Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Oxytocin is dosed at 1–2 IU/kg SC once, may repeat x1 in rabbits, per Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. 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.879 (2026-08-01).. Oxytocin is used in rabbits for Dystocia. Routes documented in rabbits: SC. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Oxytocin in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Pitocin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 1–2 IU/kg | once, may repeat x1 | 1-2 doses | Dystocia | Moderate | Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. 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.879 (2026-08-01). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Stimulates uterine smooth muscle contraction and mammary myoepithelial cell contraction promoting milk letdown. Acts via oxytocin receptors.
Used for dystocia and milk letdown. DO NOT USE if obstructive dystocia (uterine rupture risk). Cervix must be dilated. Repeat doses with diminishing returns.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Oxytocin dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: SC 1–2 IU/kg once, may repeat x1. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Oxytocin in rabbits: SC.
Cited course lengths for Oxytocin in rabbits include: 1-2 doses. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Oxytocin is indicated in rabbits for: Dystocia.
These are general warnings for Oxytocin across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Used for dystocia and milk letdown. DO NOT USE if obstructive dystocia (uterine rupture risk). Cervix must be dilated. Repeat doses with diminishing returns.
Why a species-specific page? Oxytocin 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.