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). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.256' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.229; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.229. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Ceftiofur is used in horses for Respiratory disease. Routes documented in horses: IM. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule 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). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.256' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.229; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.229. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.166 | • 6.6 mg/kg IM in neck muscle (15 mL per 1000 pounds). Administer a second |
| 4.4 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.170 | • 4.4 mg/kg q24h IM or 2.2 mg/kg q12h IM for as long as 10 days. Treatment of |
| 2.2 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.170 | • 4.4 mg/kg q24h IM or 2.2 mg/kg q12h IM for as long as 10 days. Treatment of |
| 11 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.170 | 11 mg/kg/day IM has been given to horses. |
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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 range in horses, with cited source references: 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.
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.
| 5 |
| IV |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.170 |
| • 5 mg/kg q12h IV, or CRI of 1 mg/kg/hour IV. |
| 1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.170 | • 5 mg/kg q12h IV, or CRI of 1 mg/kg/hour IV. |
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.