Chloramphenicol for Animals

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Chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol inhibits bacterial protein synthesis and penetrates many tissues. Its toxicity and human handling risks limit use.

Group

Amphenicol antibacterial

Mechanism of Action

Binds the 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting protein synthesis.

Dose Rates

Dogs

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Bacterial infections40–50 mg/kgPOEvery 8 h
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlyIVChloramphenicol sodium succinate 40–50 mg/kg IV or IM every 6–8 hours; different prodrug formulation and dose basis.
Bacterial infections45–60 mg/kgPOEvery 8 hUp to 14 days; Oral course 7–14 days in university antimicrobial guidance; monitor CBC and clinical response.
Urinary, rickettsial or localized soft-tissue infection25–50 mg/kgPOEvery 8 hUp to 7 days
Systemic infection50 mg/kgPOEvery 6–8 hUp to 5 days; Oral alternative, course 3–5 days.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever15–20 mg/kgPOEvery 8 hUp to 21 days; Historical alternative, course 14–21 days.
Infectious otitis50 mg/kgPOEvery 8 h
Parenteral infection alternativesReference onlyIVSodium succinate injectable alternatives include 45–60 mg/kg IM/SC/IV every 6–8 hours; 50 mg/kg every 6–8 hours for systemic infection for 3–5 days; or 50 mg/kg every 4–6 hours for severe bacteremia for up to three days. Require a compatible injectable product and active-equivalent strength.

Cats

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Bacterial infections12.5–20 mg/kgPOEvery 12 h
Bacterial infections50 mg/animalPOEvery 12 hAlternative fixed oral dose.
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlyIVThe earlier per-cat injectable line conflicts with weight-based regimens. The supplement and university antimicrobial guidance independently support 12–30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours; that is added separately, retaining this discrepant record for review.
Bacterial infections25–50 mg/kgPOEvery 12 hHistorical higher oral alternative; marrow toxicity is a particular feline concern.
Urinary or localized soft-tissue infection50 mg/animalPOEvery 12 hUp to 14 days
Severe bacteremia or sepsis50 mg/animalPOEvery 6–8 hUp to 5 days; Historical oral fixed-dose alternative; reassess marrow risk and use a suitable route for severity.
Bacterial infections12–30 mg/kgIVEvery 12 hChloramphenicol sodium succinate, strength expressed as chloramphenicol equivalent. Distinct from the inconsistent earlier per-cat injectable line.
Other parenteral infection alternativesReference onlyIVHistorical sodium succinate alternatives include 12–30 mg/kg IM/SC/IV every 12 hours; 50 mg per cat every eight hours; or 25–50 mg/kg every 12 hours for systemic infection, generally no more than 14 days. High feline marrow risk requires close reassessment.

Horses

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Highly susceptible bacterial infections35–50 mg/kgPOEvery 6–8 hOral absorption is low and variable; restrict interpretation to highly susceptible organisms.
Bacterial infections45–60 mg/kgPOEvery 8 h
Foal bacterial infection20 mg/kgPOEvery 4 hFoals only; oral form. A separate IV regimen needs an appropriate sodium succinate preparation.
Foal sodium succinate treatmentReference onlyIVFoals: chloramphenicol sodium succinate 25–50 mg/kg IV every 4–8 hours; oral chloramphenicol base/palmitate alternative is 40–50 mg/kg every 6–8 hours.

Rabbits

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Bacterial infections30–50 mg/kgPOEvery 8–24 hOral regimen; parenteral alternatives require sodium succinate preparation.

Hedgehogs

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Bacterial infections50 mg/kgPOEvery 12 h

Chinchillas

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Bacterial infections30–50 mg/kgPOEvery 12 h

Guinea pigs

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Pneumonia30–50 mg/kgPOEvery 12 h
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlySC20–50 mg/kg of the succinate salt SC every 6–12 hours; salt-mass regimen must not be converted using a base-equivalent preparation without an explicit basis.

Gerbils

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlySC20–50 mg/kg of the succinate salt SC every 6–12 hours; salt-mass regimen must not be converted using a base-equivalent preparation without an explicit basis.

