# Cefpodoxime proxetil: veterinary dose and monograph

> Cefpodoxime proxetil is a veterinary antibiotic. Oral third-generation cephalosporin prodrug — once-daily dosing and good Gram-negative reach make it a convenient choice for canine pyoderma and soft-tissue infections. Indications include canine superficial / deep pyoderma; wound and soft-tissue infections; susceptible urinary tract infection. This monograph lists 3 reference doses for dogs, cats and horses, each with route, frequency and source.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antibiotic
- **Also known as:** Simplicef, Vantin
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats and Horses
- **General dose range:** 5–10 mg/kg PO q24h — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Canine superficial / deep pyoderma
- Wound and soft-tissue infections
- Susceptible urinary tract infection

## Cefpodoxime proxetil 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

*Cefpodoxime proxetil doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pyoderma / soft-tissue / UTI | 5–10 mg/kg | PO | q24h; continue 7 days beyond clinical resolution for deep pyoderma | — |

- Pyoderma / soft-tissue / UTI: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.225 (Simplicef label): 5–10 mg/kg PO once daily, with or without food, for 5–7 days or 2–3 days beyond resolution, maximum 28 days; stop after 3–4 days if acute infections are not responding.

### Cats

*Cefpodoxime proxetil doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skin / soft-tissue infection (extrapolated) | 5–10 mg/kg | PO | q12h (5 mg/kg) or q24h (10 mg/kg) | — |

- Skin / soft-tissue infection (extrapolated): Plumb’s p.225 (Greene & Watson 1998): 5 mg/kg PO q12h or 10 mg/kg PO once daily — extrapolated from human dosing. Papich 5e: no manufacturer dose for cats; some extrapolate the canine dose.

### Horses

*Cefpodoxime proxetil doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Foals — bacterial infection | 10 mg/kg | PO | q6–12h | — |

- Foals — bacterial infection: Papich 5e: 10 mg/kg PO q6–12h (q12h adequate for Klebsiella, Pasteurella and streptococci). Plumb’s p.225 (Carrillo 2005): neonatal foals 10 mg/kg PO q6–12h — efficacy and safety need confirmation.

## Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to cephalosporins / penicillins. Reduce dose in significant renal impairment. Caution in young puppies (safety not established < 4 months).

## Adverse effects

- GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence)
- Hypersensitivity reactions

## Drug interactions

- Antacids / H2-blockers / proton-pump inhibitors: reduce absorption (needs gastric acid) — separate dosing
- Probenecid: raises cefpodoxime plasma levels
- Bacteriostatic antibiotics: potential antagonism
- Nephrotoxic drugs: caution and dose-reduce in renal impairment

## Pregnancy and lactation

Safety not established in pregnancy / lactation — use only if benefits outweigh risks.

## Monitoring

- Clinical resolution; for deep pyoderma recheck and treat past clinical cure
- Renal function in impairment
- Hypersensitivity signs

## Clinical pearls

- Once-daily oral dosing improves compliance versus twice-daily cephalexin
- Deep pyoderma needs long courses — treat 1–2 weeks past clinical cure and recheck
- Cross-reacts with penicillin allergy — ask before dispensing

## Mechanism of action

Oral third-generation cephalosporin prodrug. Cefpodoxime proxetil is de-esterified during absorption to active cefpodoxime, which binds penicillin-binding proteins to inhibit cell-wall synthesis → time-dependent bactericidal action with broader Gram-negative reach than first-generation cephalexin while retaining staphylococcal cover.

## Formulations and products

- Simplicef 100 mg tablet
- Simplicef 200 mg tablet
- Cefpodoxime 40 mg/5 mL oral suspension (human)
- Simplicef (Zoetis) — 100 / 200 mg, Film-coated tablet
- Cepodem — 100 / 200 mg; 40 mg/5 mL suspension, Tablet / oral suspension (human-label)

## Storage

Tablets at 15–30 °C, dry; reconstituted human suspension refrigerate and discard after ~14 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

- [Cefixime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefixime)
- [Cefoperazone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefoperazone)
- [Cefotaxime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefotaxime)
- [Cefovecin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefovecin)
- [Cefquinome](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cefquinome)
- [Ceftazidime](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftazidime)
- [Ceftiofur](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftiofur)
- [Ceftriaxone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftriaxone)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Cefpodoxime proxetil for dogs?

Reference doses for Cefpodoxime proxetil in dogs: 5–10 mg/kg PO q24h; continue 7 days beyond clinical resolution for deep pyoderma (Pyoderma / soft-tissue / UTI). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Cefpodoxime proxetil for cats?

Reference doses for Cefpodoxime proxetil in cats: 5–10 mg/kg PO q12h (5 mg/kg) or q24h (10 mg/kg) (Skin / soft-tissue infection (extrapolated)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Cefpodoxime proxetil for horses?

Reference doses for Cefpodoxime proxetil in horses: 10 mg/kg PO q6–12h (Foals — bacterial infection). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Cefpodoxime proxetil not be used?

Hypersensitivity to cephalosporins / penicillins. Reduce dose in significant renal impairment. Caution in young puppies (safety not established < 4 months).

### What are the side effects of Cefpodoxime proxetil in animals?

GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence); Hypersensitivity reactions.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

---

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.