Antibiotic · Drug monograph

Cefadroxil: veterinary dose and monograph

Cefadroxil is a veterinary antibiotic. First-generation ORAL cephalosporin — a veterinary-licensed (Cefa-Tabs/Cefa-Drops) workhorse for skin and soft-tissue infections (pyoderma) and UTIs in dogs and cats. Indications include superficial and deep bacterial pyoderma (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius); skin / soft-tissue and wound infections; urinary tract infection (susceptible). This monograph lists 4 reference doses for dogs, cats, horses and ferrets, each with route, frequency and source.

At a glance

Drug class: Antibiotic
Also known as: Cefa-Tabs, Cefa-Drops, Droxyl, Odoxil
Species with doses: Dogs, Cats, Horses and Ferrets
General dose range: 22 mg/kg PO q12h (dogs) / q24h (cats) — check the species tables for the indication
Routes: PO
Last reviewed: 1 October 2026

Indications

Superficial and deep bacterial pyoderma (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius)
Skin / soft-tissue and wound infections
Urinary tract infection (susceptible)
Other susceptible Gram-positive infections

Cefadroxil dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

Cefadroxil doses for dogs
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Pyoderma / skin / UTI	22–30 mg/kg	PO	q12h	pyoderma 3–4 weeks (≥1 week past cure)

Pyoderma / skin / UTI: Papich 5e: 22 mg/kg q12h PO, up to 30 mg/kg q12h. Plumb’s p.208 (Cefa-Tabs label): 22 mg/kg PO twice daily — skin ≥3 days, GU ≥7 days, at least 48 h beyond resolution, maximum 30 days; pyoderma 22–35 mg/kg q12h (Greene); UTI 11–22 mg/kg q12h or 30 mg/kg q8h. Deep pyoderma needs 3–4+ weeks.

Cats

Cefadroxil doses for cats
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Skin / soft-tissue / UTI	22 mg/kg	PO	q24h	—

Skin / soft-tissue / UTI: Papich 5e: 22 mg/kg q24h PO. Plumb’s p.208: UTI 22 mg/kg PO once daily (≤21 days); skin 22–35 mg/kg q12h; 22 mg/kg q12h (Lappin 2002).

Horses

Cefadroxil doses for horses
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Foals — susceptible infection	30 mg/kg	PO	q12h	—

Foals — susceptible infection: Papich 5e: foals 30 mg/kg q12h PO — oral absorption is adequate only in foals, not adult horses or ruminants.

Ferrets

Cefadroxil doses for ferrets
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Susceptible infection	15–20 mg/kg	PO	q12h	—

Susceptible infection: Plumb’s p.208 (Williams 2000): 15–20 mg/kg PO twice daily.

Contraindications

Beta-lactam hypersensitivity. Reduce in renal impairment. Known hypersensitivity. Not for confirmed resistant Gram-negative or anaerobic infections (limited cover).

Adverse effects

GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea) — give with food
Hypersensitivity reactions
Rare: hypersalivation, behavioural change

Drug interactions

Bacteriostatic antibiotics: possible antagonism
Probenecid: prolongs half-life
Aminoglycosides: additive nephrotoxicity risk
Food slightly delays but does not reduce absorption

Pregnancy and lactation

Considered safe in pregnancy/lactation (cephalosporin class).

Monitoring

Clinical response (pyoderma resolution — treat to ≥1 week past cure)
GI tolerance
Culture if poor response / recurrent infection
Renal function in renal patients

Toxicity and overdose

Very wide margin; overdose generally limited to GI upset and (rarely) hypersensitivity. Accumulates in renal impairment.

Management: Supportive — fluids, anti-emetic; treat hypersensitivity conventionally. No specific antidote.

Clinical pearls

A reliable first-line oral cephalosporin for canine pyoderma — culture-driven for recurrent or non-responsive cases
Dogs q12h, cats can go q24h — convenient compliance
Treat deep pyoderma for weeks and continue ≥1 week beyond clinical cure to prevent relapse
Give with food to reduce GI upset; not a choice for resistant Gram-negatives

Mechanism of action

Binds penicillin-binding proteins, inhibiting peptidoglycan cross-linking and bacterial cell-wall synthesis — bactericidal, time-dependent. As a first-generation cephalosporin it has strong activity against Gram-positive cocci (notably Staphylococcus) and is beta-lactamase-stable against staphylococcal penicillinase, with modest Gram-negative reach.

Formulations and products

50 mg/mL oral suspension (Cefa-Drops)
250 / 500 mg tablet
1000 mg tablet (Cefa-Tabs)
Cefa-Tabs / Cefa-Drops (Boehringer Ingelheim) — 50–1000 mg tablets / 50 mg/mL drops, Tablet / oral drops
Droxyl — 250 / 500 mg capsule; 250 mg/5 mL suspension, Capsule / suspension (human-label)
Odoxil — 250 / 500 mg capsule, Capsule (human-label)

Storage

Tablets: 15–30 °C, dry. Reconstituted suspension: refrigerate, shake well, discard after 14 days.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Cefadroxil for dogs?

Reference doses for Cefadroxil in dogs: 22–30 mg/kg PO q12h for pyoderma 3–4 weeks (≥1 week past cure) (Pyoderma / skin / UTI). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

What is the dose of Cefadroxil for cats?

Reference doses for Cefadroxil in cats: 22 mg/kg PO q24h (Skin / soft-tissue / UTI). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

What is the dose of Cefadroxil for horses?

Reference doses for Cefadroxil in horses: 30 mg/kg PO q12h (Foals — susceptible infection). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

When should Cefadroxil not be used?