Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Ampicillin is dosed at 4.4–11 mg/kg IM q24h; do not treat for more than 7 days in cattle, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed — Ampicillin, Dosages, CATTLE, Polyflex label dosage, printed p. 80 (corpus PDF p. 107); corroborated by Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, 'Cattle and Calves — Ampicillin Trihydrate: 4.4 to 11 mg/kg q24h IM', printed p. 45 (corpus PDF p. 73). Ampicillin is used in cattle for Respiratory, soft tissue infections, Respiratory infections, listeriosis. Routes documented in cattle: IM. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ampicillin in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Polyflex
Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 4.4–11 mg/kg | q24h; do not treat for more than 7 days | 3-5 days | Respiratory, soft tissue infections | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed — Ampicillin, Dosages, CATTLE, Polyflex label dosage, printed p. 80 (corpus PDF p. 107); corroborated by Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, 'Cattle and Calves — Ampicillin Trihydrate: 4.4 to 11 mg/kg q24h IM', printed p. 45 (corpus PDF p. 73) |
| IM | 4.4–11 mg/kg | q24h; do not treat for more than 7 days | 5-7 days; 14 for listeriosis | Respiratory infections, listeriosis | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed — Ampicillin, Dosages, CATTLE, Polyflex label dosage, printed p. 80 (corpus PDF p. 107); corroborated by Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, 'Cattle and Calves — Ampicillin Trihydrate: 4.4 to 11 mg/kg q24h IM', printed p. 45 (corpus PDF p. 73) |
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Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins. Broader spectrum than penicillin G with gram-negative coverage.
CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Cross-reactivity with other beta-lactams. IM injection may be painful.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ampicillin dose ranges in cattle, with cited source references: IM 4.4–11 mg/kg q24h; do not treat for more than 7 days; IM 4.4–11 mg/kg q24h; do not treat for more than 7 days. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ampicillin in cattle: IM.
Cited course lengths for Ampicillin in cattle include: 3-5 days; 5-7 days; 14 for listeriosis. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ampicillin is indicated in cattle for: Respiratory, soft tissue infections, Respiratory infections, listeriosis.
These are general warnings for Ampicillin across species; consult the cattle dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Cross-reactivity with other beta-lactams. IM injection may be painful.
Why a species-specific page? Ampicillin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cattle — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.