# Cefovecin: veterinary dose and monograph

> Cefovecin is a veterinary antibiotic. Third-generation cephalosporin engineered for an exceptionally long half-life — a single subcutaneous injection maintains therapeutic levels for up to 14 days because of very high protein binding and slow elimination. Indications include feline / canine skin infections (wounds, abscesses, pyoderma); susceptible urinary tract infection; soft-tissue infection where oral dosing is impractical. This monograph lists 2 reference doses for dogs and cats, each with route, frequency and source.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antibiotic
- **Also known as:** Convenia
- **Species with doses:** Dogs and Cats
- **General dose range:** 8 mg/kg SC once; may repeat in 14 days — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** SC
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Feline / canine skin infections (wounds, abscesses, pyoderma)
- Susceptible urinary tract infection
- Soft-tissue infection where oral dosing is impractical

## Cefovecin 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

*Cefovecin doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skin / soft-tissue / UTI | 8 mg/kg | SC | single dose; may repeat at 7–14 days | — |

- Skin / soft-tissue / UTI: Plumb’s p.221 (Convenia): USA — 8 mg/kg SC once; a second injection if response is incomplete after 7 days (S. pseudintermedius) or 14 days (Group G strep), maximum 2 injections. UK — may repeat at 14-day intervals up to 3 further times; UTI and periodontal infections one injection. Papich 5e: 8 mg/kg SC every 14 days, some indications at 7 days.

### Cats

*Cefovecin doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Abscess / wound / pyoderma | 8 mg/kg | SC | single dose; may repeat after 14 days | — |

- Abscess / wound / pyoderma: Plumb’s p.221 (Convenia): USA — single 8 mg/kg SC injection for Pasteurella wounds/abscesses (therapeutic levels ≈7 days). UK — one further dose after 14 days if needed; UTI one injection. Papich 5e: 8 mg/kg SC every 14 days.

## Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to cephalosporins / penicillins. Caution in renal impairment (prolonged exposure cannot be withdrawn once injected). Not established in animals < 8 weeks or in pregnancy / breeding animals.

## Adverse effects

- GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence)
- Injection-site reaction
- Hypersensitivity (rare)

## Drug interactions

- Strongly protein-bound — may transiently displace or be displaced by other highly bound drugs (NSAIDs, furosemide)
- Bacteriostatic antibiotics: theoretical antagonism of bactericidal activity
- Probenecid: prolongs cephalosporin half-life
- Other nephrotoxic drugs: avoid in renal-compromised patients — the depot cannot be withdrawn once injected

## Pregnancy and lactation

Safety in pregnant, breeding or lactating animals not established — avoid unless clearly necessary, as the long-acting depot means exposure cannot be retracted.

## Monitoring

- Clinical response across the 14-day interval
- Renal function in at-risk patients before dosing (irretrievable depot)
- Delayed hypersensitivity / injection-site reaction

## Clinical pearls

- The 14-day depot is its strength and its risk — you cannot retract the dose, so confirm the patient tolerates cephalosporins first
- Reserve for cases where oral therapy genuinely will not happen — antimicrobial-stewardship pressure on long-acting 3rd-gen cephalosporins is real
- Reconstituted vial keeps ~28 days refrigerated; protect from light

## Mechanism of action

Third-generation cephalosporin. Binds penicillin-binding proteins to block peptidoglycan cross-linking → time-dependent bactericidal killing. Its exceptionally high (~99 %) reversible plasma-protein binding and slow renal elimination create a ~14-day therapeutic depot from a single SC dose.

## Formulations and products

- Convenia 80 mg/mL (after reconstitution)
- Convenia (Zoetis) — 80 mg/mL (reconstituted), Long-acting SC injection

## Storage

Unreconstituted powder per label; reconstituted solution refrigerate 2–8 °C, protect from light, use within ~28 days.

## 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

- [Cefazolin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefazolin)
- [Cefixime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefixime)
- [Cefoperazone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefoperazone)
- [Cefotaxime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefotaxime)
- [Cefpodoxime proxetil](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefpodoxime)
- [Cefquinome](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefquinome)
- [Ceftazidime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftazidime)
- [Ceftiofur](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftiofur)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Cefovecin for dogs?

Reference doses for Cefovecin in dogs: 8 mg/kg SC single dose; may repeat at 7–14 days (Skin / soft-tissue / UTI). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Cefovecin for cats?

Reference doses for Cefovecin in cats: 8 mg/kg SC single dose; may repeat after 14 days (Abscess / wound / pyoderma). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Cefovecin not be used?

Hypersensitivity to cephalosporins / penicillins. Caution in renal impairment (prolonged exposure cannot be withdrawn once injected). Not established in animals < 8 weeks or in pregnancy / breeding animals.

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

GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence); Injection-site reaction; Hypersensitivity (rare).

## Sources

- 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.