Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Oxytetracycline is dosed at 6.6 mg/kg IV q12h in horses, per 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). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.974, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Oxytetracycline is used in horses for Potomac horse fever, Lyme disease. Routes documented in horses: IV. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Oxytetracycline in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Terramycin, Liquamycin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 6.6 mg/kg | q12h | 5-7 days | Potomac horse fever, Lyme disease | Strong | 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). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.974, Oxytetracycline monograph spanning p.972-976; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.625 | tions: 10 mg/kg q24h IM or IV (slowly). (IM injections can cause pain and |
| 5–6 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.625 | • Treatment of equine piroplasmosis: 5-6 mg/kg once daily IV for 7 days. |
| 44 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.625 | • Treatment of flexural limb deformities: 44 mg/kg, up to 70 mg/kg (2-3 g per |
| 70 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.625 | • Treatment of flexural limb deformities: 44 mg/kg, up to 70 mg/kg (2-3 g per |
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.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your horse's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits protein synthesis by binding 30S ribosomal subunit. Broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agent.
Tissue irritation with IM injection. Avoid in young animals (tooth/bone discoloration). Chelation with divalent cations reduces absorption. Photosensitivity.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Oxytetracycline dose range in horses, with cited source references: IV 6.6 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Oxytetracycline in horses: IV.
Cited course lengths for Oxytetracycline in horses include: 5-7 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Oxytetracycline is indicated in horses for: Potomac horse fever, Lyme disease.
These are general warnings for Oxytetracycline across species; consult the horse dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Tissue irritation with IM injection. Avoid in young animals (tooth/bone discoloration). Chelation with divalent cations reduces absorption. Photosensitivity.
Why a species-specific page? Oxytetracycline pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in horses — 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.