Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Cefotaxime is dosed at 25–50 mg/kg IV q6-8h in dogs, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01).. Cefotaxime is used in dogs for Severe infections, meningitis. Routes documented in dogs: IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Cefotaxime in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Claforan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 25–50 mg/kg | q6-8h | 7-14 days | Severe infections, meningitis | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Third-generation cephalosporin with broad gram-negative activity including CNS penetration. Active metabolite (desacetylcefotaxime) provides additional activity.
Good CNS penetration for meningitis. May cause pain at injection site. Adjust dose in renal failure.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Cefotaxime dose range in dogs, with cited source references: IV 25–50 mg/kg q6-8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Cefotaxime in dogs: IV.
Cited course lengths for Cefotaxime in dogs include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Cefotaxime is indicated in dogs for: Severe infections, meningitis.
These are general warnings for Cefotaxime across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Good CNS penetration for meningitis. May cause pain at injection site. Adjust dose in renal failure.
Why a species-specific page? Cefotaxime pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — 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.