Cefixime: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antibiotic

Also known as

Taxim-O, Zifi, Cefolac, Suprax

Species with doses

Dogs and Cats

General dose range

5–12.5 mg/kg PO q12–24h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Resistant / complicated urinary tract infection (oral)
• Susceptible Gram-negative soft-tissue and respiratory infections
• Step-down oral therapy after parenteral cephalosporins
• Gram-negative infections where oral dosing is preferred

Cefixime 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

• Susceptible Gram-negative / UTI: Papich 5e: 10 mg/kg q12h PO; UTI 5 mg/kg q12–24h. Plumb’s p.214: UTI 5 mg/kg once or twice daily for 7–14 days; respiratory/systemic 12.5 mg/kg q12h (Greene); endocarditis 10 mg/kg q12h (DeFrancesco).

Cats

• Susceptible Gram-negative infection: Papich 5e: dogs and cats 10 mg/kg q12h PO; UTI 5 mg/kg q12–24h. Plumb’s p.214 (Lappin 2002): cats 5–12.5 mg/kg PO q12h.

Contraindications

Beta-lactam (penicillin/cephalosporin) hypersensitivity. Reduce dose in significant renal impairment. Not ideal for staphylococcal pyoderma (weak Gram-positive cover). Routine first-line empiric use (stewardship). Known hypersensitivity.

Adverse effects

• GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea) — give with food
• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea / dysbiosis
• Rare: raised liver enzymes

Drug interactions

• Aminoglycosides: additive nephrotoxicity (and synergy vs some Gram-negatives)
• Probenecid: prolongs half-life
• Bacteriostatic agents: possible antagonism
• Antacids/H2-blockers: minor reduction in absorption

Pregnancy and lactation

Cephalosporins are generally considered safe in pregnancy/lactation.

Monitoring

• Culture & sensitivity (confirm a susceptible Gram-negative) and clinical response
• GI tolerance
• Renal function in renal patients

Toxicity and overdose

Wide margin — acute toxicity essentially limited to GI upset and hypersensitivity. Accumulates in renal impairment. Overuse drives third-generation cephalosporin (ESBL) resistance — the main ecological concern.

Management: Supportive; no specific antidote. Treat hypersensitivity conventionally; fluids and dose reduction in renal impairment.

Clinical pearls

• A handy ORAL third-generation cephalosporin for resistant Gram-negative UTIs — but weak against Staph, so not for pyoderma
• Useful step-down from injectable cephalosporins to finish a course orally
• Cheap and ubiquitous in India (Taxim-O/Zifi) — reserve it (culture-driven) to slow ESBL resistance
• Give with food to reduce GI upset; reduce dose in renal impairment

Mechanism of action

Beta-lactam that binds penicillin-binding proteins to inhibit bacterial cell-wall peptidoglycan cross-linking — bactericidal, time-dependent. As an oral third-generation cephalosporin it is stable against many Gram-negative beta-lactamases and penetrates the Gram-negative outer membrane well, giving strong Gram-negative activity with comparatively limited Gram-positive (especially staphylococcal) reach.

Formulations and products

• 50 mg tablet/DT
• 100 / 200 mg tablet
• Oral suspension 20 mg/mL (100 mg/5 mL)
• Taxim-O — 50 / 100 / 200 mg tablet; 100 mg/5 mL suspension, Tablet / suspension (human-label)
• Zifi — 50 / 100 / 200 mg tablet; suspension, Tablet / suspension (human-label)

Storage

Tablets: 15–30 °C, dry. Reconstituted suspension: per label (often refrigerated; discard after ~10–14 days), shake well.

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.

Other antibiotics

• Apramycin
• Azithromycin
• Cefadroxil
• Cefazolin
• Cefoperazone
• Cefotaxime
• Cefovecin
• Cefpodoxime proxetil

Frequently asked questions