# Danofloxacin: veterinary dose and monograph

> Danofloxacin is a veterinary antibiotic. A veterinary fluoroquinolone developed for food-animal respiratory disease — a single (or short-course) injection treats bovine and swine respiratory disease (Mannheimia, Pasteurella, Histophilus, Mycoplasma) with rapid… Indications include bovine respiratory disease (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella, Histophilus, Mycoplasma); swine respiratory disease; poultry respiratory/enteric infection (where legally permitted). This monograph lists 1 reference dose for cattle, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antibiotic
- **Also known as:** Advocin, A180
- **Species with doses:** Cattle
- **General dose range:** 6–8 mg/kg SC single dose (or q24h) — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** SC
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Bovine respiratory disease (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella, Histophilus, Mycoplasma)
- Swine respiratory disease
- Poultry respiratory/enteric infection (where legally permitted)
- Severe Gram-negative/Mycoplasma respiratory infection in food animals

## Danofloxacin 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

*Danofloxacin doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRD | 6–8 mg/kg | SC | single dose (may repeat in 48 h) | — | 4d slaughter |

- BRD: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.346 (A180 label): 6 mg/kg (1.5 mL per 100 lb) SC, repeated once about 48 h later, or 8 mg/kg as a single injection; no more than 15 mL per site. US slaughter withdrawal 4 days; not for lactating dairy cattle or veal calves. US law prohibits extra-label use of fluoroquinolones in food animals.

### Pigs

*Danofloxacin doses for pigs*

| 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: Papich 5e states that no swine dose has been reported and Plumb’s gives cattle only. Follow a local pig label where one exists.

### Buffalo

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

*Danofloxacin doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRD | 6–8 mg/kg | SC | single dose (may repeat in 48 h) | — | 4d slaughter |

- BRD: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.346 (A180 label): 6 mg/kg (1.5 mL per 100 lb) SC, repeated once about 48 h later, or 8 mg/kg as a single injection; no more than 15 mL per site. US slaughter withdrawal 4 days; not for lactating dairy cattle or veal calves. US law prohibits extra-label use of fluoroquinolones in food animals.

### Birds

*Danofloxacin doses for birds*

| 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 gives a danofloxacin dose for birds; fluoroquinolone use in poultry is banned or restricted in many countries.

## Contraindications

Growing animals (arthropathy — class effect). Fluoroquinolone restrictions in food animals (verify legality; banned for some uses in several countries). Known fluoroquinolone hypersensitivity. Observe meat withdrawal. Not for lactating dairy producing human milk unless permitted.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Birds: Poultry fluoroquinolone use is banned/restricted in many countries (resistance) — verify legality before flock use.

## Adverse effects

- Injection-site reaction
- Cartilage effects in growing animals
- GI flora disturbance
- Rare CNS excitation

## Drug interactions

- Di-/tri-valent cations (oral): chelation reduces absorption
- Theophylline/NSAIDs: as with the fluoroquinolone class (relevant mainly to oral/small-animal use)
- No major small-molecule interactions at label parenteral use

## Pregnancy and lactation

Used in pregnant food animals at label dose; avoid in growing animals (arthropathy).

## Monitoring

- Respiratory clinical response (rapid improvement expected)
- Injection-site reaction
- Meat/withdrawal compliance and legal status of fluoroquinolone food-animal use
- Antimicrobial stewardship documentation

## Toxicity and overdose

Wide margin in adults; the class-specific concern is cartilage toxicity in juveniles. Overdose may cause GI/CNS signs. The dominant issues are regulatory/stewardship (food-animal fluoroquinolone restrictions and resistance) rather than acute toxicity.

Management: Supportive; no specific antidote. Manage GI/CNS signs and injection-site reactions; ensure hydration. Observe withdrawal.

## Clinical pearls

- A single-dose injectable fluoroquinolone for BRD — concentration-dependent killing means one high dose, not a long divided course
- Reserve fluoroquinolones in food animals for justified, culture-supported respiratory disease — they are critically important antimicrobials with use restrictions
- Avoid in growing animals (arthropathy) and verify the legal status of fluoroquinolone use in your jurisdiction
- Observe meat withdrawal; not for lactating dairy unless the product permits

## Mechanism of action

Inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, blocking DNA replication/supercoiling — rapid, concentration-dependent bactericidal killing with a post-antibiotic effect. High Cmax/MIC and AUC/MIC ratios drive efficacy, favouring a single high dose; excellent penetration into respiratory tissue underlies its BRD performance.

## Formulations and products

- Injection 180 mg/mL (18 %, Advocin A180)
- Injection 25 mg/mL (2.5 %)
- Advocin A180 (Zoetis) — 180 mg/mL (18 %), SC injection

## Storage

Injection: 15–30 °C, protect from light; do not freeze.

## 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

- [Clarithromycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/clarithromycin)
- [Clindamycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/clindamycin)
- [Cloxacillin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cloxacillin)
- [Colistin (Polymyxin E)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/colistin)
- [Doxycycline](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/doxycycline)
- [Enrofloxacin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/enrofloxacin)
- [Erythromycin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/erythromycin)
- [Florfenicol](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/florfenicol)

## Frequently asked questions

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

Reference doses for Danofloxacin in cattle: 6–8 mg/kg SC single dose (may repeat in 48 h) (BRD). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### Can Danofloxacin be given to pigs?

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

### Can Danofloxacin be given to birds?

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 Danofloxacin?

Cattle, SC (BRD): 4d slaughter. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Danofloxacin not be used?

Growing animals (arthropathy — class effect). Fluoroquinolone restrictions in food animals (verify legality; banned for some uses in several countries). Known fluoroquinolone hypersensitivity. Observe meat withdrawal. Not for lactating dairy producing human milk unless permitted.

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

Injection-site reaction; Cartilage effects in growing animals; GI flora disturbance; Rare CNS excitation.

## 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.