Drug Therapy in Pet Rodents

<<Vet Med 93[11]:988-991 Nov' 98 Review Article 10 Refs

Valarie V. Tynes, DVM
P.O. Box 510370 Punta Gorda, FL 33951
- Two primary challenges face veterinarians interested in caring for pet rodents. The first is purely
financial. The more common pet rodents - guinea pigs, rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils - are
inexpensive to purchase and maintain. So most people who choose these rodents as pets do not spend
much on veterinary care. For this reason, veterinarians must provide these animals the most economical
treatment feasible. The second challenge stems from the patient's diminutive size. The doses of many
medications used in rodents are so minute that some creativity may be required to dilute and properly
administer them. Developing a good relationship with a local compounding pharmacist can be beneficial.
The number of compounding pharmacists promoting their services to veterinarians is increasing, and
most of these pharmacists will ship drugs anywhere in the country. Because the amounts of medication
required are so small, the cost of these products is usually quite reasonable. Before treating pet
rodents, inform your clients that the medication will be used in an extralabel fashion. Ideally, clients
should sign a release acknowledging this fact. Few pharmacokinetic trials have been performed in
rodents commonly kept as pets. This article is intended to provide small-animal clinicians basic
information on drugs used to treat the more common conditions seen in pet rodents.
Because most referenced drug dosages for rodents are empirical, and wide dose ranges are often
given, you may want to consult several references before choosing a drug or dosage for a pet rodent.
Client education is also essential so owners will understand the importance of monitoring their pets
closely, discontinuing medications at the first sign of side effects, and notifying their veterinarians of any
problems. Many clients bond with their pet rodents and appreciate veterinarians' efforts to use the
latest medical information when treating their animals. Despite he many challenges, treating pet rodents
can be rewarding.
Included in the article are tables outlining dosage and route of administration of antimicrobials and
miscellaneous drugs used in pet rodents.
VIN SUMMARY:
Two primary challenges, cost and patient size, face veterinarians. Pet rodents are quite inexpensive, thus
veterinary care of any extent may cost more than an owner is willing to pay. Plus, patient size often requires
minuscule amounts of medication, thus requiring dilution for proper administration. (And, since few drugs are
labeled for rodents, owners should be informed of extra-label drug use and a signed release obtained.)
Antimicrobials
Antibiotics (oral, and sometimes topical) can cause fatal changes in intestinal microflora. (Gramnegative bacteria
overgrow and cause enterocolitis and diarrhea.) Oral lactobacillus supplements have been used to ameliorate the
gastrointestinal side-effects, but their effectiveness is debatable.
Guinea pigs:
Fatal reactions can result from: penicillin, bacitracin, erythromycin, ampicillin, and
chlortetracycline
Toxic reactions can result from: spiramycin, lincomycin, streptomycin, gentamicin,
clindamycin, and vancomycin
Antibiotics generally considered safe (see table below): enrofloxacin,
ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, cephaloridine, oxytetracycline, sulfamethazine,
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine
Hamsters:
Fatal reactions: penicillin, streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, erythromycin,
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lincomycin, clindamycin, and tetracyline
Antibiotics generally regarded as safe (see dosage table below): trimethoprim-
sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol
palmitate, and tetracycline
Rats and mice:
Fatal reactions: streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, procaine component of
penicillins
Safe (see dosage table below): trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin,
ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol palmitate, and tetracycline
For respiratory disease: tetracycline in drinking water (3 mg/ml) for 7 days, or
enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg PO BID) plus doxycycline hyclate (5 mg/kg PO BID) for 7
days. *Both treatments may not be curative, but may aid suppression of the disease.
Gerbils:
Fatal reactions: streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin
Antibiotics generally regarded as safe (see dosage table below): trimethoprim-
sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol
palmitate, and tetracycline
Antimicrobials Used in Guinea Pigs
Agent Dose Route
Cephaloridine 15-25 mg/kg SID Subcutaneously
Chloramphenicol sodiumsuccinate
* warn clients about hazards of use
50 mg/kg BID Subcutaneously
Chloramphenicol palmitate
* warn clients about hazards of use
50 mg/kg BID Orally
Ciprofloxacin 10 mg/kg BID Orally
Enrofloxacin
5 10 mg/kg BID or
100 mg/liter drinking water
Orally
Oxytetracycline 5 mg/kg BID Intramuscularly
Sulfamethazine 166 517 mg/ liter drinking water Orally
Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine 30 mg/kg SID Subcutaneously
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 15 mg/kg BID Orally

