Cefdinir for Cats

Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg

Cefdinir is dosed at 10 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Verified against Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.149 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.149' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.121; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.121. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Cefdinir is used in cats for Skin and soft tissue infection. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Cefdinir in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Omnicef

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.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	10 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Skin and soft tissue infection	Weak	Verified against Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.149 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.149' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.121; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.121. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
7	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.149	• Dose not established. Human dose is 7 mg/kg q12h PO, and similar doses of
10	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.149	10 mg/kg q12h PO have been used in animals.

Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.

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Mechanism of action

Binds PBPs disrupting cell wall synthesis. Broad-spectrum with enhanced gram-negative coverage.

Side effects & warnings

May cause red-tinged stools (iron interaction, not blood). Reduce dose in renal insufficiency.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Cefdinir for Cats?

Cefdinir dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 10 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Cefdinir administered in Cats?

Documented routes for Cefdinir in cats: PO.

How long is Cefdinir given in Cats?

Cited course lengths for Cefdinir in cats include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Cefdinir treat in Cats?

Cefdinir is indicated in cats for: Skin and soft tissue infection.

What are the side effects of Cefdinir in Cats?

These are general warnings for Cefdinir across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. May cause red-tinged stools (iron interaction, not blood). Reduce dose in renal insufficiency.

Other Antibiotic drugs with cat dosing

Amikacin Amoxicillin Amoxicillin Injectable Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Ampicillin Azithromycin Bacitracin Carbenicillin Cefaclor Cefadroxil Cefazolin Cefepime

Cefdinir dosing in other species

Dogs

See all species for Cefdinir See all drugs for Cats

Why a species-specific page? Cefdinir pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.