What is Cefuroxime used for?

Cefuroxime is indicated for: Skin/soft tissue/UTI.

Which species have cited Cefuroxime dosing data?

Cefuroxime dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 2 species: Dog (Domestic), Russian Tortoise.

Is Cefuroxime a controlled substance?

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

What are the warnings or contraindications for Cefuroxime?

Oral absorption enhanced with food. May cause GI upset. Limited veterinary use data.

What are the side effects of Cefuroxime?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Cefuroxime: Oral absorption enhanced with food. May cause GI upset. Limited veterinary use data.

How does Cefuroxime work?

Second-generation cephalosporin with improved gram-negative coverage and beta-lactamase stability compared to first generation.

Cefuroxime

US brand names:Zinacef, Ceftin

Calculate dosage

Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu

Rabbit: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsOral amoxicillin (and other oral beta-lactams) selectively destroy gram-positive hindgut flora in rabbits, allowing Clostridium spiroforme overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never administer oral beta-lactams to rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route, but is not established as safe in rabbits.
Guinea Pig: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsOral amoxicillin reliably causes Clostridium difficile-mediated fatal enterotoxemia in guinea pigs. Same mechanism as in rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route; parenteral ceftiofur specifically has been given to guinea pigs and chinchillas without adverse effect.
Chinchilla: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasChinchillas are hindgut fermenters with the same flora dependence as rabbits and guinea pigs. Oral penicillins and oral cephalosporins trigger Clostridium overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never give oral beta-lactams; parenteral routes and trimethoprim-sulfa, fluoroquinolones, or chloramphenicol are the safer choices.

Hamster: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersHamsters are exquisitely susceptible to antibiotic-associated Clostridium difficile enterocolitis — the hamster is the classic laboratory model for it. Oral penicillins and cephalosporins are reliably fatal. Never administer oral beta-lactams.

Degu: Oral beta-lactams risk fatal dysbiosis in degusDegus are caviomorph hindgut fermenters closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs. Degu-specific data is limited, so this warning is extrapolated from those related hystricomorphs — but the shared physiology makes oral beta-lactam enterotoxemia the expected outcome. Treat as contraindicated; use the safer alternatives.

Cefuroxime is dosed at 100 mg/kg IM q 24 h for 10 d in russian tortoises, per Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. — BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.64. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Sample dosing (1 of 2 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 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)	PO	10–15 mg/kg	q8-12h	Anecdotal	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Cefuroxime, p.260, DOGS/CATS oral bullet (a) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.233, Cefuroxime monograph spanning p.232-233.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Backed by 2 published sourcesShow

· Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. — BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.64
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Cefuroxime, p.260, DOGS/CATS oral bullet (a) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.233, Cefuroxime monograph spanning p.232-233.

Cefuroxime

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Cefuroxime dosing data (2 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Sample dosing (1 of 2 cited rules)

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Cefuroxime

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Cefuroxime dosing data (2 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Sample dosing (1 of 2 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

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