Piperacillin for Red-tailed Hawks

Bird · Buteo jamaicensis · typical adult weight 0.80–1.60 kg

Piperacillin is dosed at 100 mg/kg IV q12h in red-tailed hawks, per Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.655. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Piperacillin Pipril (Lederle); Raptors IV or IM 100 mg/kg bid for 5-7 d Broad-spectrum bactericidal penicillin.". Located by line-level extraction and then read on the page; the species binding is the row's own species column, not text proximity.. Piperacillin is used in red-tailed hawks for See source. Routes documented in red-tailed hawks: IV. A typical adult red-tailed hawk weighs 0.80–1.60 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Piperacillin in red-tailed hawks, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu

Rabbit: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsOral amoxicillin (and other oral beta-lactams) selectively destroy gram-positive hindgut flora in rabbits, allowing Clostridium spiroforme overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never administer oral beta-lactams to rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route, but is not established as safe in rabbits.
Guinea Pig: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsOral amoxicillin reliably causes Clostridium difficile-mediated fatal enterotoxemia in guinea pigs. Same mechanism as in rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route; parenteral ceftiofur specifically has been given to guinea pigs and chinchillas without adverse effect.
Chinchilla: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasChinchillas are hindgut fermenters with the same flora dependence as rabbits and guinea pigs. Oral penicillins and oral cephalosporins trigger Clostridium overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never give oral beta-lactams; parenteral routes and trimethoprim-sulfa, fluoroquinolones, or chloramphenicol are the safer choices.
Hamster: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersHamsters are exquisitely susceptible to antibiotic-associated Clostridium difficile enterocolitis — the hamster is the classic laboratory model for it. Oral penicillins and cephalosporins are reliably fatal. Never administer oral beta-lactams.
Degu: Oral beta-lactams risk fatal dysbiosis in degusDegus are caviomorph hindgut fermenters closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs. Degu-specific data is limited, so this warning is extrapolated from those related hystricomorphs — but the shared physiology makes oral beta-lactam enterotoxemia the expected outcome. Treat as contraindicated; use the safer alternatives.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	100 mg/kg	q12h	See source	Moderate	Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.655. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Piperacillin Pipril (Lederle); Raptors IV or IM 100 mg/kg bid for 5-7 d Broad-spectrum bactericidal penicillin.". Located by line-level extraction and then read on the page; the species binding is the row's own species column, not text proximity.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Piperacillin for Red-tailed Hawks?

Piperacillin dose range in red-tailed hawks, with cited source references: IV 100 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Piperacillin administered in Red-tailed Hawks?

Documented routes for Piperacillin in red-tailed hawks: IV.

What conditions does Piperacillin treat in Red-tailed Hawks?

Piperacillin is indicated in red-tailed hawks for: See source.

Piperacillin dosing in other species

African Grey Parrots Amazon Parrots Domestic Pigeons Harris Hawks Peregrine Falcons African Clawed Frogs African Pygmy Hedgehogs Axolotls

See all species for Piperacillin See all drugs for Red-tailed Hawks

Why a species-specific page? Piperacillin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in red-tailed hawks — 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.