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 |