Hamsters

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlySC20–50 mg/kg of the succinate salt SC every 6–12 hours; salt-mass regimen must not be converted using a base-equivalent preparation without an explicit basis.

Mice

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlySC20–50 mg/kg of the succinate salt SC every 6–12 hours; salt-mass regimen must not be converted using a base-equivalent preparation without an explicit basis.

Rats

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Injectable sodium succinate treatmentReference onlySC20–50 mg/kg of the succinate salt SC every 6–12 hours; salt-mass regimen must not be converted using a base-equivalent preparation without an explicit basis.

Ferrets

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Proliferative colitis50 mg/kgPOEvery 12 hUp to 21 days; Course 14–21 days.

Birds

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Bird sodium succinate treatmentReference onlyIMSodium succinate alternatives: 80 mg/kg IM two to three times daily; 50 mg/kg IV three to four times daily; or 50 mg/kg IM/IV every eight hours. Preserve salt basis and use a verified injectable preparation.
Bird oral palmitate treatmentReference onlyPOPalmitate 30 mg/mL suspension: 0.1 mL per 30 g three to four times daily, or 75 mg/kg orally every eight hours. Absorption is erratic; do not use for initial life-threatening infection or with crop stasis.

Reptiles

Use / stageDoseRouteScheduleInstructions
Reptile sodium succinate treatmentReference onlyIMSodium succinate 20–50 mg/kg IM/SC for up to three weeks lacks a repeat interval; another alternative gives 30–50 mg/kg per day IV/IM for 7–14 days. Maintain exact salt basis.

Indications

  • Susceptible bacterial infections
  • Selected resistant infections
  • Highly susceptible equine infections

Contraindications

  • Do not use in food-producing animals.
  • Avoid pregnancy and neonatal use.
  • Avoid prolonged treatment in cats.
  • Preexisting nonregenerative anemia or other hematologic abnormality requires extreme caution.
  • Severe hepatic dysfunction or renal impairment may cause accumulation; neonatal kittens are especially vulnerable.

Interactions

  • Inhibits metabolism of several anesthetics, opioids, barbiturates, phenytoin and salicylates through CYP inhibition.
  • Cimetidine can increase chloramphenicol exposure; rifampin can reduce it.
  • Other myelosuppressive agents increase marrow risk, and chloramphenicol may delay response to iron, folate or vitamin B12.
  • Lidocaine, propofol and barbiturate effects may be prolonged, particularly in cats.

Adverse effects

  • Gastrointestinal upset
  • Reversible marrow suppression, especially in cats
  • Reversible peripheral neuropathy and weakness in dogs

Toxicity

Human exposure can cause rare irreversible aplastic anemia. Animals can develop dose-related marrow suppression; discontinue for significant cytopenia or neuropathy.

Preparations

PreparationFormStrengthRoute
Chloramphenicol 100 mg tabletTablet100 mg / tabletPO
Chloramphenicol 250 mg tabletTablet250 mg / tabletPO
Chloramphenicol 500 mg tabletTablet500 mg / tabletPO
Chloramphenicol 250 mg capsuleCapsule250 mg / capsulePO
Chloramphenicol palmitate oral suspension 30 mg/mL
Palmitate prodrug; active-equivalent basis is not specified and is not assumed.		Oral Liquid30 mg / mLPO

Monitoring and Administration

Monitor CBC with prolonged therapy, especially beyond 14 days in cats. Prevent accidental exposure during handling, including exposure to children.

Equine oral absorption is variable; activity at typical regimens is unreliable unless the organism is highly susceptible, approximately MIC ≤2 mcg/mL.

Palmitate oral formulations depend on enzymatic conversion and should not be given to fasted or anorectic animals. Injectable sodium succinate is a different prodrug; do not substitute its mass automatically for oral chloramphenicol.

Aqueous chloramphenicol preparations are described as stable for 24 hours. Sodium succinate stability is formulation-specific; a 30-day room-temperature or six-month frozen period is described.

Discard cloudy sodium succinate solution. Prevent exposure during crushing or compounding; chloramphenicol is not appropriate in food-producing animals.

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