Table 11-1.
Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Ferrets.
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Amikacin | 8-16 mg/kg SC, IM, IV divided q8-24h53 | Potentially ototoxic and nephrotoxic |
| 10-15 mg/kg SC, IM q12h52 | ||
| Amoxicillin | 20 mg/kg PO, SC q12h52 | |
| 30 mg/kg PO q8h × 21 days16 | Helicobacter; can use with metronidazole and bismuth subsalicylate | |
| Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Clavamox, Zoetis) | 13-25 mg/kg PO q8-12h52 | |
| 18.75 mg per jill PO q12h15 | For treatment of E. coli induced mastitis | |
| Amphotericin B | 0.15 mg/kg IV 3×/wk × 2-4 mon25 | Treatment of cryptococcosis |
| 0.25-1 mg/kg IV q24h or q48h until total dose of 7-25 mg has been given25 | ||
| 0.4-0.8 mg/kg IV q7d52 | Blastomycosis; monitor for azotemia; total dose 7-25 mg | |
| Ampicillin | 5-30 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q8-12h51,52 | |
| Azithromycin | 5 mg/kg PO q24h60 | |
| Cefadroxil | 15-20 mg/kg PO q12h52 | |
| Cefovecin (Convenia, Zoetis) | 8 mg/kg SC q2-3d49 | Second generation parenteral cephalosporin; long-acting antibiotic |
| Cephalexin | 15-30 mg/kg PO q8-12h53 | |
| Cephaloridine | 10-25 mg/kg SC, IM q24h × 5-7 days53 | Dermatitis |
| Chloramphenicol | 25-50 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV q12h53 | 14-day minimum for proliferative bowel disease |
| 50 mg/kg SC, IM q12h15 | For treatment of mastitis | |
| Ciprofloxacin | 10-30 mg/kg PO q24h53 | Mix 500 mg tablet in 10 mL water (50 mg/mL); flavor for improved acceptance |
| Clarithromycin | 12.5 mg/kg PO q8-12h × 14 days44 | Helicobacter; use with ranitidine bismuth citrate |
| 50 mg/kg PO q24h or divided q12h × 14 days51 | Helicobacter; use with omeprazole (or ranitidine) and metronidazole | |
| Clindamycin | 5.5-10 mg/kg PO q12h53 | Anaerobic infections; bone and dental disease |
| 12.5 mg/kg PO q12h53 | Toxoplasmosis | |
| Cloxacillin | 10 mg/kg PO, IM, IV q6h65 | |
| Doxycycline | 10 mg/kg PO q12h37 | May help with ferret systemic coronavirus infection |
| Enrofloxacin (Baytril, Bayer) | 5 mg/kg PO, IM q12h15 | For treatment of mastitis |
| 5-10 mg/kg PO, SC, IM q12h53 | IM for short term (generally 1 injection); injectable form can be given PO in palatable liquid; liquid for PO can also be compounded | |
| 10-20 mg/kg PO, SC, IM q12-24h52 | ||
| Erythromycin | 10 mg/kg PO q6h52 | |
| 220 g/ton feed53 | Controlling Campylobacter diarrhea in large groups | |
| Fluconazole | 50 mg/kg PO q12h53 | |
| Gentamicin | 2 mg/kg PO q12h × 10-14 days21 | Parenteral form can be given PO; proliferative colitis that is nonresponsive to chloramphenicol12,21 |
| 2-5 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q12-24h52 | If given IV, dilute with saline and administer over 20 min | |
| Griseofulvin | 25 mg/kg PO q12-24h53 | Refractory dermatomycosis; use with lime-sulfur dips q7d |
| Itraconazole | 1.5 mg/kg PO q24h41 | Invasive nasal cryptococcosis |
| 10 mg/kg PO q12h20 | Histoplasmosis | |
| 10-20 mg/kg PO q24h67 | Cryptococcosis | |
| 25-33 mg/kg PO q24h25,72 | ||
| Ketoconazole | 10-50 mg/kg PO q12-24h39 | |
| Lime sulfur | Dip q7d52 | Dermatomycosis; see griseofulvin |
| Lincomycin | 11 mg/kg PO q8h53 | |
| Metronidazole | 15-20 mg/kg PO q12h52 | Anaerobic infections; can use with amoxicillin and bismuth subsalicylate for Helicobacter |
| Neomycin | 10-20 mg/kg PO q6h52 | Potential nephrotoxicity and neuromuscular blockage |
| Netilmicin (Netromycin, Schering) | 6-8 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q24h53 | Severe staphylococcal infections |
| Nitazoxanide (Alinia, Romark Laboratories) | 5 mg/kg PO q12h25 | Treatment of cryptosporidiosis |
| Oxytetracycline | 20 mg/kg PO q8h52 | |
| Penicillin G (sodium or potassium) | 20,000 U/kg IM q12h39 40,000 U/kg SC, IM q24h52 |
|
| Pentamidine isethionate | 3-4 mg/kg SC q48h25 | Pneumocystis pneumonia |
| Pyremethamine | 0.5 mg/kg PO q12h25 | Combine with trimethoprim sulfa (30 mg/kg PO q12h) and folic acid (3-5 mg/kg PO q24h) for treatment of toxoplasmosis |
| Sulfadimethoxine | 25 mg/kg PO, SC, IM q24h53 | |
| 30-50 mg/kg PO q12-24h52 | ||
| Sulfamethazine | 1-5 mg/mL drinking water52 | |
| Sulfasoxazole | 50 mg/kg PO q8h53 | |
| Sulfathalidine | Mix in food at dose of 1 g/day/kg body weight12 | Opioid useful for management of Salmonella and to reduce shedding in colonies |
| Tetracycline | 20-25 mg/kg PO q8-12h52 | |
| Trimethoprim/sulfa | 5 mg/kg PO q24h15 | Pyelonephritis |
| 15 mg/kg IV q12h8 | ||
| 15-30 mg/kg PO, SC q12h52 | Dosage amount of combined drugs | |
| Tylosin (Tylan, Elanco) | 5-10 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV q12h51,52 |