Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Chlorhexidine is used in cats for Wound lavage, skin antisepsis, Dental rinse, oral wound care. Routes documented in cats: TOPICAL. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Chlorhexidine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nolvasan, CHX Guard
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPICAL | Do NOT use >0.05% on mucous membranes | q12-24h | As needed | Wound lavage, skin antisepsis | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1470 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1442, Chlorhexidine, Topical monograph spanning p.1442-1445; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| TOPICAL | Avoid touching the bottle tip to the gums | q12h | Post-dental procedure | Dental rinse, oral wound care | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy) — Chlorhexidine, Topical monograph and its product tables, printed p.1442-1446 (corpus PDF p.1469-1473). The ORAL RINSES product table carrying the 0.12% dog-and-cat concentration is on printed p.1446, a page whose running head already reads "Chloroxylenol, Topical". — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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Cationic biguanide that disrupts bacterial cell membranes. Broad-spectrum bactericidal with residual activity on skin.
TOXIC to cats at concentrations >0.05% for mucous membranes. Ototoxic — never use in ear canal if tympanic membrane is ruptured. Dilute appropriately for wound lavage (0.05%). Inactivated by organic matter.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Chlorhexidine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: TOPICAL Do NOT use >0.05% on mucous membranes q12-24h; TOPICAL Avoid touching the bottle tip to the gums q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Chlorhexidine in cats: TOPICAL.
Cited course lengths for Chlorhexidine in cats include: As needed; Post-dental procedure. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Chlorhexidine is indicated in cats for: Wound lavage, skin antisepsis, Dental rinse, oral wound care.
These are general warnings for Chlorhexidine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. TOXIC to cats at concentrations >0.05% for mucous membranes. Ototoxic — never use in ear canal if tympanic membrane is ruptured. Dilute appropriately for wound lavage (0.05%). Inactivated by organic matter.
Why a species-specific page? Chlorhexidine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.