DRUG DOSES FOR HAMSTERS First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk |
This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.
Drugs rarely have medicinal licenses for use in hamsters, and yet veterinarians have to prescribe them for their everyday treatment. Here is a list of suggested dose rates for commonly used drugs.
The table has been derived from several published sources, and not all drugs are available in all countries. Different sources often vary greatly in their recommendations and caution should be exercised when administering high doses to hamsters. Whenever possible veterinarians should use drugs that are licensed in their country for use in hamsters, and they should follow the manufacturers current data sheet recommendations.. Provet can not accept liability for any errors or omissions and readers are advised to check dose rates with drug manufacturers or recognised specialists in rabbit medicine before proceeding to administer them.
Administration Codes :
IM - intramuscular injection
IP - intraperitoneum injection
IV - intravenous injection
SC - subcutaneous injection
Hamsters are highly susceptible to some antibiotics and the following types are NOT recommended because they can cause sometimes fatal gastrointestinal damage with enterotoxaemia. :
Drug Name | Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4 | Clinical Indications |
Acepromazine (acetylpromazine) | 0.5-1 mg/kg IM | 2.5mg/kg IM, IP | 1-2mg/kg IM | 0.5-1mg/kg IM | Sedative or pre-anaesthetic drug |
Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) | 240mg/kg orally | Analgesic, antipyretic anti-inflammatory drug | |||
Alphaxalone/alphadolone | 150mg/kg IP (deep sedation and analgesia) | Anaesthesia | |||
Atipamezole | 1mg/kg SC, IM, IV, IP | Reverse medetomidine sedation | |||
Amikacin | 10mg/kg 2-3x daily SC or IM | Aminoglycoside antibiotic. Can induce acute renal failure especially in dehydrated animals, animals with renal disease or electrolyte imbalances | |||
Amitraz | Prepare according to manufacturers instructions then apply topically for upto 6 times 14 days apart | Antiparasitic | |||
Atropine | 0.04mg/kg SC or IM | 40 micrograms/kg SC, IM | 10mg/kg every 20 mins SC (for poisoning)
0.1-0.3mg/kg SC (for preanaesthesia) |
0.1-3.0 mg/kg SC | Used in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning . |
Buprenorphine | 100 micrograms/kg SC | Analgesia | |||
Butorphanol | Analgesia | ||||
Carbaryl 5% powder | Light dust once/week | 5% dust | Insecticide. Low doses may inhibit breeding. Care in young hamsters as susceptible to toxicity | ||
Cephalosporins
Listed in publication but HIGH RISK |
10-25mg/kg/day IM for 5-7 days | Antibiotic | |||
Chloramphenicol palmitate | 50-200mg/kg three times daily orally | 50mg/kg/day for up to 7 days orally | 50mg/kg orally for 5-7 days | Antibiotic. | |
Chloramphenicol succinate | 30-50mg/kg twice daily SC or IM | 30mg/kg twice daily SC | 30mg/kg/day for up to 7 days IM | 30mg/kg/day for 5-7 days SC IM | Antibiotic. |
Chlorpromazine | 3-5mg/kg IV
3-35mg/kg IM |
25mg/kg IM | Tranquilliser, anti-emetic | ||
Chlortetracycline | 20mg/kg twice daily SC , IM | Antibiotic. High calcium, magnesium or iron supplemented diets may inhibit the absorption of this drug. | |||
Cimetidine | 5-10mg/kg 2-4x daily | Inhibits gastric secretion | |||
Clopidol | Coccidiosis | ||||
