# Apramycin: veterinary dose and monograph

> Apramycin is a veterinary antibiotic. Aminocyclitol-aminoglycoside antibiotic used in food animals — chiefly for enteric Gram-negative infections (colibacillosis, salmonellosis) in pigs, calves and poultry, given orally in feed/water for a local gut effect. Indications include neonatal colibacillosis (scours) in piglets and calves; salmonellosis (enteric) in pigs/calves; poultry colibacillosis (water medication). This monograph lists 3 reference doses for cattle, pigs and poultry, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/apramycin · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antibiotic
- **Also known as:** Apralan
- **Species with doses:** Cattle, Pigs and Poultry
- **General dose range:** 10–20 mg/kg PO q24h — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Neonatal colibacillosis (scours) in piglets and calves
- Salmonellosis (enteric) in pigs/calves
- Poultry colibacillosis (water medication)
- Enteric Gram-negative infections including some aminoglycoside-resistant strains

## Apramycin dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

### Cattle

*Apramycin doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Calf colibacillosis (oral) | 20–40 mg/kg | PO | q24h (in water, milk or replacer) | 5 days | 28d slaughter |

- Calf colibacillosis (oral): Plumb’s p.109 (Apralan UK label): calves 20–40 mg/kg/day in water, milk or milk replacer for 5 days by severity. UK slaughter withdrawal 28 days.

### Pigs

*Apramycin doses for pigs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Colibacillosis / salmonellosis (oral) | 12.5 mg/kg | PO | daily in drinking water | 7 days | 14d slaughter |

- Colibacillosis / salmonellosis (oral): Plumb’s p.109 (Apralan label): 12.5 mg/kg/day in drinking water (375 mg per gallon) for 7 days; 20–40 mg/kg/day (Huber 1988). UK label slaughter withdrawal 14 days.

### Poultry

*Apramycin doses for poultry*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Colibacillosis (water) | 250–500 mg apramycin activity per litre of drinking water for 5 days | PO | continuous in water | 5 days | 7d slaughter |

- Colibacillosis (water): Plumb’s p.109 (Apralan UK label): 50 g per 100–200 L water; slaughter withdrawal 7 days; not for laying hens producing eggs for human consumption.

### Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

*Apramycin doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Calf colibacillosis (oral) | 20–40 mg/kg | PO | q24h (in water, milk or replacer) | 5 days | 28d slaughter |

- Calf colibacillosis (oral): Plumb’s p.109 (Apralan UK label): calves 20–40 mg/kg/day in water, milk or milk replacer for 5 days by severity. UK slaughter withdrawal 28 days.

## Contraindications

Significant renal impairment (if systemically absorbed). Damaged/inflamed gut increases absorption → systemic aminoglycoside toxicity. Hypersensitivity. Not for species/uses outside the label; observe withdrawal periods.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cattle: For calf scours; observe meat withdrawal (~28 days) and avoid in animals with compromised gut integrity (absorption → toxicity).

## Adverse effects

- Generally well tolerated orally (poor absorption)
- Nephrotoxicity / ototoxicity if absorbed (damaged gut, parenteral use)
- Gut flora disturbance

## Drug interactions

- Other nephro-/ototoxic drugs: additive toxicity if systemically absorbed
- Neuromuscular blockers: potentiated blockade with absorption
- Beta-lactams: synergy but physical incompatibility if mixed

## Pregnancy and lactation

Oral use with an intact gut gives minimal systemic exposure; avoid systemic absorption in pregnancy.

## Monitoring

- Clinical response (resolution of scours) and intake of medicated feed/water
- Renal/auditory signs if gut barrier compromised
- Withdrawal-period compliance
- Antimicrobial stewardship records

## Toxicity and overdose

Low oral toxicity due to poor absorption; toxicity (aminoglycoside nephro-/ototoxicity) is a concern only with a compromised gut barrier or parenteral use. Stewardship note: apramycin shares cross-resistance mechanisms relevant to human aminoglycosides.

Management: Discontinue; if systemically absorbed manage as aminoglycoside toxicity (IV fluid diuresis, monitor renal/auditory function). Restore gut flora for dysbiosis. No specific antidote.

## Clinical pearls

- An oral gut-active aminoglycoside for neonatal scours (E. coli/Salmonella) in pigs and calves — its value is the LOCAL gut action with minimal absorption
- Useful against some aminoglycoside-resistant Gram-negatives (resists many modifying enzymes)
- Watch the gut barrier — inflamed/damaged intestine lets it become systemically toxic
- Observe withdrawal periods and use prudently (cross-resistance with human aminoglycosides)

## Mechanism of action

Binds the 30S bacterial ribosomal subunit, causing mRNA misreading and inhibition of protein synthesis — bactericidal against aerobic Gram-negatives. Its distinctive structure makes it a poor substrate for many aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, so it remains active against some gentamicin/neomycin-resistant strains.

## Formulations and products

- Soluble powder (oral / water, e.g. Apralan)
- Premix (in-feed)
- Injection (where available)
- Apralan (Elanco) — Apramycin soluble powder / premix, Soluble powder / premix

## Storage

Soluble powder/premix: 15–30 °C, dry, protect from light/moisture. Medicated water: fresh daily.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

## Other antibiotics

- [Amikacin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/amikacin)
- [Amoxicillin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/amoxicillin)
- [Amoxicillin / Clavulanic Acid](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/amoxicillin-clavulanate)
- [Ampicillin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ampicillin)
- [Azithromycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/azithromycin)
- [Cefadroxil](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefadroxil)
- [Cefazolin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefazolin)
- [Cefixime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefixime)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Apramycin for cattle?

Reference doses for Apramycin in cattle: 20–40 mg/kg PO q24h (in water, milk or replacer) for 5 days (Calf colibacillosis (oral)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Apramycin for pigs?

Reference doses for Apramycin in pigs: 12.5 mg/kg PO daily in drinking water for 7 days (Colibacillosis / salmonellosis (oral)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Apramycin for poultry?

Reference doses for Apramycin in poultry: 250–500 mg apramycin activity per litre of drinking water for 5 days PO continuous in water for 5 days (Colibacillosis (water)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the withdrawal period for Apramycin?

Cattle, PO (Calf colibacillosis (oral)): 28d slaughter; Pigs, PO (Colibacillosis / salmonellosis (oral)): 14d slaughter; Poultry, PO (Colibacillosis (water)): 7d slaughter. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Apramycin not be used?

Significant renal impairment (if systemically absorbed). Damaged/inflamed gut increases absorption → systemic aminoglycoside toxicity. Hypersensitivity. Not for species/uses outside the label; observe withdrawal periods.

### What are the side effects of Apramycin in animals?

Generally well tolerated orally (poor absorption); Nephrotoxicity / ototoxicity if absorbed (damaged gut, parenteral use); Gut flora disturbance.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.