What is Ceftiofur used for?

Ceftiofur is indicated for: Bacterial infections, Bovine respiratory disease, chronic abscess, Resistant Gram-negative, Respiratory disease, Respiratory infections, Respiratory/urinary infections, Susceptible bacterial infections, Swine respiratory disease, Urinary tract infections.

Which species have cited Ceftiofur dosing data?

Ceftiofur dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 11 species: African Pygmy Hedgehog, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Cattle (Beef/Dairy), Dog (Domestic), Goat (Caprine), Green Iguana, Horse (Equine), Russian Tortoise, Sheep (Ovine), Swine (Pig).

Is Ceftiofur a controlled substance?

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

What are the warnings or contraindications for Ceftiofur?

Veterinary-labeled product. Excede formulation provides extended duration. Do not use in animals producing milk for human consumption during withdrawal.

What are the side effects of Ceftiofur?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Ceftiofur: Veterinary-labeled product. Excede formulation provides extended duration. Do not use in animals producing milk for human consumption during withdrawal.

How does Ceftiofur work?

Veterinary third-generation cephalosporin. Metabolized to desfuroylceftiofur which retains antimicrobial activity. Broad gram-negative coverage.

Ceftiofur

US brand names:Excenel, Excede, Naxcel

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Ceftiofur is dosed at 5 mg/kg IM q24h in bearded dragons, per Carpenter's 6th ed. p.214 (ceftiofur sodium, lizards/bearded dragons); Mader's Table 127.1 corpus p.1402 '5 mg/kg SC, IM q24h - Lizards/PK; ceftiofur sodium'; Plumb's Ceftiofur REPTILES, corpus p.256, '5 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 24 hours' (green iguana PK) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.05.003. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

IMSC

Indications

Bacterial infections

Backed by 11 published sources

· Benson KG, Tell LA, Young LA, et al. Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur sodium after intramuscular or subcutaneous administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2003;64:1278-1282. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1278 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.214 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter 6e
· Carpenter's 6th ed. p.214 (ceftiofur sodium, lizards/bearded dragons); Mader's Table 127.1 corpus p.1402 '5 mg/kg SC, IM q24h - Lizards/PK; ceftiofur sodium'; Plumb's Ceftiofur REPTILES, corpus p.256, '5 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 24 hours' (green iguana PK) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.05.003
· EXCENEL RTU EZ - ceftiofur hydrochloride injection, suspension [US product label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3357af32-f91b-4663-8f86-a2bcee7855ea; CEFENIL RTU - ceftiofur hydrochloride suspension [package insert]. Liberty, MO: Aspen Veterinary Resources; 2020. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=5626b9a9-df77-48c0-83fc-710a41f64b44 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.253 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (2 of 14 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 11 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)	SC	2.2 mg/kg	q12-24h	Strong	NAXCEL (ceftiofur sodium) sterile powder [US product label], Zoetis. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.255 (2026-08-01).
Cat (Domestic)	SC	2 mg/kg	q12-24h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Ceftiofur Sodium, p.255, CATS row; superscript 13 = Weese JS, Blondeau JM, Boothe D, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for treatment of urinary tract disease in dogs and cats: ISCAID working group. Vet Med Int. 2011;2011:263768

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· Langston VC. Antimicrobial use in food animals (Table 5). In: Howard JL, Smith RA, eds. Current Veterinary Therapy 4-Food Animal Practice; WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 1999:26.; Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-00632-9 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.989 (2026-08-01).

· Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th ed — Ceftiofur Sodium, Large Animal Dosage, printed p.142 (corpus PDF p.170): "Sheep and Goats • 1.1-2.2 mg/kg (0.5-1.0 mg/pound) q24h for 3 days IM, SQ. Additional doses may be given on days 4 and 5 if necessary." Same page, Instructions for Use: "Ceftiofur sodium is bioequivalent whether administered SQ or IM."

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Ceftiofur Sodium, p.255, CATS row; superscript 13 = Weese JS, Blondeau JM, Boothe D, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for treatment of urinary tract disease in dogs and cats: ISCAID working group. Vet Med Int. 2011;2011:263768

Ceftiofur

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Ceftiofur dosing data (14 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 14 dose rules

Backed by 11 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 14 cited rules)

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Ceftiofur

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Ceftiofur dosing data (14 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 14 dose rules

Backed by 11 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 14 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

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