Which species have cited Silver Sulfadiazine dosing data?

Silver Sulfadiazine dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 7 species: African Grey Parrot, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Guinea Pig, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Silver Sulfadiazine a controlled substance?

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

Silver Sulfadiazine

US brand names:SSD Cream, Silvadene

Also known as: Silver Sulphadiazine

Calculate dosage

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

Drug Class

Ophthalmic

Routes

TOPICAL

Indications

Burn woundsBurnsBurns and wound infectionsburns. Notnotscale rotskin ulcersskin woundsThermal burnsthermal injuriesWound management

Mechanism of Action

Silver ions disrupt bacterial cell wall and membrane. Sulfadiazine inhibits folate synthesis. Broad antimicrobial activity against bacteria and some fungi.

Side effects & warnings

For external use on wounds and burns only. May cause transient leukopenia with extensive application. Avoid in sulfonamide-allergic animals. Not for ophthalmic use.

Species with Silver Sulfadiazine dosing data (12 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot Ball Python Bearded Dragon Cat (Domestic)Dog (Domestic)Guinea Pig Rabbit (Domestic)

Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugs All Ball Python drugs All Bearded Dragon drugs All Cat (Domestic) drugs All Dog (Domestic) drugs All Guinea Pig drugs All Rabbit (Domestic) drugs

Evidence levels across 12 dose rules

Strong×5Extrapolated×2Moderate×5

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

Backed by 7 published sources

· Ferrell ST, Graham JE, Swaim SF. Avian wound healing and management. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet, 2002:337-347. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Birds): 'Silver sulfadiazine | Topical q12-24h270 | Most species/topical sulfonamide, specifically for burn wounds, ulcers, Amazon foot necrosis, bandage application preferred'. NOTE: Ferrell is carpenter avian ref 272, while the served row's own superscript is 270 (Fallon JA et al., lead poisoning of wild raptors) - which of the two is Carpenter's error and which the extractor's cannot be decided from the page. THE SPURIOUS 'PMID: 27541182' IS DELETED.
· Mader DR. Thermal burns. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:916-923. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.219 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530,

Sample dosing (2 of 12 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 7 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)	TOPICAL	See the cited source for the printed regimen	q12-24h	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed, Topical Dermatologic Agents, 'Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical', printed p.1433-1434 (corpus 1460-1461)
Dog (Domestic)	TOPICAL	Cover with non-adherent dressing	q12-24h	Strong	Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1460 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical monograph, printed p.1433-1434 (corpus PDF p.1460-1461), Suggested Dosages/Uses. The book's index reads "Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical, 1433"; the monograph has no running head of its own, so the running heads on those pages read "Nitrofurazone, Topical" and "Clotrimazole, Topical". [LOCATOR CORRECTED 2026-08-12 — the clause previously here named the Pyrimethamine/Sulfadiazine monograph, a horse-only oral EPM product.]; 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,

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Calculate Dosage for Silver Sulfadiazine

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed, Topical Dermatologic Agents, 'Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical', printed p.1433-1434 (corpus 1460-1461)

· Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.282 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.282' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.268; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.268. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712

· Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.844 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Rabbits.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1460 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical monograph, printed p.1433-1434 (corpus PDF p.1460-1461), Suggested Dosages/Uses. The book's index reads "Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical, 1433"; the monograph has no running head of its own, so the running heads on those pages read "Nitrofurazone, Topical" and "Clotrimazole, Topical". [LOCATOR CORRECTED 2026-08-12 — the clause previously here named the Pyrimethamine/Sulfadiazine monograph, a horse-only oral EPM product.]; 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 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), Silver Sulfadiazine, Topical monograph, printed p.1433-1434 (corpus PDF p.1460-1461), Precautions/Adverse Effects: "Because SSD can impair granulation, avoid use in non-granulated wounds." Corroborated: Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th ed, printed p.863, Table 21-6: "Topical antibiotic cream (such as silver sulfadiazine) is applied once granulation tissue forms and […]" Application wording: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A, printed p.376, DOSES: "Dogs, Cats: Localized skin infections: Apply a thin film twice daily after cleaning area with antiseptic." [INDICATION AND NOTES CORRECTED 2026-08-12 — the row previously directed application to open bite wounds, which the cited page tells you to avoid.]