ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/cefazolin
US brand names:Ancef, Kefzol
Cefazolin is dosed at 22 mg/kg IM q24h in eastern box turtles, per 264. Plumb DC. Cefazolin. In: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 8th ed. Ames: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015:230-232. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1401 — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.202, Cefazolin monograph spanning p.201-202; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. First-generation cephalosporin with excellent gram-positive coverage. Commonly used for surgical prophylaxis.
Perioperative use common. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Pain at IM injection site.
Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Mouse drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugsAll Red-eared Slider drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | IV | 22 mg/kg | q2h intraoperative | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.229 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.201, Cefazolin monograph spanning p.201-202; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 22 mg/kg | q2h intraoperative | Strong | MarcellinLittle DJ, Papich MG, Richardson DC, DeYoung DJ. Pharmacokinetic model for cefazolin distribution during total hip arthroplasty in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 1996;57:720-723. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1996.57.05.720 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.228 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.201, Cefazolin monograph spanning p.201-202; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, ; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), Cefazolin monograph, printed p.202 (corpus PDF p.229), DOGS/CATS: "Surgical prophylaxis (extra-label): 20 - 22 mg/kg IV slowly 30 to 60 minutes prior to incision and […]"; Dosages NOTES on the same page: "IV injections should be given slowly (ie, over 3 to 5 minutes)." Perisurgical q2h corroborated in Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.120 (corpus PDF p.148): "Perisurgical use: 22 mg/kg IV every 2 hours during surgery." [NOTES CORRECTED 2026-08-12, two readers — no dose or frequency change.] |
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