Dexamethasone | 0.1-0.6mg/kg IM | 600 micrograms/kg SC | Anti-inflammatory | ||
Diazepam | 5mg/kg IP | 5mg/kg IP | 5-10 mg/kg IM | Sedative and pre-anaesthetic agent (used with ketamine) | |
Dichlorvos | 500mg/kg food for 24 hours | Antiparasitic. May inhibit breeding. | |||
Dichlorvos strip | Hang 1" square in room for 24hrs once a week for 6 weeks | Leave in cage for 48 hours repeat at 7 day intervals | Antiparasitic - hung as strips in the environment to kill arthropod parasites May inhibit breeding. | ||
Dimetridazole | 0.5mg/ml drinking water | 0.025-0.1% in drinking water for 5-7 days | Antimicrobial. | ||
Diovol plus | 0.1-0.3cc orally | Antacid, anti-flatulant. Decreases gas production in gastrointestinal disorders. Do not use in hamsters with renal disease or alkalosis. Do not use with tetracyclines or iron compounds. | |||
Doxapram | 5-10mg/kg IV | 5-10mg/kg IV | 10-15mg/kg SC or IM | Respiratory stimulant | |
Doxycycline
Listed doses but HIGH RISK |
2.5mg/kg twice daily orally | Long-acting tetracycline which is efficient against anaerobes and intracellular bacteria. It is safer in animals with renal problems as it is excreted via the intestine.. | |||
Enrofloxacin | 50-100mg/L drinking water
5mg/kg twice daily orally or SC |
Fluoroquinolone antibiotic | |||
Fenbendazole | 20mg/kg/day orally for 5 doses | Anthelminthic. | |||
Fentanyl citrate /fluanisone | 0.5ml/kg IM, IP | Neuroleptanalgesia | |||
Fentanyl citrate /fluanisone/diazepam | 1ml/kg and 5mg/kg IP | 1ml/kg IM or IP and 5mg/kg IP | Neuroleptanalgesia | ||
Fentanyl citrate /fluanisone/midazolam | 4ml2/kg IP | Neuroleptanalgesia | |||
Frusemide | 5-10mg/kg twice daily | Diuretic | |||
Furazolidone | 30mg/kg/day orally | ||||
Gentamicin | 5mg/kg/day SC or IM | 2-4mg/kg twice daily SC | Aminoglycoside antibiotic especially effective against gram-negative organisms. May induce acute renal failure. | ||
Griseofulvin | 25mg/kg orally once daily for 14-28 days | 25-30mg/kg/day orally for 21 days | 25-30mg/kg orally | Dermatophytosis | |
Halothane | As required | General anaesthesia | |||
Innovar-Vet 10% solution
(droperidol and fentanyl citrate) |
0.66ml/kg IM | Sedative and analgesic. Used with xylazine for anaesthesia. | |||
Isofluorane | As required | Inhalant anaesthetic of choice | |||
Ivermectin | 200-400 micrograms/kg orally. Two doses 8-10 days apart | 200-400 micrograms/kg SC
|
200-400 micrograms/kg SC, IM | Ectoparasiticide. | |
Ketamine | 44mg/kg IP | 200mg/kg IM, IP | 60-90mg/kg IM | 100mg/kg | Dissociative anaesthetic. Irritant by IM route. Must be diluted and injected with care to avoid the sciatic nerve. |
Ketamine and Diazepam | Anaesthesia | ||||
Ketamine and Medetomidine | 100mg/kg and 250micrograms /kg IP | Anaesthesia | |||
Ketamine and Xylazine | 80mg/kg and 16mg/kg IP | 200mg/kg and 10mg/kg IP | Anaesthesia | ||
Meperidine | 10-20mg/kg/4x daily SC , IM , IP | Short-acting narcotic analgesic | |||
Methoxyfluorane | As required | Anaesthesia | |||
Metronidazole | 7.5mg/70-90g BW 3x daily orally | Antibiotic and antiprotozoal | |||
Nalorphine | 2mg/kg IV | Reversal fentanyl | |||
Naloxone | 0.01-0.1mg/kg IP or IV | 0.01-0.1mg/kg IM, IP, IV | 0.01mg/kg IV IP IM | Reversal of narcotic toxicity | |
Neomycin | 100mg/kg/day orally | 250 mg/kg/day in divided doses | Aminoglycoside antibiotic. | ||
Neomycin/ methyscopolamine | Dilute 1:3 water and give 1 drop/100mg BW twice daily | Wet tail | |||
