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 rabbits, 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 rabbits.  Whenever possible veterinarians should use drugs that are licensed in their country for use in rabbits, 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

Rabbits are highly susceptible to some antibiotics and the following types are NOT recommended because they can cause a fatal gastrointestinal damage with enterotoxaemia. :

• Ampicillin
• Clindamycin
• Erythromycin
• Lincomycin
• Penicillin
• Streptomycin

 

Drug Name	Source 1	Source 2	Source 3	Source 4	Clinical Indications
Acepromazine (acetylpromazine)	1-5 mg/kg  IM	1mg/kg IM	1-2mg/kg IM		Sedative or pre-anaesthetic drug
Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)	500mg/kg/day orally				Analgesic, antipyretic anti-inflammatory drug
Alphaxalone/alphadolone		6-9mg/kg IV		12mg/kg IM (sedation) 6-9mg/kg IV	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
Ampicillin				200mg/kg/day orally in divided doses 25mg/kg/day IM	Antibiotic
Amprolium 9.6% solution	1cc/7kg/day orally for 5 doses				Coccidiosis
Atropine	0.1-0.5mg/kg SC or IM	50 micrograms/kg SC, IM	10mg/kg every 20 mins  SC (for poisoning) 0.1-0.3mg/kg SC (for respiratory stimulation)		Used in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning . However, many rabbits have atropinesterase in their circulation so atropine may be ineffective
Buprenorphine		50 micrograms/kg SC, IV			Analgesia
Butorphanol		100-500 micrograms/kg SC or IV			Analgesia
Carbaryl 5% powder	Light dust once/week				Insecticide. Low doses may inhibit breeding.
Carprofen		1.5mg/kg twice daily orally			Anti-inflammatory and analgesic
Cefalexin		15mg/kg twice daily SC			Antibiotic - a cephalosporin. Avoid in patients with renal disease
Cephaloridine				30mg/kg/day IM	Antibiotic
Chloramphenicol palmitate	50mg/kg twice daily orally	50mg/kg/day orally	50mg/kg/day for up to 7 days orally		Antibiotic. Inappetance is a common side-effect in rabbits
Chloramphenicol succinate	30-50mg/kg twice daily SC or IM	50mg/kg twice daily SC	30mg/kg/day for up to 7 days IM	30mg/kg IM	Antibiotic. Inappetance is a common side-effect in rabbits
Chlorpromazine			3-5mg/kg IV 3-35mg/kg IM		Tranquilliser, anti-emetic
Chlortetracycline	50mg/kg twice daily orally	1g/L drinking water			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		200g/tonne food			Coccidiosis
Dexamethasone		0.5-2 mg/kg SC, IM, IV			Anti-inflammatory
Diazepam	1mg/kg IP	1-2mg/kg IM, IV	5-10mg/kg IM		Sedative and pre-anaesthetic agent (used with ketamine)
Dichlorvos			500mg/kg food for 24 hours		Antiparasitic
Dichlorvos strip	Hang 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 eg chyletiella
Dimetridazole	0.2mg/ml drinking water				Antimicrobial. Clostridial enterotoxaemia in rabbits
Diovol plus	1-2cc orally				Antacid, anti-flatulant. Decreases gas production in gastrointestinal disorders. Do not use in rabbits with renal disease or alkalosis. Do not use with tetracyclines or iron compounds.
Dipyrone	6-12mg/kg 2-3x daily				Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antispasmodic drug
Doxapram	2-5mg/kg IV	5-10mg/kg IV			Respiratory stimulant
Doxycycline	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	5mg/kg twice daily orally	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		0.2-0.5ml IM (sedation) 0.3ml/kg IM	Neuroleptanalgesia
Fentanyl citrate /fluanisone/diazepam		0.3ml/kg IM and 2mg/kg IP or IV		0.3ml/kg IM and 1mg/kg	Neuroleptanalgesia
Fentanyl citrate /fluanisone/midazolam		0.3ml/kg IM and 2ml/kg IP or IV		0.3ml/kg IM and 1mg/kg	Neuroleptanalgesia
Flunixin		1.1mg/kg twice daily SC			Anti-inflammatory drug
Frusemide	5-10mg/kg twice daily				Diuretic
Gentamicin	5mg/kg/day SC or IM	4mg/kg/day IM			Aminoglycoside antibiotic especially effective against gram-negative organisms. May induce acute renal failure.
Griseofulvin	25mg/kg orally once daily for 28-40 days	25mg/kg/day orally for 28 days	25mg/kg/day for 4 weeks orally		Dermatophytosis
Halothane	As required				General anaesthesia
Innovar-Vet 10% solution (droperidol and fentanyl citrate)	0.2-0.3ml/kg IM				Sedative and analgesic.  Used with xylazine for anaesthesia.
Isofluorane	As required				Inhalant anaesthetic of choice for rabbits.
Ivermectin	200-400 micrograms/kg orally.  Two doses 8-10 days apart	200-400 micrograms/kg SC 400 micrograms/kg orally	200-400 micrograms/kg SC, IM		Antiparasiticide. Used to treat ear mites.
