Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Rifampin is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (antimicrobial guidelines working group of the international society for companion animal infectious diseases). Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(3):163-e43. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1147 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1120, Rifampin monograph spanning p.1118-1120; 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. Rifampin is used in dogs for Staphylococcal infections (combination therapy). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Rifampin in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Rifadin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12h | Duration per primary antibiotic | Staphylococcal infections (combination therapy) | Moderate | Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (antimicrobial guidelines working group of the international society for companion animal infectious diseases). Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(3):163-e43. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1147 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1120, Rifampin monograph spanning p.1118-1120; 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.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–15 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.376 | 10-15 mg/kg p.o. q24h. |
| 5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.739 | • 5 mg/kg q12h PO or 10 mg/kg q24h PO. |
| 10 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.739 | • 5 mg/kg q12h PO or 10 mg/kg q24h PO. |
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.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, blocking RNA synthesis. Excellent intracellular penetration.
Always use in combination (rapid resistance when used alone). Potent CYP inducer (many drug interactions). Orange/red discoloration of urine, tears. Hepatotoxic — monitor liver enzymes.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Rifampin dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 5–10 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Rifampin in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Rifampin in dogs include: Duration per primary antibiotic. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Rifampin is indicated in dogs for: Staphylococcal infections (combination therapy).
These are general warnings for Rifampin across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Always use in combination (rapid resistance when used alone). Potent CYP inducer (many drug interactions). Orange/red discoloration of urine, tears. Hepatotoxic — monitor liver enzymes.
Why a species-specific page? Rifampin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — 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.