Phenobarbital for Rabbit
Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Phenobarbital is used in rabbit for Seizures. Routes documented in rabbit: PO. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Phenobarbital in rabbit, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Luminal, Solfoton
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 1–5 mg/kg | q12h | Long-term | Seizures | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
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.
Mechanism of action
Enhances GABA-A receptor activity by prolonging chloride channel opening. Also blocks AMPA/glutamate receptors. Raises seizure threshold.
Side effects & warnings
First-line anticonvulsant for dogs. Hepatotoxicity with chronic use (monitor liver enzymes and serum levels). PU/PD, polyphagia, sedation (often transient). Hepatic enzyme inducer (many drug interactions). DEA controlled.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbit may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Anticonvulsant drugs with rabbit dosing
Phenobarbital dosing in other species
Why a species-specific page? Phenobarbital pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in rabbit — 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.