Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Vidarabine is used in cats for FHV-1 keratitis. Routes documented in cats: Ophthalmic. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Vidarabine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Vira-A
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmic | Topical ophthalmic for feline herpes keratitis | q4-6h | Until 7 days after re-epithelialization | FHV-1 keratitis | Moderate | Stiles, J. (1995) Treatment of cats with ocular disease attributable to herpesvirus infection: 17 cases (1983-1993). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 207, 599-603. doi:10.2460/javma.1995.207.05.0599 — Verified against Veterinary Ophthalmology (Gelatt), 6th Ed, p.1815 (2026-08-01). |
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Phosphorylated to ara-ATP which inhibits viral DNA polymerase. Active against HSV and VZV. Largely replaced by acyclovir.
Poorly soluble — requires large IV volumes. Neurotoxic at high doses. Ophthalmic form better tolerated. Largely obsolete systemically.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vidarabine dose range in cats, with cited source references: Ophthalmic Topical ophthalmic for feline herpes keratitis q4-6h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vidarabine in cats: Ophthalmic.
Cited course lengths for Vidarabine in cats include: Until 7 days after re-epithelialization. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Vidarabine is indicated in cats for: FHV-1 keratitis.
These are general warnings for Vidarabine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Poorly soluble — requires large IV volumes. Neurotoxic at high doses. Ophthalmic form better tolerated. Largely obsolete systemically.
Why a species-specific page? Vidarabine 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.