Enrofloxacin

Enrofloxacin is a veterinary fluoroquinolone antibacterial used for susceptible infections in a wide range of species. Its clinical spectrum emphasizes gram-negative bacilli, with activity against selected staphylococci and other organisms. It is used for companion-animal infections and species-specific livestock indications. Partial conversion to active ciprofloxacin contributes variably to antibacterial exposure.

Group

Fluoroquinolone antibacterial

Mechanism of Action

Enrofloxacin inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, disrupting DNA supercoiling, replication and separation of daughter chromosomes. Stabilization of enzyme–DNA cleavage complexes causes DNA damage and bacterial death. Activity is concentration dependent, with a post-antibiotic effect against susceptible organisms. The active metabolite ciprofloxacin contributes to the overall antibacterial effect to a species-dependent degree.

Dose Rates

Dog

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, IM, IV	Every 24 h	IV injection is extralabel; administer slowly.
Short-course lower urinary infection	Reference only	PO		The source states 18–20 mg/kg once daily “every 3 days,” which is internally ambiguous between a 3-day course and a 72-hour interval. Not encoded numerically until resolved.

Cat

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infection	5 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 24 h	Maximum total daily amount is 5 mg/kg; do not add a second route or additional daily dose.
Historical hemoplasmosis range	Reference only	PO		The additional text gives 5–10 mg/kg daily for 14 days, conflicting with the supplied feline maximum of 5 mg/kg/day and retinal-toxicity precautions. The higher range is not enabled.

Bird

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infection	15 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h
Poultry infection (Enrocare)	10 mg/kg	PO		Up to 5 days; Product describes drinking-water medication for 3–5 days. Daily water intake and dosing frequency require the actual flock prescription.
Empirical combination treatment	Reference only	PO		Stable immunocompetent psittacines: enrofloxacin 20 mg/kg daily with amoxicillin/clavulanate 125 mg/kg three times daily. Select therapy by culture when possible; combination is not automatically calculated.
Susceptible bacterial infection	15–20 mg/kg	SC	Every 24 h	Debilitated immunocompetent psittacines; inject into a fluid pocket.
Susceptible bacterial infection	15–20 mg/kg	SC	Every 12 h	Debilitated immunocompromised psittacines; inject into a fluid pocket.

Reptile

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infection	Reference only	PO, IM		The source gives 5 mg/kg/day but also every second or third day; choose a species-specific schedule before calculation.

Horse

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bacterial infection	5 mg/kg	IV, IM	Every 24 h	IM use requires rotating sites; IV administration must be slow.
Bacterial infection	7.5 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h

Cattle

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Bovine respiratory disease	7.5–12.5 mg/kg	SC	Once
Bovine respiratory disease	2.5–5 mg/kg	SC	Every 24 h	Up to 5 days; Alternative daily course for 3–5 days.
Susceptible infection (Enroxsel-10)	2.5–5 mg/kg	SC		Up to 5 days; Product describes a 3–5-day course but does not explicitly state the repeat interval. Do not infer frequency from the concentration.

Pig

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Swine respiratory disease	7.5 mg/kg	IM, SC	Once	Behind the ear; no more than 5 mL at one injection site.

Buffalo

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible infection (Enroxsel-10)	2.5–5 mg/kg	SC		Up to 5 days; Product describes a 3–5-day course but does not explicitly state the repeat interval. Do not infer frequency from the concentration.

Sheep

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible infection (Enroxsel-10)	2.5–5 mg/kg	SC		Up to 5 days; Product describes a 3–5-day course but does not explicitly state the repeat interval. Do not infer frequency from the concentration.

Goat

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible infection (Enroxsel-10)	2.5–5 mg/kg	SC		Up to 5 days; Product describes a 3–5-day course but does not explicitly state the repeat interval. Do not infer frequency from the concentration.

Ferret

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	10–20 mg/kg	PO, IM, SC	Every 12 h

Rabbit

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Pasteurella respiratory infection	15–20 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	At least 14 days in mild disease; chronic infection may need a longer course.
Pasteurella respiratory infection — Initial	15–20 mg/kg	SC		Initial dose only; repeated SC dosing in this protocol risks severe tissue reactions.

Hedgehog

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 12 h

Chinchilla

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 24 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals

Gerbil

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 24 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals

Guinea Pig

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 24 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals

Hamster

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 24 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals

Mouse

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 24 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals

Rat

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–10 mg/kg	PO, IM	Every 12 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Susceptible bacterial infection	5–20 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 24 h	Do not use in: Young growing animals
Chronic respiratory disease	10–25 mg/kg	PO	Every 12 h	Concurrent theophylline dose may require a 30% reduction.

Alpaca

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	5 mg/kg	SC	Every 24 h
Susceptible bacterial infection	10 mg/kg	PO	Every 24 h

Ratite

Use / stage	Dose	Route	Schedule	Instructions
Susceptible bacterial infection	1.5–2.5 mg/kg	PO, SC	Every 12 h

Indications

Treatment of susceptible bacterial skin, wound and soft-tissue infections in dogs and selected other veterinary species.
Treatment of selected susceptible bacterial urinary or respiratory infections in companion animals.
Treatment of bovine respiratory disease caused by susceptible Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida or Histophilus somni.
Treatment or control of susceptible swine respiratory disease with a corresponding product.
Treatment of susceptible Escherichia coli-associated colibacillosis in pigs where included in the product indication.
Treatment of susceptible granulomatous colitis associated with invasive Escherichia coli in dogs.
Treatment of selected susceptible bacterial infections in birds, reptiles and other exotic patients.

Contraindications

Growing dogs and young foals
Never exceed 5 mg/kg/day in cats; avoid IV use in cats.

Interactions

Cations and sucralfate can reduce absorption.
May increase theophylline exposure.
Mixing with acidic fluids can precipitate the drug.

Adverse effects

Retinal degeneration and permanent blindness in cats
Cartilage injury
GI upset, CNS effects and local injection irritation

Preparations

Preparation	Form	Strength	Route
Enrofloxacin 22.7 mg	Tablet	22.7 mg / tablet	PO
Enrofloxacin 68 mg	Tablet	68 mg / tablet	PO
Enrofloxacin 136 mg	Tablet	136 mg / tablet	PO
Enrofloxacin injection 22.7 mg/mL	Injection	22.7 mg / mL	IM
Baytril-100 100 mg/mL Livestock injectable product; route-specific label restrictions apply.	Injection	100 mg / mL	SC
Enroxsel-10 injection Selmore Pharmaceuticals	Injection	100 mg / mL	SC
Enroxsel-20 oral solution Selmore Pharmaceuticals	Oral Liquid	200 mg / mL	PO
Enrocare 10% oral solution Official Sri Lankan product information confirms 100 mg/mL; manufacturer is not inferred from the distributor.	Oral Liquid	100 mg / mL	PO

Monitoring and Administration

Base selection on culture and susceptibility; activity against anaerobes and streptococci is poor.

Give equine IV doses slowly with compatible dilution; concentrated alkaline oral solutions may injure mucosa.

Monitor feline vision, neurologic signs and injection sites. Food-animal approvals and withdrawal rules are formulation- and jurisdiction-specific; foreign label intervals are not universal.