Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Ceftiofur is dosed at 2.2–4.4 mg/kg IM q12-24h in horses, per Naxcel®- Ceftiofur Sodium Powder [US Product Label]. Zoetis; 2014. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.256 (2026-08-01).. Ceftiofur is used in horses for Respiratory disease, Susceptible bacterial infections. Routes documented in horses: IM. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ceftiofur in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Excenel, Excede, Naxcel
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 2.2–4.4 mg/kg | q12-24h | 5-10 days | Respiratory disease | Moderate | Naxcel®- Ceftiofur Sodium Powder [US Product Label]. Zoetis; 2014. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.256 (2026-08-01). |
| IM | 2.2–4.4 mg/kg | q12-24h | 5-10 days | Susceptible bacterial infections | Moderate | Naxcel®- Ceftiofur Sodium Powder [US Product Label]. Zoetis; 2014. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.256 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your horse's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Veterinary third-generation cephalosporin. Metabolized to desfuroylceftiofur which retains antimicrobial activity. Broad gram-negative coverage.
Veterinary-labeled product. Excede formulation provides extended duration. Do not use in animals producing milk for human consumption during withdrawal.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ceftiofur dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: IM 2.2–4.4 mg/kg q12-24h; IM 2.2–4.4 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ceftiofur in horses: IM.
Cited course lengths for Ceftiofur in horses include: 5-10 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ceftiofur is indicated in horses for: Respiratory disease, Susceptible bacterial infections.
These are general warnings for Ceftiofur across species; consult the horse dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Veterinary-labeled product. Excede formulation provides extended duration. Do not use in animals producing milk for human consumption during withdrawal.
Why a species-specific page? Ceftiofur pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in horses — 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.