Livestock · Meleagris gallopavo · typical adult weight 3.00–18.00 kg
Ceftiofur is dosed at 2.8–5.8 mg/kg SC q24h in turkeys, per 219. Tell LA, Harrenstien L, Wetzlich S, et al. Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur sodium in exotic and domestic avian species. J Vet Pharmacol Therap. 1998;21:85-91. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.619 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and Waterfowl.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755. Ceftiofur is used in turkeys for Treatment of early mortality associated with E. coli, Control of early mortality associated with E. coli. Routes documented in turkeys: SC, SC (neck). A typical adult turkey weighs 3.00–18.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ceftiofur in turkeys, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 2.8–5.8 mg/kg | q24h | — | Treatment of early mortality associated with E. coli | Weak | 219. Tell LA, Harrenstien L, Wetzlich S, et al. Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur sodium in exotic and domestic avian species. J Vet Pharmacol Therap. 1998;21:85-91. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.619 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and Waterfowl.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755 |
| SC (neck) | 0.17–0.5 mg/poult (total dose, NOT mg/kg) | once (single injection) | A single SC injection in the neck region, given at 1-3 days of age. A separate row on the same page gives the same 0.17-0.5 mg/poult SC repeated q24h (superscript 219) — that is a different rule. | Control of early mortality associated with E. coli | Moderate | 170. Newman L, Sander J, et al. Poultry drug use guide. In: Boulianne M, Brash ML, Fitz-Coy SH, et al. Avian Disease Manual, 7th ed., American Association of Avian Pathologists, Jacksonville, FL; 2013:263-267. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.619 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and Waterfowl.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755 |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your turkey'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 turkeys may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ceftiofur dose ranges in turkeys, with cited source references: SC 2.8–5.8 mg/kg q24h; SC (neck) 0.17–0.5 mg/poult (total dose, NOT mg/kg) once (single injection). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ceftiofur in turkeys: SC, SC (neck).
Cited course lengths for Ceftiofur in turkeys include: A single SC injection in the neck region, given at 1-3 days of age. A separate row on the same page gives the same 0.17-0.5 mg/poult SC repeated q24h (superscript 219) — that is a different rule.. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ceftiofur is indicated in turkeys for: Treatment of early mortality associated with E. coli, Control of early mortality associated with E. coli.
These are general warnings for Ceftiofur across species; consult the turkey 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 turkeys — 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.