# Cefoperazone: veterinary dose and monograph

> Cefoperazone is a veterinary antibiotic. 3rd-generation cephalosporin with strong anti-Pseudomonas activity. Indications include bovine clinical mastitis (single-dose intramammary); bovine acute pneumonia / metritis (parenteral, with sulbactam); soft tissue infections (off-label small animal use elsewhere). This monograph lists 2 reference doses for cattle, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefoperazone · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antibiotic
- **Also known as:** Mammicef, Mamiprotec, Gardplus
- **Species with doses:** Cattle
- **General dose range:** 2.5–10 mg/kg Intramammary q24h — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** Intramammary, IM
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Bovine clinical mastitis (single-dose intramammary)
- Bovine acute pneumonia / metritis (parenteral, with sulbactam)
- Soft tissue infections (off-label small animal use elsewhere)

## Cefoperazone 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.

### Cattle

*Cefoperazone doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Clinical mastitis (Mammicef / Mamiprotec) | 250 mg per affected quarter (1 × 10 mL syringe), single infusion | Intramammary | once | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |
| Septicaemic mastitis / metritis (parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam) | 5–10 mg/kg | IM | q12–24h | 3–5 days | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Clinical mastitis (Mammicef / Mamiprotec): Label-sourced — 250 mg (one 10 mL syringe) per affected quarter as a single infusion after milking. Cefoperazone has no monograph in Papich 5e or Plumb’s; follow the product label for meat and milk withdrawals.
- Septicaemic mastitis / metritis (parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam): Dose per Indian product literature for the parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam combination; no cefoperazone monograph exists in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Withdrawal is not established — treat as extra-label and consult the product label. Product literature dose: 5–10 mg/kg IM q12–24h for 3–5 days.

### Goats

*Cefoperazone doses for goats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No reference dose for this species | Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species | — | — | — | — |

- No reference dose for this species: The previous half-syringe goat regimen had no source; cefoperazone is not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s and the intramammary products are labelled for cattle only.

### Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

*Cefoperazone doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Clinical mastitis (Mammicef / Mamiprotec) | 250 mg per affected quarter (1 × 10 mL syringe), single infusion | Intramammary | once | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |
| Septicaemic mastitis / metritis (parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam) | 5–10 mg/kg | IM | q12–24h | 3–5 days | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Clinical mastitis (Mammicef / Mamiprotec): Label-sourced — 250 mg (one 10 mL syringe) per affected quarter as a single infusion after milking. Cefoperazone has no monograph in Papich 5e or Plumb’s; follow the product label for meat and milk withdrawals.
- Septicaemic mastitis / metritis (parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam): Dose per Indian product literature for the parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam combination; no cefoperazone monograph exists in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Withdrawal is not established — treat as extra-label and consult the product label. Product literature dose: 5–10 mg/kg IM q12–24h for 3–5 days.

## Contraindications

Cephalosporin hypersensitivity. Vitamin K depletion risk on prolonged use (NMTT side chain). Renal failure — reduce dose.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cattle: Intramammary preparations (Mammicef, Mamiprotec) are standard for clinical mastitis. Strict milk withdrawal per product label.

> **Caution:** Dogs: Useful for pyometra, complicated UTI, Pseudomonas infection. Combination with sulbactam (Gardplus) for ESBL coverage.

> **Caution:** Horses: Not commonly used — risk of antibiotic-associated colitis as with all broad-spectrum cephs.

> **Caution:** Rabbits: Avoid — fatal clostridial enterotoxaemia.

## Adverse effects

- Mild local intramammary inflammation
- Hypersensitivity (rare)
- Hypoprothrombinaemia on prolonged systemic use

## Drug interactions

- Aminoglycosides: synergistic against Pseudomonas — but do NOT mix in syringe
- NSAIDs / loop diuretics: additive nephrotoxicity in dehydrated patients
- Penicillins: cross-reactivity for hypersensitivity (~10%)
- Warfarin: cefoperazone can prolong PT via vitamin K antagonism — monitor INR
- Alcohol-containing IV solutions: DISULFIRAM-like reaction (NTM side chain) — flushing, nausea
- Calcium-containing IV fluids: less restrictive than ceftriaxone but still avoid co-infusion

## Pregnancy and lactation

Considered safe in pregnant cattle, bitches at therapeutic doses. Excreted in milk (intramammary preparation: strict withdrawal). FDA Category B (human extrapolation).

## Monitoring

- Coagulation (PT) if used for >7 days — vitamin K antagonism risk
- Withdrawal periods (intramammary, lactating): per product — verify before reuse
- Renal function on prolonged courses
- Hypersensitivity signs
- GI signs — diarrhoea / dysbiosis
- Avoid alcohol-containing products (rare in vet but flag for staff handling)

## Toxicity and overdose

Wide therapeutic margin. Acute toxicity rare. Coagulopathy / prolonged PT from vitamin K antagonism (NTM side chain — unique among cephs) — caution in patients with bleeding tendency or warfarin therapy. Disulfiram-like reaction if patient ingests alcohol-containing products. Injection-site pain. Hypersensitivity (rare). Diarrhoea / dysbiosis on prolonged courses.

