Exotic Animal Formulary5

Chloramphenicol — Most species/public health concern;
reserve for meningitis or
encephalitis caused by
susceptible organisms
40 mg/kg PO, SC, IM
q24h, or 20 mg/kg
PO, SC, IM q12h 106
Most species/20 mg/kg may be
given q24h in larger
crocodilians
40 mg/kg SC q24h 42 Snakes/PD (gopher snakes, 29°C
[84°F])
50 mg/kg SC q12-72h 56 Snakes/PD; q12h in indigo, rat,
king snakes; q24h in boids,
moccasin snakes; q48h in
rattlesnakes; q72h in red-bellied
water snakes
Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan 2%,
Fort Dodge)
Topical 0.05% aqueous
solution q24h 264
Topical 0.07% (1:30
[solution:water]) 35,277
All species/topical disinfection;
dermatitis; infectious stomatitis;
periodontal disease in lizards
q24h
Most species/topical disinfection;
infectious stomatitis; abscess
lavage; middle ear infection
flush in box turtles
Chlortetracycline 200 mg/kg PO q24h 106 Most species
Ciprofloxacin 10 mg/kg PO q48h 79 Most species
11 mg/kg PO q48-72h 198 Pythons/PD (reticulated pythons)
Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic
ointment or drops
(Ciloxan, Alcon)
Topical 117
All species/infectious stomatitis;
gingivitis
Clarithromycin 15 mg/kg PO q84h 397 Tortoises/PD (desert tortoises);
upper respiratory tract disease
(mycoplasmosis)
Clindamycin
10 mg/kg PO, IM, IV
q12h 135 Loggerhead sea turtles/PK; 29.1-
30.3°C (84.4-86.5°F) insufficient
to be effective
Danofloxacin 6 mg/kg SC, IM 247 Loggerhead sea turtles
6 mg/kg SC
q48h×30 days 117
Dihydrostreptomycin 5 mg/kg IM q12-
24h 103,117
Tortoises/upper respiratory tract
disease
Most species/maintain hydration
Doxycycline
(Vibramycin, Pfizer)
5-10 mg/kg PO
q24h×10-45 days 117
Most species/respiratory infection
(i.e., mycoplasmosis)
130