Amikacin: Dosage, Uses, and Side Effects

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Amikacin for Dogs, Cats and Different Animal Species: Dosage, Uses, and Side Effects Guide

Contents hide

1 Overview

2 Uses of Amikacin

3 Amikacin Dose For Different Animal Species

4 Drug Dosage Calculator

5 Common Side Effects of Amikacin

6 Contraindications of Amikacin

7 Some Notes:

Overview

Amikacin is one of Aminoglycosides which inhibits bacterial protein synthesis with a
concentration-dependent mechanism of killing, leading to a marked post-antibiotic effect, allowing prolonged dosing intervals (which may reduce toxicity).

Uses of Amikacin

Dogs and Cats:
- Treatment of serious Gram-negative infections, including sepsis.
- Used topically for otitis externa (combined with EDTA-Tris).
- Administered locally for intra-articular infections or infections in the bladder.
Horses:
- Treatment of septic arthritis via intra-articular injection or intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP).
- Intrauterine infusion for endometritis, metritis, and pyometra.
New World Camelids (e.g., llamas):
- Empirical therapy for susceptible infections.
Birds and Reptiles:
- Management of Gram-negative infections resistant to other aminoglycosides.

Amikacin Dose For Different Animal Species

Amikacin Dose in Dogs, Cats and Different Animal Species:

Species	Condition Treated with Amikacin	Dosage
Dogs	Susceptible infections and empirical therapy	15–30 mg/kg IV, IM, SC once daily. For septic patients: 20–30 mg/kg IV once daily. Note: Adjust based on kidney function and serum concentrations.
Cats	Susceptible infections and empirical therapy	10–15 mg/kg IV, IM, SC once daily. For septic patients: 20 mg/kg IV once daily. Note: Adjust based on kidney function and serum concentrations.
Horses	Uterine infections	2 g in 200 mL sterile saline, infused into the uterus daily for 3 days.
	Susceptible infections and empirical therapy	Adults: 10 mg/kg IV or IM once daily; Neonatal foals: 20–25 mg/kg IV or IM once daily.
	Septic joints (intra-articular)	125–250 mg IA once daily.
	IV regional limb perfusion (IVRLP)	1–2 g diluted with saline, infused via cephalic vein with a 10–30 min tourniquet.
New World Camelids	Susceptible infections and empirical therapy	18 mg/kg IV or IM once daily.
Birds	Susceptible infections	15 mg/kg IM or SC every 12 hours.
	Gram-negative infections (gentamicin-resistant)	15–20 mg/kg IM once or twice daily.
	IV regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) in chickens	5.3 mg/kg IV with flunixin, 15 min tourniquet time.
	Mycobacterial infections in psittacines	15 mg/kg twice daily, route not specified.
Reptiles	Gram-negative respiratory disease	3.5 mg/kg IM, SC, or via lung catheter every 3–10 days.
	Snakes (general)	5 mg/kg IM loading dose, then 2.5 mg/kg IM every 72 hours.
	Turtles/Tortoises (bacterial shell disease)	10 mg/kg IM daily for water turtles; every other day for land turtles.
Ferrets	Susceptible infections (extra-label)	8–16 mg/kg IM or IV once daily.
Rabbits/Small Mammals	Rabbits	8–16 mg/kg SC, IM, or IV once daily; can be divided every 8–24 hours. Dilute IV dose in saline.
Rabbits/Small Mammals	Guinea Pigs	10–15 mg/kg SC, IM, or IV every 8–24 hours.
Fish	Susceptible infections	5 mg/kg IM loading dose, then 2.5 mg/kg every 72 hours for 5 treatments.

Drug Dosage Calculator

You Should Give:

Common Side Effects of Amikacin

Nephrotoxicity: May cause renal tubular necrosis, manifested by increased BUN/creatinine levels and reduced urine specific gravity.
Ototoxicity: Irreversible hearing loss or vestibular effects. Cats are more prone to vestibular signs, such as nystagmus and ataxia.
Neuromuscular blockade: May occur with anesthetics or magnesium sulfate.
Injection site reactions: Pain, inflammation, and peripheral neuropathy.

Contraindications of Amikacin

Renal dysfunction: Use with caution and adjust dosing intervals.
Hearing impairment: Avoid if the tympanic membrane is not intact.
Neuromuscular disorders: Avoid in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Some Notes:

Drug Interactions:
- Beta-lactams (penicillin, cephalosporins): Inactivate aminoglycosides when mixed.
- Diuretics (e.g., furosemide): Increase nephrotoxicity.
- Neuromuscular blockers: Potentiate neuromuscular blockade.
- NSAIDs: Increase nephrotoxicity risks.
Monitoring:
- Monitor renal function with serum creatinine and urinalysis every 3–5 days.
- Therapeutic drug monitoring: Check peak and trough serum levels for toxicity.
- Observe for vestibular or auditory toxicity.
Administration Considerations:
- Administer IV doses slowly over 30–60 minutes with concurrent fluid therapy.
- Avoid combining with incompatible solutions in the same syringe or IV line.