# Cefuroxime: veterinary dose and monograph

> Cefuroxime is a veterinary antibiotic. A second-generation cephalosporin bridging first-generation Gram-positive cover with improved Gram-negative activity and beta-lactamase stability — useful for skin/soft-tissue, respiratory and urinary infections, and a common SURGICAL… Indications include skin / soft-tissue and wound infections; respiratory tract infections (susceptible); urinary tract infection. This monograph lists 10 reference doses for dogs and cats, each with route, frequency and source.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antibiotic
- **Also known as:** Ceftum, Zinacef, Supacef, Cefuroxime axetil
- **Species with doses:** Dogs and Cats
- **General dose range:** 10–20 mg/kg IV q8–12h — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** IV, SC, PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Skin / soft-tissue and wound infections
- Respiratory tract infections (susceptible)
- Urinary tract infection
- Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (beta-lactamase-stable Gram-positive cover)

## Cefuroxime 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

*Cefuroxime doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Systemic infection | 15 mg/kg | IV | q8h | — |
| Surgical prophylaxis | 20 mg/kg | IV | 30 min before surgery, then q2h intra-operatively | — |
| Surgical prophylaxis (Plumb’s 10e) | 20–50 mg/kg | IV | ≈30 min pre-op (often at induction), then q1.5–3h intra-op | — |
| Susceptible infection — MIC ≤1 µg/mL (SC) | 20 mg/kg | SC | q12h | — |
| Susceptible infection — MIC ≤4 µg/mL (IM/SC) | 20 mg/kg | SC | q8h | — |
| Soft-tissue infection (oral axetil) | 10 mg/kg | PO | q12h | 10 days |
| Bacterial meningitis | 30 mg/kg | IV | q8h | — |

- Systemic infection: Plumb’s p.239 (Greene 2006): systemic infections 15 mg/kg IV q8h — extrapolated from human dosing. Not in Papich 5e.
- Surgical prophylaxis: Plumb’s p.239 (Greene 2006): 20 mg/kg IV 30 minutes before surgery and every 2 hours during surgery. Plumb’s 10e p.233 widens this to 20–50 mg/kg IV given slowly (over at least 3–5 minutes) ≈30 minutes before surgery, then every 1.5–3 hours during surgery (next row).
- Surgical prophylaxis (Plumb’s 10e): Plumb’s 10e p.233 (dogs/cats, extra-label): 20–50 mg/kg IV slowly over at least 3–5 minutes, ≈30 minutes before surgery, and every 1.5 to 3 hours during surgery.
- Susceptible infection — MIC ≤1 µg/mL (SC): Plumb’s 10e p.233 (dogs/cats, extra-label, small PK study): 20 mg/kg SC every 12 hours for bacteria with MIC ≤1 µg/mL.
- Susceptible infection — MIC ≤4 µg/mL (IM/SC): Plumb’s 10e p.233 (dogs/cats, extra-label, small PK study): 20 mg/kg IM or SC every 8 hours for bacteria with MIC ≤4 µg/mL.
- Soft-tissue infection (oral axetil): Plumb’s p.239 (Greene 2006): 10 mg/kg PO q12h for 10 days (extrapolated from human dosing).
- Bacterial meningitis: Plumb’s p.239 (Greene 2006): 30 mg/kg IV q8h (extrapolated from human dosing).

### Cats

*Cefuroxime doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Surgical prophylaxis | 20–50 mg/kg | IV | ≈30 min pre-op (often at induction), then q1.5–3h intra-op | — |
| Susceptible infection — MIC ≤1 µg/mL (SC) | 20 mg/kg | SC | q12h | — |
| Susceptible infection — MIC ≤4 µg/mL (IM/SC) | 20 mg/kg | SC | q8h | — |

- Surgical prophylaxis: Plumb’s 10e p.233 (dogs/cats, extra-label): 20–50 mg/kg IV slowly over at least 3–5 minutes, ≈30 minutes before surgery, and every 1.5 to 3 hours during surgery. Papich 5e has no monograph.
- Susceptible infection — MIC ≤1 µg/mL (SC): Plumb’s 10e p.233 (dogs/cats, extra-label, small PK study): 20 mg/kg SC every 12 hours for bacteria with MIC ≤1 µg/mL. (Plumb’s also lists an anecdotal “oral” 10–15 mg/kg q8–12h, but prints the route as IV — the route is ambiguous in the source, so it is not offered as a dose here.)
- Susceptible infection — MIC ≤4 µg/mL (IM/SC): Plumb’s 10e p.233 (dogs/cats, extra-label, small PK study): 20 mg/kg IM or SC every 8 hours for bacteria with MIC ≤4 µg/mL.

