tid for 5-7 d A broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic,".