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive: IV fluids. Coagulopathy: vitamin K1 5 mg/kg SC, fresh frozen plasma if bleeding. Anaphylaxis: standard protocol. Discontinue and monitor PT if coagulopathy develops.

## Clinical pearls

- Bovine clinical mastitis (Mammicef, Mamiprotec): 250 mg per affected quarter — single dose / per label
- Bovine soft tissue / pneumonia with septicaemia (Gardplus, cefoperazone + sulbactam): IV/IM per label
- Pseudomonas coverage is BETTER than most 3rd-gen cephs — useful for resistant otitis externa, UTI
- Canine pyometra (extra-label): 25 mg/kg IV q8–12h — high biliary excretion targets reproductive tract
- Combination with sulbactam (Gardplus) extends spectrum against beta-lactamase producers including ESBL
- Vitamin K antagonism: monitor PT on courses >7 days; supplement vitamin K if needed
- NEVER mix with alcohol-containing IV products — disulfiram-like reaction

## Mechanism of action

Third-generation cephalosporin (human-medicine origin). Binds penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) — inhibits transpeptidase cross-linking of peptidoglycan. Bactericidal, time-dependent. Broad spectrum: Gram-positive cocci (incl. some beta-lactamase producers), wide Gram-negative coverage (E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacter, Pasteurella, Pseudomonas — UNIQUE among 3rd-gen cephs for some Pseudomonas activity). Stable to many beta-lactamases (further enhanced by sulbactam combination — Gardplus). Excellent biliary excretion (advantage in cholangitis / pyometra).

## Formulations and products

- Mammicef intramammary 250 mg/10 mL syringe (Intas)
- Mamiprotec intramammary 250 mg per syringe (Virbac)
- Gardplus parenteral vial — cefoperazone + sulbactam (Virbac; strength not stated in the catalogue — reconstitute per pack label)
- Mammicef (Intas (Neovet)) — 250 mg per 10 mL syringe, Intramammary syringe
- Mamiprotec (Virbac) — 250 mg per syringe, Intramammary syringe
- Gardplus (Virbac) — Cefoperazone + Sulbactam, Parenteral vial
- Mammitel (Intas (Neovet)) — Colistin 500 000 IU + Cloxacillin 200 mg / 10 g syringe, Intramammary syringe (mastitis combo)
- Ceftabrut-TAZO (Mankind Veticura) — Cefoperazone 3 g + Tazobactam 375 mg (3.375 g vial) or Cefoperazone 4 g + Tazobactam 500 mg (4.5 g vial), Vial — reconstitute and give IV or IM
- Surezone-SB 4.5 (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — Cefoperazone 3 g + Sulbactam 1.5 g, Dry powder vial

## Storage

Powder vial: 15–25 °C, protect from light. Reconstituted: use within 24 h refrigerated. Intramammary syringes (Mammicef, Mamiprotec): 15–25 °C — do NOT freeze. Multidose vial: 28 days after broaching.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** 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

- [Azithromycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/azithromycin)
- [Cefadroxil](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefadroxil)
- [Cefazolin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefazolin)
- [Cefixime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefixime)
- [Cefotaxime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefotaxime)
- [Cefovecin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefovecin)
- [Cefpodoxime proxetil](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefpodoxime)
- [Cefquinome](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefquinome)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Cefoperazone for cattle?

Reference doses for Cefoperazone in cattle: 250 mg per affected quarter (1 × 10 mL syringe), single infusion Intramammary once (Clinical mastitis (Mammicef / Mamiprotec)); 5–10 mg/kg IM q12–24h for 3–5 days (Septicaemic mastitis / metritis (parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### Can Cefoperazone be given to goats?

Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species (No reference dose for this species).

### What is the withdrawal period for Cefoperazone?

Cattle, Intramammary (Clinical mastitis (Mammicef / Mamiprotec)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Cattle, IM (Septicaemic mastitis / metritis (parenteral cefoperazone + sulbactam)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Cefoperazone not be used?

Cephalosporin hypersensitivity. Vitamin K depletion risk on prolonged use (NMTT side chain). Renal failure — reduce dose.

### What are the side effects of Cefoperazone in animals?

Mild local intramammary inflammation; Hypersensitivity (rare); Hypoprothrombinaemia on prolonged systemic use.

## Sources

- Intas Animal Health catalogue · Mammicef
- Virbac catalogue · Mamiprotec / Gardplus
- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.