What is Piperacillin-Tazobactam used for?

Piperacillin-Tazobactam is indicated for: sepsis, Severe mixed infections, Severe mixed/resistant infections.

Which species have cited Piperacillin-Tazobactam dosing data?

Piperacillin-Tazobactam dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 2 species: Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic).

Is Piperacillin-Tazobactam a controlled substance?

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

Piperacillin-Tazobactam

US brand names:Zosyn

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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.

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

Piperacillin-Tazobactam is dosed at 50–100 mg/kg IV q6-8h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

Indications

sepsisSevere mixed infectionsSevere mixed/resistant infections

Mechanism of Action

Piperacillin inhibits cell wall synthesis; tazobactam inhibits many beta-lactamases restoring activity against resistant organisms.

Side effects & warnings

Adjust dose for renal impairment. Monitor bleeding (platelet dysfunction). GI upset. Sodium content may be significant in fluid-restricted patients.

Species with Piperacillin-Tazobactam dosing data (2 dose rules)

Cat (Domestic)Dog (Domestic)

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

Evidence levels across 2 dose rules

Moderate×1Weak×1

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

Backed by 2 published sources

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed, printed p.1030 (corpus PDF p.1057) - Piperacillin/Tazobactam, Dosages, DOGS/CATS: '40 - 50 mg/kg IV over 30 minutes every 6 hours have been suggested.' Concordant: Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.641 (PDF p.669), Small Animal Dosage, Dogs and Cats: '50 mg/kg q6h IV or IM.'

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.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	IV	50–100 mg/kg	q6-8h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
Cat (Domestic)	IV	40–50 mg/kg	q6h (infuse over 30 minutes)	Weak	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed, printed p.1030 (corpus PDF p.1057) - Piperacillin/Tazobactam, Dosages, DOGS/CATS: '40 - 50 mg/kg IV over 30 minutes every 6 hours have been suggested.' Concordant: Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.641 (PDF p.669), Small Animal Dosage, Dogs and Cats: '50 mg/kg q6h IV or IM.'

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