Rifampin
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Rifampin for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(rif-am-pin)
Description:
This medicine is an antibiotic (a drug used to treat infections caused by germs).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Rifadin®
- Rimactane®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: None.
- Human:
- 150 mg and 300 mg capsules
- 25 mg/mL liquid taken by mouth
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
Key Information for Rifampin for pets
- This medicine works best when given without food. If giving it without food causes an upset stomach or vomiting, try giving the next dose with food to see if that improves the problem.
- This medicine can turn urine, tears, and saliva a red-orange color (and in horses, sweat as well). This color change is not harmful, but it can leave stains on clothing and other materials.
- This medicine can strongly affect how many other medicines work. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about every medicine your animal is taking.
- This medicine can harm the liver. Older animals may have a higher chance of liver problems from it. Your veterinarian will check for this by doing blood tests from time to time. Keep all follow-up appointments.
How is this medication useful?
Rifampin is most often used in dogs for staph infections that are hard to treat. It is also used together with other medicines to treat pneumonia in foals, or to treat other severe infections (for example, leprosy and tuberculosis).
This medicine is approved for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. In some cases, the FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe a medicine like this for different animal species or for different health problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
©2025 Educational Concepts, LLC, a division of Instinct 12
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can react with rifampin. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share the dose amount and the time you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment for the same problem in the past, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your animal has had from medicines in the past, including allergic reactions, reduced appetite, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- This medicine should begin working within 1 to 2 hours. Even so, you may not be able to see the change right away.
- Your animal should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days.
- This medicine does not last long in the body. It stops working within 24 hours. However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working normally.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- That are allergic to it.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
If your animal has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about the potential risks versus benefits.
- That have liver problems.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
You do not need to be highly worried if you notice these signs unless they are severe, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Red-orange coloring of urine, saliva, tears, and (in horses) sweat.
- Skin rash.
- Stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Eating less than normal or not eating at all, or a yellow tint to the skin, gums, or the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
- Because this medicine can make tears and (in horses) sweat look orange/red, it may be harder to notice jaundice.
- Fever in foals, especially when rifampin is given together with another antibiotic called erythromycin.
- In cats, skin that becomes red may be a sign of too much medicine.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
- For this medicine to work as intended, give it exactly the way your veterinarian directed. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine works best when given without food. If your animal vomits or seems unwell after getting it on an empty stomach, try the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If you are using a liquid form, shake it well each time before giving a dose. Measure carefully. Some specially made (compounded) rifampin liquids may create a lot of foam when shaken. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes. Do not spill the liquid, because it can permanently stain anything it touches.
- Use gloves when you handle this medicine so your hands do not become stained orange/red.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas on how to give doses and make medication time less stressful.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants your animal to keep taking it. You may need prescription refills before the full treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time and return to the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in an approved pill organizer, at room temperature and away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a special (compounded) version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
Wear gloves when handling it to prevent staining your hands. Other than that, no special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after handling any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain. If your area has a community drug take-back program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash. Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, then place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine for later use, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- Because this antibiotic can damage the liver, your veterinarian will check for this with blood tests from time to time. Do not miss these follow-up visits.
- If you have any other questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
©2025 Educational Concepts, LLC, a division of Instinct 14
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”