Antimicrobial Drugs Used in Reptiles

Drug

Dosage

Comments

Acyclovir

80 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h or 240 mg/kg, q 24 h; topical cream q 12 h

Antiviral

Amikacin

Corn snake: loading dose 1.7 mg/kg, IM, followed by 26 mcg/kg/h via osmotic infusion-pump implant

Gopher snake: initial dose 5 mg/kg, IM, then 2.5 mg/kg, IM, q 3 d

Gopher tortoise: 5 mg/kg, IM, on alternate days

American alligator (juvenile): 2.25 mg/kg, IM, q 3–4 d

Ball python: 3.5 mg/kg, IM, q 4–5 d

50 mg/10 mL saline × 30 min nebulization, q 12 h

Maintain hydration

Amphotericin B

0.5–1 mg/kg, intracoelomic, IV, q 1–3 d for 14–28 d

Aspergillosis; fluid therapy recommended

Tortoise: 0.1 mg/kg, q 24 h, intrapulmonary, for 28 d

5 mg/150 mL saline for 1 h of nebulization, q 12 h for 7 d

Pulmonary candidiasis

Ampicillin

Most species: 10–20 mg/kg, SC, IM, q 12 h

Tortoises: 50 mg/kg, IM, q 12 h

Azithromycin

Ball python: 10 mg/kg, PO, q 3–7 d (q 3 d for skin infections, 5 d for respiratory tract infections, 7 d for liver and kidney infections)

Carbenicillin

200–400 mg/kg, IM, q 24 h

Ceftazidime

20–40 mg/kg, SC, IM, IV, q 2–3 d

Ceftiofur

Tortoises: 2.2–4 mg/kg, IM, q 24 h

Snakes: 2.2 mg/kg, IM, on alternate days

Lizards: 5 mg/kg, IM, SC, q 24 h

Cefuroxime

100 mg/kg, IM, q 24 h for 10 d with POTZ at 30°C (86°F) if not known for species

Chloramphenicol

Indigo, rat, kingsnakes: 50 mg/kg, SC, q 12 h

Boids, moccasins: 50 mg/kg, SC, q 24 h

Rattlesnakes: 50 mg/kg, SC, q 2 d

Red-bellied water snakes: 50 mg/kg, SC, q 3 d

Most species: 20–40 mg/kg, IM, q 24 h

Ciprofloxacin

Most species: 10 mg/kg, PO, on alternate days

Pythons: 11 mg/kg, PO, q 2–3 d

Clarithromycin

Desert tortoise: 15 mg/kg, PO, q 2–3 d

Mycoplasma

Clindamycin

5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Clotrimazole

Topical

Fungal dermatitis

Doxycycline

Most species: 5–10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Hermann's tortoises: 50 mg/kg, IM, once; then 25 mg/kg, IM, q 3 d

Enrofloxacin

Most species: 5–10 mg/kg, IM, PO, q 24 h

IM injection causes necrosis, and after a single injection, oral therapy is required.

Nasal flush 50 mg/250 mL sterile water; 1–3 mL/nares, q 24–48 h

Burmese python (juvenile): 10 mg/kg, IM, initial dosage, then 5 mg/kg, IM, q 48 h. Pseudomonas: 10 mg/kg, IM, q 48 h

IM injection likely causes necrosis, and consideration should be given to single injection followed by oral administration

Hermann’s tortoise: 10 mg/kg, IM, q 24 h

IM injection likely causes necrosis, and consideration should be given to single injection followed by oral administration

Monitor lizards: 10 mg/kg, IM, q 5 d

Indian star tortoise: 5 mg/kg, IM, q 12–24 h

IM injection likely causes necrosis, and consideration should be given to single injection followed by oral administration

Crocodilians: 5 mg/kg, IV, q 2–3 d

Fluconazole

Lizards: 5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Sea turtles: 21 mg/kg, SC, once; then 10 mg/kg, SC, 5 d later

Sea turtles: 21 mg/kg, SC, once; then 10 mg/kg, SC, 5 d later

Gentamicin

American alligator: 1.75 mg/kg, IM, q 3–4 d with POTZ at 22°C (72°F)

Maintain hydration, nephrotoxicity reported

Painted turtle: 10 mg/kg, IM, on alternate days with POTZ at 26°C (79°F)

Maintain hydration, nephrotoxicity reported

Red-eared terrapins: 6 mg/kg, IM, q 25 d

Maintain hydration, nephrotoxicity reported

Gopher snakes: 2.5 mg/kg, IM, q 3 d with POTZ at 24°C (75°F)

Maintain hydration, nephrotoxicity reported

Itraconazole

Chameleons: 5–10 mg/kg, PO, q 1–2 d

Fungal dermatitis

Spiny lizards: 23.5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 3 d, with persistent drug concentration for 6 d

Snakes: 10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Sea turtles: 5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h or 15 mg/kg, PO, q 72 h

Ketoconazole

Crocodilians: 50 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Most species: 15–30 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 14–28 d

Lincomycin

10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h; 5 mg/kg, IM, q 12–24 h

Marbofloxacin

Ball python: 10 mg/kg, PO, q 48 h

Metronidazole

20–50 mg/kg, PO, q 1–2 d

Bacterial infections. Maximal dose for tricolor snake, kingsnake, indigo snake, or Uracoan rattlesnake is 40 mg/kg

Neomycin

10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Oral only, not to be given systemically

Nystatin

Turtles: 100,000 U/kg, PO, q 24 h for 10 d

Enteric fungal conditions

Oxytetracycline

Most species: 5–10 mg/kg, IM, PO, q 24 h

Pain, irritation, and inflammation at injection site

American alligator: 10 mg/kg, IV, IM, q 4–5 d

Mycoplasmosis

Piperacillin

50–100 mg/kg, IM, q 12 d

Fluid therapy recommended

Polymixin B

Topical

Abrasions, wounds

Sulfamethoxydiazine

80 mg/kg, SC, IM, once; then 40 mg/kg, q 24 h for 5–7 d

Coccidial infections

Terbinafine

Central bearded dragons: 20 mg/kg, PO, q 24–48 h

Tobramycin

Chelonians: 10 mg/kg, IM, q 24–48 h

Most species: 2.5 mg/kg, IM, q 24–72 h

Potentially nephrotoxic, fluid therapy recommended

Trimethoprim-sulfa

30 mg/kg, PO, IM, IV, q 24 h

Tylosin

5 mg/kg, IM, q 24 h

Mycoplasmosis

Voriconazole

10 mg/kg, PO