Veterinary Drugs & Dosages Table

Hare and Rabbit

This section is intended as a reference for veterinary surgeons only

Any medications dispensed or administered, or procedures performed, should only be by or under order of a qualified, licensed veterinary surgeon. Given the current scarcity of drugs licensed for use in wildlife, the responsible use of the cascade system is recommended. Drug information and dosages are derived from a variety of sources (see references), and do not necessarily guarantee safety or efficacy.

Antibiotics

• 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

Analgesics & Anti-inflammatories

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

Anaesthetics & Sedatives

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	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

Anthelmentics

IMPORTANT!
Do not use Fipronil

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

Fluids

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

Other

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)

Myxomatosis treatment

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