Niclosamide | 100mg/kg orally repeat after 7 days | Hymenolepis nana | |||
Oxytetracycline | 16mg/kg/day SC | 5g/L drinking water
20mg/kg/day SC |
20mg/kg SC for 5-7 days
0.5% in drinking water for 5-7 days |
Antibiotic | |
Oxytocin | 0.2-0.3 IU per kg SC, IM | 0.2-3 IU/kg IM | 0.2-3 units/kg SC, IM | 0.2-3 units/kg SC or IM | Induction of parturition and milk letdown |
Pentobarbital | 40-60mg/kg IP | 50-90mg/kg IP | 10-20mg/kg IV, IP in young hamsters
60-90mg/kg IV, IP adults |
Not recommended | Anaesthesia. |
Pethidine | 2mg/100g BW | Analgesia | |||
Piperazine adipate | 3-5mg/ml in drinking water for 7 days, then 7 days off, repeat for 7 days | 10g/L drinking water for 7 days | 3mg/ml in drinking water orally | 2mg/ml drinking water for young hamsters
3mg/ml drinking water for adults |
Anthelminthic |
Piperazine citrate | 10mg/ml drinking water 7 days on, 7 days off, 7 days on. | 3mg/ml in drinking water orally | 200mg/kg orally for 7 days (for pinworm) | Anthelminthic. Used to treat ascarids and some nodular worms and pin worms. | |
Praziquantel | 5.1-11.4mg/kg orally, SC or IM . Repeat dose in 10 days. | Anthelminthic . Used to treat cestodes | |||
Prednisone | 0.5-2mg/kg orally | Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid. Use with caution to avoid overdosage. | |||
Streptomycin
Listed in publication but HIGH RISK |
25mg/kg/day SC | Antibiotic | |||
Sulphamezathine | 1-5mg/ml drinking water | 1g/L drinking water for 5 days
1mg/ml drinking water for upto 60 days |
Antibiotic. Long term use can cause changes in gut flora and malnutrition - resulting in vitamin (eg vitamin K) deficiency. | ||
Sulphaquinoxaline | 1mg/ml drinking water | 0.025% in drinking water for 30 days.
0.1% in drinking water for 14 days. |
Antibiotic for pasteurellosis and coccidiosis | ||
T-61 | 0.3ml/kg IV | Euthanasia | |||
Tetracycline
Listed doses but HIGH RISK |
10-20mg/kg orally, 3x daily | 10mg/kg/day orally | 0.3-2mg/ml drinking water
5-50mg/kg orally, IM |
Antibiotic. For Tyzzers disease, pasteurellosis, mycoplasmosis | |
Thiabendazole | 100mg/kg/day orally for 5 days | 100-200mg/kg
0.1% in food - orally |
100mg/kg orally (for pinworm) | Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and fungicidal drug. | |
Thiamylal | 25-50mg/kg IV, IP | Ultra-short acting barbiturate anaesthesia | |||
Thiopental | 40mg/kg IP | Ultra-short acting barbiturate anaesthesia | |||
Trimethoprim and sulphadiazine | 30mg/kg/day SC | 48mg/kg/day SC | 0.2ml/kg SC (24% solution for injection) | Antibiotic. | |
Trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole | 15mg/kg twice daily orally | Antibiotic | |||
Tylosin | 2-8mg/kg twice daily orally , SC or IM | 66mg/L in drinking water for 21 days | 10mg/kg SC IM for 5-7 days | Antibiotic. Chronic use can result in bacterial overgrowth in the large intestine. | |
Vetatix (pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide) | Shampoo weekly for up to 4 weeks | Insecticide (pyrethrin-based) | |||
Vitamin K | 1-10mg/kg | 1-10mg/kg | Vitamin K deficiency (eg following oral antibiotic use and malabsorption) or poisoning with vitamin K antagonists eg warfarin. | ||
Xenodyne | Swab as required | Antibacterial iodine solution | |||
Xylazine | 4-8mg/kg IM | 3mg/kg IV | Sedative, analgesia |
Updated October 2013
Copyright © 1999 - 2023 Provet Ltd. All rights reserved. Email: info@provet.co.uk