### Horses

*Cefuroxime doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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: Neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s 10e (p.233 doses dogs/cats and goats only) gives a cefuroxime dose for horses or foals.

## Contraindications

Beta-lactam (penicillin/cephalosporin) hypersensitivity. Reduce dose in significant renal impairment. Known hypersensitivity. Not for confirmed resistant Gram-negatives/Pseudomonas (limited cover). Give oral form with food (improves axetil absorption).

## Adverse effects

- GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea)
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Injection-site pain/phlebitis
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea

## Drug interactions

- Aminoglycosides: additive nephrotoxicity (and Gram-negative synergy)
- Probenecid: prolongs half-life
- Bacteriostatic agents: possible antagonism
- Antacids/H2-blockers: reduce oral axetil absorption

## Pregnancy and lactation

Cephalosporins are generally considered safe in pregnancy/lactation.

## Monitoring

- Culture & sensitivity and clinical response
- Renal function on prolonged/high-dose therapy
- Hypersensitivity at first dose
- Surgical-prophylaxis timing (re-dose intra-op for long procedures)

## Toxicity and overdose

Wide margin — acute toxicity essentially limited to GI upset and hypersensitivity; accumulates in renal impairment. Overuse selects for resistant Gram-negatives but less so than third-generation agents.

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

## Clinical pearls

- A dependable second-generation beta-lactam and a good surgical-prophylaxis choice (beta-lactamase-stable Gram-positive cover) — give at induction and re-dose every ~90–120 min for long surgeries
- Broader Gram-negative reach than first-generation cephalosporins, while sparing third-generation agents (stewardship)
- Give the oral axetil prodrug with food for best absorption
- Not a choice for Pseudomonas/confirmed resistant Gram-negatives

## Mechanism of action

Beta-lactam that binds penicillin-binding proteins to inhibit peptidoglycan cross-linking and bacterial cell-wall synthesis — bactericidal, time-dependent. Its second-generation structure is more stable against many staphylococcal and Gram-negative beta-lactamases than first-generation cephalosporins, broadening Gram-negative reach while retaining good Gram-positive activity.

## Formulations and products

- Injection 750 mg / 1.5 g vial (reconstitute)
- 250 / 500 mg tablet (cefuroxime axetil, oral)
- Ceftum — 250 / 500 mg tablet, Tablet (axetil) (human-label)
- Supacef / Zinacef — 750 mg / 1.5 g vial, Injection (human-label)

## Storage

Powder vial: 15–25 °C; reconstituted solution refrigerate and use within 24 h. Tablets: 15–30 °C, dry.

## 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.

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- [Ceftriaxone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftriaxone)
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- [Clarithromycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/clarithromycin)

## Frequently asked questions

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

Reference doses for Cefuroxime in dogs: 15 mg/kg IV q8h (Systemic infection); 20 mg/kg IV 30 min before surgery, then q2h intra-operatively (Surgical prophylaxis); 20–50 mg/kg IV ≈30 min pre-op (often at induction), then q1.5–3h intra-op (Surgical prophylaxis (Plumb’s 10e)); 20 mg/kg SC q12h (Susceptible infection — MIC ≤1 µg/mL (SC)); and 3 more indication-specific doses listed on this page. Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

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

Reference doses for Cefuroxime in cats: 20–50 mg/kg IV ≈30 min pre-op (often at induction), then q1.5–3h intra-op (Surgical prophylaxis); 20 mg/kg SC q12h (Susceptible infection — MIC ≤1 µg/mL (SC)); 20 mg/kg SC q8h (Susceptible infection — MIC ≤4 µg/mL (IM/SC)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### Can Cefuroxime be given to horses?

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

### When should Cefuroxime not be used?

Beta-lactam (penicillin/cephalosporin) hypersensitivity. Reduce dose in significant renal impairment. Known hypersensitivity. Not for confirmed resistant Gram-negatives/Pseudomonas (limited cover). Give oral form with food (improves axetil absorption).

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

GI upset (vomiting, diarrhoea); Hypersensitivity reactions; Injection-site pain/phlebitis; Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- 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.