Antimicrobials Used in Hamsters, Gerbils, Rats, and Mice
Agent Dose Route
Chloramphenicol palmitate
* warn clients about hazards of use
50 mg/kg BID Orally
Ciprofloxacin 10 mg/kg BID Orally
Enrofloxacin
10 mg/kg BID or
100 mg/liter drinking water
Orally
Gentamicin 5 8 mg/kg SID Subcutaneously or intramuscularly
Tetracycline 20 mg/kg BID Orally
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Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 15 mg/kg BID Orally
Antiparasitics
Ivermectin is safe in most rodents for treatment of endoparasites and ectoparasites
Dosage: 200 400 mg/kg; two treatments, 10 days apart; subcutaneous or oral
Ivomec 1% solution: 1 part Ivomec +19 parts propylene glycol =1 mg
ivermectin/2 ml solution
For large rodents: ivermectin equine paste (18.7 mg ivermectin/ml), orally or mixed
with food
Pinworms in mice cause perineal pruritus and can be treated with: Ivermectin orally
(2 mg/kg, two treatments given 10 days apart); other treatments include mebendazole
orally (40 mg/kg two times, 7 days apart), thiabendazole orally (100 mg/kg once a
week for 4 weeks), or piperazine citrate mixed with drinking water (200 mg/kg
body weight SID for 7 days, wait 7 days, and repeat treatment).
Lime sulfur diluted 1:40 in water, applied as a dip once a week for 6 weeks
Sarcoptes mites in guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters
Fur mites in mice and rats
*Keep animals in a warmdraft-free location after dipping
1% lindane baths, once a week for 3 weeks
Sarcoptes mites in guinea pigs
*Keep animals in a warmdraft-free location after dipping
0.5% malathion dip, sponged on
Lice in guinea pigs and mice
NOT SAFE in preweanling animals
*Keep animals in a warmdraft-free location after dipping
Amitraz: diluted with water according to package directions (wash animals at two-week intervals
for 3 - 6 treatments), or diluted at five times the package directions for greater safety (1 bottle per
10 gallons water, and wash animals at two week intervals for 3 - 6 treatments)
Demodicosis in gerbils, hamsters, and rats
*Keep animals in a warmdraft-free location after dipping
Flea powders, sprays, and foams approved for cats are usually safe
Lice, fur mites, fleas in guinea pigs, rats and mice
Thoroughly clean and sanitize the pets environment prior to returning it to that environment. Repeat
thorough cleaning with each subsequent treatment.
Miscellaneous drugs for various conditions (see table below)
Dermatophytosis (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) is zoonotic. Treatment must include clearing the
lesions and eliminating the organismfromthe environment (cage and accessories).
Griseofulvin is teratogenic and should not be used in pregnant animals
Rats: topical therapy of povidone-iodine (one-time) solution, followed by
griseofulvin orally (25 mg/100 g body weight every 10 days for 3 doses
Guinea pigs: griseofulvin 15 75 mg/kg/day for 14 28 days (doses up to 100
mg/kg have been reported)
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Topical antifungals applied SID for 2 4 weeks may be used for
localized or mild disease
Hypovitaminosis C (scurvy) in guinea pigs can lead to secondary systemic and infectious diseases
due to immunosuppression
All sick guinea pigs should be given supplementation (50 100 mg/day, injectable)
Normal supplementation dose: Vitamin C 200 400 mg/liter of drinking water
Vitamin C deteriorates rapidly in stored feed/water; fresh solutions should be made
frequently
Organophosphate poisoning: treat with atropine
Anaerobic infection: treat with metronidazole
Warfarin poisoning: treat with vitamin K
Delayed parturition: treat with oxytocin
Miscellaneous Drugs Used in Pet Rodents
Agent Dose Route
Atropine 10 mg/kg q 20 minutes Subcutaneously
Balanced electrolyte solutions 10 ml/100 g body weight SID
Subcutaneously, intravenously,
intraosseously, intraperitoneally
Doxapramhydrochloride 2 5 mg/kg q 15 minutes
Subcutaneously, intravenously,
intraosseously
Epinephrine 0.02 0.2 mg/kg Intravenously, intraosseous bolus
Griseofulvin 15 -75 mg/kg SID Orally
Ivermectin 200 400 mg/kg Subcutaneously, orally
Metronidazole 20 mg/kg SID Orally
Oxytocin 0.2 3 units/kg Subcutaneously, intramuscularly
Vitamin C
200 400 mg/liter drinking water,
make fresh daily
Orally
Vitamin K 1 10 mg/kg PRN intramuscularly
Routes of Administration
Drinking water, as a route of administration, has many drawbacks. It is difficult to monitor
consumption (especially if in multiple-animal housing), patients tend to drink less (or even none)
because of taste and color, and desert dwellers always drink little (healthy or ill).
Antibiotics, if used in drinking water, must dissolve easily, mix well, and be changed daily.
Deionized (not tap) water must be used.
Oral administration is cheaper and more convenient.
Parenteral administration is the most effective route, but usually costs more than oral. (Some
owners can be taught to give injections at home.)
Educate clients to monitor closely, discontinue medications at any sign of side effects, and contact
the veterinarian if any problems arise.
________________________
vinid =J A013009, date1298
J ournal info: ISSN 8750-7943; ID=J 035, VM
All rights reserved, copyright, Veterinary Information Network, Inc., 1998
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