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Ketoconazole Topical

Nizoral Topical

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Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Drug Class

Dermatologic

Routes

Topical

Indications

Malassezia dermatitis

Mechanism of Action

Inhibits fungal lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase, disrupting ergosterol biosynthesis and fungal membrane integrity. Also has anti-inflammatory and antiseborrheic properties.

Side effects & warnings

Effective for Malassezia dermatitis as shampoo. Leave on 10 minutes for contact time. May cause local irritation. Minimal systemic absorption from topical use.

Species with Ketoconazole Topical dosing data (2 dose rules)

Cat (Domestic)Dog (Domestic)

Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Strong×1Moderate×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by a published source

  • · Miller WH, Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed

Sample dosing (2 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.

SpeciesRouteDoseFrequencyEvidenceSource
Dog (Domestic)Topical0 mg/kgBathe 2x weekly with shampoo; 10-min contact timeStrongMiller WH, Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed
Cat (Domestic)Topical0 mg/kgBathe 1-2x weekly; 10-min contact timeModerateMiller WH, Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed

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