Ketamine	44mg/kg IP	50mg/kg IM	25-40mg/kg IM	25mg/kg IM (sedation) 10mg/kg IV (10 minutes after xylazine)	Dissociative anaesthetic. Irritant by IM route. Must be diluted and injected with care to avoid the sciatic nerve.
Ketamine and Diazepam	25mg/kg and 5mg/kg IP				Anaesthesia
Ketamine and Medetomidine		25mg/kg and 500micrograms /kg IP			Anaesthesia
Ketamine and Xylazine	35mg/kg and 5mg/kg IP	35mg/kg and 5mg/kg IM			Anaesthesia
Lime sulphur 2.5% solution	Apply topically once a week for 4-6 weeks				Insecticide.
Lindane 0.03% solution	Dip once a week for 3 treatments				Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide used to treat ectoparasites
Malathion 2% solution	Dip every 10 days for 2 treatments				Organophosphate insecticide used to treat ectoparasites
Meperidine	10-20mg/kg/4x daily SC or IM				Short-acting narcotic analgesic
Methohexital		10mg/kg IV			Short-acting barbiturate anaesthesia
Methoxyfluorane	As required				Anaesthesia
Metoclopramide	0.5mg/kg 3x daily SC	0.2-1mg/kg twice daily orally, SC, IM or IV			Anti-emetic. Used to treat gastric trichobezoars in rabbits. Should not be used if gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation or haemorrhage is present
Metronidazole	40mg/kg orally for 3 days				Antibiotic and antiprotozoal
Morphine	2-5mg/kg SC or IM every 4 hours	5mg/kg SC			Analgesia
Nalbuphine		1-2 mg/kg IV			Analgesia
Nalorphine			2mg/kg  IV		Reversal fentanyl
Naloxone	0.01-0.1mg/kg IM or IV	0.01-0.1mg/kg IM, IP, IV			Reversal of narcotic toxicity
Neomycin	30mg/kg twice daily orally	200-800 mg/L drinking water			Aminoglycoside antibiotic.
Oxytetracycline	50mg/kg twice daily orally 15mg/kg/day SC or IM	30mg/kg twice daily orally 15mg/kg twice daily IM		15mg/kg/day SC, IM  30mg/kg SC or IM every 3 days (long acting preparation) 1mg/ml drinking water 55mg/kg/day in divided doses orally	Antibiotic
Oxytocin	1 IU per rabbit IM		0.2-0.3 units/kg SC, IM		Induction of parturition and milk letdown
Pentazocine	10-20mg/kg SC every 4 hours	5mg/kg IV			Analgesia
Pentobarbital	20-40mg/kg IP	26mg/kg IV	35-45mg/kg IV, IP		Sedation and general anaesthesia. This is a high risk drug to use in rabbits.
Pethidine		10mg/kg SC, IM			Analgesia
Piperazine adipate	0.5g/kg/day for 2 doses	500 micrograms/kg/day. Repeat dose in 10 days			Anthelminthic
Piperazine citrate	100mg/kg/day for 2 doses		200mg/kg orally	200mg/kg orally	Anthelminthic. Used to treat ascarids and some nodular worms and pin worms.
Praziquantel	5-10mg/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.
Procaine Penicillin G	20,000 - 60,000 IU/kg 3x daily		40,000 IU/kg/day for up to 7 days SC, IM		Antibiotic. Can induce altered gastrointestinal tract flora with overgrowth and  secondary enteritis.
Propofol		10mg/kg IV			Anaesthesia
Robenidine		50-66g/tonne food			Coccidiosis
Streptomycin		50mg/kg/day IM			Antibiotic
Sulphadimidine		100-233mg/L drinking water			Antibiotic. Coccidiosis.
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	50mg/kg orally, 2-3x daily	30mg/kg twice daily orally	0.3-2mg/ml drinking water 5-50mg/kg orally, IM		Antibiotic. For tyzzers disease, pasteurellosis, mycoplasmosis
Thiabendazole	50-100mg/kg/day orally for 5 days		100-200mg/kg 0.1% in food - orally		Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and fungicidal drug.
Thiamylal	30-40mg/kg IV		25-50mg/kg IV, IP		Ultra-short acting barbiturate anaesthesia
Thiopental	30-50mg/kg IP	30mg/kg/IV			Ultra-short acting barbiturate anaesthesia
Tresaderm (combination of thiabendazole, dexamethasone and neomycin)	3 drops into ear twice daily for a week				Chronic dermatoses and otitis externa eg psoroptes infection.
Trimethoprim and sulphadiazine	30mg/kg/day SC	48mg/kg/day SC			Antibiotic.
Trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole	15mg/kg twice daily orally				Antibiotic
Tylosin	10mg/kg twice daily orally , SC or IM		66mg/L drinking water for 21 days orally		Antibiotic. Chronic use can result in bacterial overgrowth in the large intestine.
Vetatix (pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide)	Shampoo weekly for up to 6 weeks				Insecticide (pyrethrin-based)
Viokase	Give 2-3cc twice daily of the following mixture after 15 minutes standing : 1 teaspoon viokase to 3 tablespoons yoghurt				Pancreatic enzyme supplementation in EPI. In rabbits it is used to dissolve trichobezoars
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			3-5mg/kg IM	3mg/kg IV	Sedative, analgesia
Yohimbine	0.2mg/kg IV				Reversal of xylazine anaesthesia

Updated October 2013