Silver Sulfadiazine: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antibiotic

Also known as

SSD, Silverex, Flamazine, Silvadene

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Cattle and Horses

Routes

Topical

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Burns (thermal/chemical) — prevention and treatment of wound infection
• Infected / contaminated wounds, pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spots)
• Pseudomonas / yeast otitis externa (off-label otic use)
• Equine wound care; adjunct in some pythiosis/fungal skin lesions

Silver Sulfadiazine 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

• Burns / infected wounds (topical): Plumb’s topical monograph: burns — once to twice daily at about 1/16 inch (1–2 mm); localised infections — rub in once to twice daily. Covers Pseudomonas. Retards granulation — avoid on non-granulating wounds. Systemic sulfonamide effects (KCS, blood dyscrasias) possible over large areas or long use. Prevent licking.

Cats

• Burns / infected wounds (topical): Plumb’s topical monograph (dogs/cats): once to twice daily. Use cautiously over large areas (sulfonamide absorption; blood dyscrasias). Prevent grooming. Otic use for resistant Pseudomonas is extra-label (diluted preparations) with no dose in Papich 5e or Plumb’s.

Cattle

• Burns / infected wounds (topical): Plumb’s topical monograph: once to twice daily. No veterinary-labelled product and no food-animal withdrawal established — sulfonamide residues are a concern; obtain FARAD advice before use in food animals.

Horses

• Wound / burn care: Plumb’s topical monograph: once to twice daily for burns and localised infections. Retards granulation. No veterinary-labelled products (human cream used).

Buffalo

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

• Burns / infected wounds (topical): Plumb’s topical monograph: once to twice daily. No veterinary-labelled product and no food-animal withdrawal established — sulfonamide residues are a concern; obtain FARAD advice before use in food animals.

Contraindications

Sulfonamide hypersensitivity. Application to very large areas in animals prone to sulfonamide effects (KCS, blood dyscrasias) — and silver/sulfa systemic absorption over big wounds. Near term in some species (sulfonamide kernicterus concern, theoretical). Known hypersensitivity. Prevent ingestion (grooming).

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Cats are sulfonamide-sensitive — avoid extensive/prolonged application over large areas; small focal use is fine. Watch for KCS with chronic use.

Adverse effects

• Local: transient stinging, rare leukopenia at the wound margin
• Systemic sulfonamide/silver absorption over large areas (KCS, blood dyscrasias, argyria-type discolouration with prolonged extensive use)
• Contact hypersensitivity

Drug interactions

• Topical proteolytic/enzymatic debriding agents: silver may inactivate them
• No major systemic interactions with normal topical use

Pregnancy and lactation

Topical use over small areas is low-risk; avoid extensive application near term (theoretical sulfonamide concern).

Monitoring

• Wound healing / infection control (incl. Pseudomonas)
• Over large areas: CBC and Schirmer tear test (sulfonamide effects) with prolonged use
• Local tolerance; prevent ingestion

Toxicity and overdose

Very safe over small/moderate wounds. Extensive application to large burns can absorb sulfonamide (risking KCS, blood dyscrasias, hepatopathy) and silver (argyria-type discolouration with prolonged use), and rarely causes transient leukopenia. Generally well tolerated and soothing.

Management: Discontinue/limit area; supportive care. For significant sulfonamide absorption, monitor CBC and tear production (KCS) and manage as sulfonamide toxicity. No specific antidote.

Clinical pearls

• The classic burn/wound cream — broad cover including PSEUDOMONAS, with a moist, soothing wound environment
• Great for contaminated wounds and Pseudomonas/yeast otitis (off-label) — silver + sulfa is a versatile surface antimicrobial
• Over very large burns, watch for sulfonamide absorption (KCS, blood dyscrasias) — limit area/duration and monitor
• Prevent the animal licking it off (and so ingesting sulfonamide); reapply after cleaning the wound

Mechanism of action

Acts at the wound surface by two complementary routes: silver ions bind bacterial DNA, cell membranes and enzymes (broad antibacterial/antifungal, including Pseudomonas), while the sulfadiazine component inhibits microbial folate synthesis (PABA antagonism). The combination gives broad-spectrum antimicrobial cover with a moist, soothing wound environment that supports healing. Action is largely topical with limited systemic absorption from intact-margin wounds.

Formulations and products

• Topical cream 1 % (Silverex/Silvadene)
• Silverex / Silvadene — 1 % cream, Topical cream (human-label)

Storage

Cream: 15–30 °C, protect from light (may darken — discard if grossly discoloured); keep tightly closed.

Before you use this dose

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

• Pradofloxacin
• Procaine Penicillin G
• Rifampin
• Rifaximin
• Spectinomycin
• Streptomycin (Dihydrostreptomycin)
• Sulfadiazine
• Sulfadimethoxine

Frequently asked questions