Veterinary Drugs & Dosages Table

Hare and Rabbit

• Lincomycin TOXIC in rabbits
• Antibiotic associated diarrhoea from clindamycin, oral ampicillin
• Penicillin should be reserved for treating treponematosis
• Giving antibiotics parenterally less likely to cause diarrhoea than if given orally
• Antibiotics need concurrent pro-biotic supplement to reinstate gut flora

DRUG DOSE ROUTE DIRECTIONS USES/NOTES
Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid
(Synulox/Augmentin)		 NO In common with all other penicillins, Synulox should not be administered to rabbits
Cefalexin 15mg/kg SC BID Antibiotic
20mg/kg SC SID Antibiotic
Chlortetracycline hydrochloride, benzocaine (Aureomycin) 50mg/kg PO SID
Enrofloxacin (Baytril 5%) 5mg/kg SC BID Licensed for use in rabbits
10mg/kg SC SID
5-10mg/kg PO BID
Fusidic acid eye drops 1 drop/eye topical SID Conjunctivitis
Gentamicin (Tiacil, Virbac) 1-2 drops/eye topical TID Conjunctivitis
Metronidazole (Flagyl) 20mg/kg PO BID Antibacterial treatment of enterotoxaemia
Oxytetracycline 15mg/kg SC, IM SID
1mg/ml PO Drinking water
50mg/kg PO
Penicillin 40mg/kg SC Daily for 5 days Treponematosis
Sulphadimidine 0.2% solution PO Diluted with water Coccidia
Trimethoprim/sulfadiazine 30mg/kg PO
48mg/kg SC
Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole 40mg/kg PO BID Coccidiosis
DRUG DOSE ROUTE DIRECTIONS USES/NOTES
Buprenorphine (Temgesic/Vetergesic) 0.01-0.05mg/kg IV, SC 6-12hrs duration Analgesic
Butorphanol 0.1-0.5mg/kg SC, IM, IV 2-4hrs duration Analgesic
Carprofen (Rimadyl/Zenecarp) 2-4mg/kg SC SID Analgesic
Ketoprofen 3mg/kg PO BID Analgesic. Care in hypotensive patients
Meloxicam 0.1-0.2mg/kg PO SID Palatable
Pethidine 5-10mg/kg SC, IM 2-3 hrs duration
DRUG DOSE ROUTE DIRECTIONS USES/NOTES
Acepromazine 0.1 – 0.5mg/kg IM, SC Sedation NOT analgesic
Acepromazine+ butorphanol 0.5mg/kg + 0.5mg/kg IM, SC Sedation. Can be mixed in syringe. Vasodilator
Adrenaline 20mcg/kg SC, IV Cardiac arrest. Can be given into the trachea
Atipamezole (Antisedan) 1mg/kg SC, IM, IV Reversal of medetomidine
Atropine 0.05mg/kg (50mcg/kg) IM Pre-med. Atropinesterase, which metabolizes atropine, is produced by 40% of rabbits so glycopyrrolate is preferable
Diazepam (Valium) 1-2mg/kg IV, IM Sedation
Fentanyl/fluanisone 0.2-0.3ml/kg IM, SC Pre-med, GA, analgesic
Glycopyrrolate 0.01mg/kg IV Pre-med. Does not cross blood-brain barrier and cause myiasis
0.2mg/kg SC, IM Organophosphate poisoning
Ketamine 25-50mg/kg IM Sedation. Can be used in combination
Ketamine + xylazine 35mg/kg + 5mg/kg IM Anaesthesia
Ketamine + medetomidine 10mg/kg + 0.2mg/kg IM Anaesthesia
Ketamine + medetomidine + Butorphanol 10mg/kg + 0.2mg/kg + 0.5mg/kg IM Anaesthesia with pre-emptive analgesia
DRUG DOSE ROUTE DIRECTIONS USES/NOTES
Fenbendazole 20mg/kg PO
Griseofulvin 25mg/kg PO SID for 2 weeks Ringworm
Imidacloprid (Advantage) 10mg/kg topical 2-3 areas on dorsum Fleas
Ivermectin 400mcg/kg Repeat after 10-14 days Endoparasites, esp ear mites
Praziquantel (Droncit) 6mg/kg Repeat after 10 days Cestodes
Selamectin 12mg/kg topically
DRUG DOSE ROUTE DIRECTIONS USES/NOTES
Isotonic fluids
e.g. Hartmann’s		 Between 70-150ml/kg/day Mainly SC route Warm fluids. No more than 50ml/kg bolus at one time/site Assume minimum 10% dehydration on arrival, add as appropriate
Hartmann’s 120ml/kg/day SC Split into 3 treatments maintenance
Crystalloids e.g. Ringer’s 10 to 15ml/kg IV over 5 to 10 minutes hypovolemic shock
Hetastarch 5ml/kg IV over 5 to 10 minutes hypovolemic shock
DRUG DOSE ROUTE DIRECTIONS USES/NOTES
Cimetidine (Tagamet) *3 5-10mg/kg PO Every 6-12hrs Gastric and duodenal ulcers
Cisapride (Propulsid) 0.5mg/kg PO Every 8-12hrs Enhances gastrointestinal motility – used for GI stasis
Dexamethasone 1-3mg/kg IM, IV Anti-inflammatory
Doxapram (Dopram) 5mg/kg IM, IV Respiratory stimulant
Frusimide (lasix 5%) *4 2-5mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV Every 12hrs Diuretic
Metoclopramide 0.5mg/kg SC, PO, BID Motility stimulant. May not be effective in young rabbits
Pentobarbital sodium (Pentobarbital) *2 150 mg/kg IV, IP General anaesthesia FIRST Euthanasia
Prednisolone 0.5-2mg/kg PO, IM, SC
Ranitidine (Zantac) *3 2-5mg/kg PO BID Gastric ulceration, often in in-appetent rabbits
Vitamin K *2 1-10mg/kg IM Select bleeding disorders and toxicities
Vitamin C *2 100mg/kg PO BID Nutritional supplement
Vaccination
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease		 See Data Sheet Nobivac Myxo (Intervet Schering-Plough)
Vaccination
Myxomatosis		 See Data Sheet Cylap (Fort Dodge Animal Health)
DRUG DOSE FREQUENCY EFFECT/USES
Avipro pinch SID on food Pro-biotic
Bisolvon powder One sprinkle SID on food Once course is finished
Bromhexine hydrochloride 0.3ml SID for 7 days Mucolytic
Enrofloxacin 5% 0.2ml SID for 7 days Antibiotics
Etamiphylline camsylate 0.2ml SID for 7 days
Flunixin 0.15ml SID for 3 days Anti toxin
Hartmann’s solution 50ml BID for 7 days Rehydration
Multivitamins Up to 0.5ml Once weekly Multivitamins

References
BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties
*1 Practical Wildlife Care, Second Edition, Les Stocker
*2 BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 6th Edition
*3 BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery Second Edition
*4 Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents – Clinical Medicine and Surgery Second Edition
*5 Rabbit Medicine and Surgery Jerry LaBonde MS, DVM