What is Cefadroxil used for?

Cefadroxil is indicated for: Skin and soft tissue infections, Skin infections.

Which species have cited Cefadroxil dosing data?

Cefadroxil dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 4 species: Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Guinea Pig, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Cefadroxil a controlled substance?

Cefadroxil is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What are the warnings or contraindications for Cefadroxil?

GI upset possible. Avoid in animals with known cephalosporin hypersensitivity. Adjust dose in renal impairment.

What are the side effects of Cefadroxil?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Cefadroxil: GI upset possible. Avoid in animals with known cephalosporin hypersensitivity. Adjust dose in renal impairment.

How does Cefadroxil work?

Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to PBPs. Bactericidal against gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria.

Cefadroxil

US brand names:Duricef

Calculate dosage

Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu

Rabbit: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsOral amoxicillin (and other oral beta-lactams) selectively destroy gram-positive hindgut flora in rabbits, allowing Clostridium spiroforme overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never administer oral beta-lactams to rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route, but is not established as safe in rabbits.
Guinea Pig: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsOral amoxicillin reliably causes Clostridium difficile-mediated fatal enterotoxemia in guinea pigs. Same mechanism as in rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route; parenteral ceftiofur specifically has been given to guinea pigs and chinchillas without adverse effect.
Chinchilla: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasChinchillas are hindgut fermenters with the same flora dependence as rabbits and guinea pigs. Oral penicillins and oral cephalosporins trigger Clostridium overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never give oral beta-lactams; parenteral routes and trimethoprim-sulfa, fluoroquinolones, or chloramphenicol are the safer choices.

Hamster: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersHamsters are exquisitely susceptible to antibiotic-associated Clostridium difficile enterocolitis — the hamster is the classic laboratory model for it. Oral penicillins and cephalosporins are reliably fatal. Never administer oral beta-lactams.

Degu: Oral beta-lactams risk fatal dysbiosis in degusDegus are caviomorph hindgut fermenters closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs. Degu-specific data is limited, so this warning is extrapolated from those related hystricomorphs — but the shared physiology makes oral beta-lactam enterotoxemia the expected outcome. Treat as contraindicated; use the safer alternatives.

Backed by 2 published sources

· CEFA-DROPS - cefadroxil suspension [US product label]. Duluth, GA: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1999084a-124c-45f9-801f-416a1b942c96; CEFA-TABS - cefadroxil tablet [US product label]. Duluth, GA: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1999084a-124c-45f9-801f-416a1b942c96 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.227 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed

Sample dosing (2 of 4 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 4 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	22 mg/kg	q12h	Strong	CEFA-DROPS - cefadroxil suspension [US product label]. Duluth, GA: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1999084a-124c-45f9-801f-416a1b942c96; CEFA-TABS - cefadroxil tablet [US product label]. Duluth, GA: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1999084a-124c-45f9-801f-416a1b942c96 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.227 (2026-08-01).
Cat (Domestic)	PO	22 mg/kg	q24h	Moderate

CEFA-DROPS - cefadroxil suspension [US product label]. Duluth, GA: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1999084a-124c-45f9-801f-416a1b942c96; CEFA-TABS - cefadroxil tablet [US product label]. Duluth, GA: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1999084a-124c-45f9-801f-416a1b942c96 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.227 (2026-08-01).

Cefadroxil

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Cefadroxil dosing data (4 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 4 dose rules

Backed by 2 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 4 cited rules)

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Cefadroxil

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Cefadroxil dosing data (4 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 4 dose rules

Backed by 2 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 4 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

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