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Choosing antibiotics for use in small mammals
The limited number of antibiotic products licensed for use in small mammals (Tables 1 and 2) makes the treatment of infections challenging. The fact that the most widely used product on the market is a fluoroquinolone (enrofloxacin) is a particular concern, as fluoroquinolones are classified by the World Health Organization as one of the groups of ‘Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials’ for human medicine. As such, veterinary surgeons have a duty to use them responsibly, not only to minimise the development of resistance in animal patients, but also to reduce the risk of transmission of antimicrobial resistance to humans. Certain countries, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, have already started putting legal restrictions on the use of fluoroquinolones as first-line antibiotics in food-producing animals, unless it has been proven that there are no other treatment options available.
Table 1:POM-V antibiotics currently licensed for rabbits*
| Active ingredient | Trade name (MAH) | Datasheet dosages | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apramycin | Apravet (Huvepharma) | 12,000 IU/kg per day | Premix for medicating feeds, licensed for reduction in mortality and clinical signs related to epizootic enterocolitis due to Escherichia coli. Not designed for use in pet rabbits |
| Enrofloxacin | Baytril (Bayer), Enrobactin (Le Vet Beheer), Enrocare (Animalcare), Orniflox (Avimedical), Enrotron (Forte Healthcare), Quinoflox (Global Vet Health) | 5 mg/kg orally twice a day 10 mg/kg subcutaneously once a day | Recommended formulary doses are higher at 10-20 mg/kg orally, subcutaneously and intravenously once a day. Oral formulation can taste bitter so is not always well tolerated. Injections can be associated with tissue necrosis |
| Fusidic acid | Isathal (Dechra Veterinary Products) | One drop to be instilled into the eye once or twice daily | |
| Gentamicin | Tiacil Ophthalmic Solution (Virbac) | One or two drops to be applied three times a day | |
| Thiamphenicol | TAF Spray (Eurovet Animal Health) | Spray the solution on the affected area for 3 seconds once daily | |
| Tiamulin | Denagard (Elanco Europe) | 3 mg/kg per day | Premix for medicating feeds, licensed for the treatment and prevention of epizootic enterocolitis due to Escherichia coli. Not designed for use in pet rabbits |
| Tilmicosin | Tilmovet (Huvepharma), Pulmotil (Eli Lilly) | 12-12.5 mg/kg per day | Premix for medicating feeds, licensed for the treatment of Pasteurella and Bordetella. Not designed for use in pet rabbits |
| Trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole |