Cephalexin for Dogs

Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg

Cephalexin is dosed at 15–20 mg/kg PO q8h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Cephalexin is used in dogs for Uncomplicated UTI, Deep pyoderma, Bite wound infections, Post-surgical wound infection prophylaxis. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 7 cited dose rules for Cephalexin in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Keflex

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.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	15–20 mg/kg	q8h	7-14 days	Uncomplicated UTI	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
PO	22–30 mg/kg	q8h	6-8 weeks minimum; continue 2 weeks beyond resolution	Deep pyoderma	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
PO	15–30 mg/kg	q12h	7-14 days	Bite wound infections	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, p.263, DOGS — susceptible skin infections (extra-label) a); superscript 1 resolves to Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the ISCAID). Vet Dermatol. 2014;25:163-e43

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Mechanism of action

Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to PBPs. First-generation cephalosporin with good gram-positive coverage.

Side effects & warnings

May cause GI upset. Use with caution in penicillin-allergic animals (cross-reactivity). Not effective against Pseudomonas.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Cephalexin for Dogs?

Cephalexin dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 15–20 mg/kg q8h; PO 22–30 mg/kg q8h; PO 15–30 mg/kg q12h; PO 22–30 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Cephalexin administered in Dogs?

Documented routes for Cephalexin in dogs: PO.

How long is Cephalexin given in Dogs?

Cited course lengths for Cephalexin in dogs include: 7-14 days; 6-8 weeks minimum; continue 2 weeks beyond resolution; 5-7 days post-operatively; 21-28 days minimum. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Cephalexin treat in Dogs?

Cephalexin is indicated in dogs for: Uncomplicated UTI, Deep pyoderma, Bite wound infections, Post-surgical wound infection prophylaxis, Superficial pyoderma, Bone/joint infections (sensitive organisms), Skin infections, pyoderma, UTI.

What are the side effects of Cephalexin in Dogs?

These are general warnings for Cephalexin across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. May cause GI upset. Use with caution in penicillin-allergic animals (cross-reactivity). Not effective against Pseudomonas.

Other Antibiotic drugs with dog dosing

Amikacin Amoxicillin Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Ampicillin Azithromycin Aztreonam Bacitracin Carbenicillin Cefaclor Cefadroxil Cefazolin Cefdinir

Cephalexin dosing in other species

Cats

See all species for Cephalexin See all drugs for Dogs

Why a species-specific page? Cephalexin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — 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.