MDose · Veterinary drug reference
CEPHALEXIN
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One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications3
Pyoderma (S. pseudintermedius) and other skin infections
DogOn-label (ON_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Pyoderma (S. pseudintermedius) and other skin infections — Authorized (US, some countries)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
UTI, soft tissue, respiratory, orthopedic infections
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: UTI, soft tissue, respiratory, orthopedic infections — Extra-label (general use)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: UTI, soft tissue, respiratory, orthopedic infections — Extra-label (general use)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens4
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects206
GI (vomiting, diarrhea) — Most common
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Salivation, tachypnea, excitability — Reported
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Emesis, fever — Reported
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Toxic epidermal necrolysis — Rare
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interstitial nephritis, neurotoxicity (high-dose/prolonged) — Rare
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Vomiting701 reports
- Emesis368 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')356 reports
- Diarrhoea214 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS207 reports
- Overdose190 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS182 reports
- Anorexia173 reports
- Accidental exposure166 reports
- Death by euthanasia137 reports
- Seizure NOS133 reports
- Weight loss120 reports
Cat
- Vomiting59 reports
- Accidental exposure37 reports
- Overdose29 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')13 reports
- Diarrhoea9 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS7 reports
- Hiding7 reports
- Crystalluria6 reports
- Inappetence6 reports
- Death by euthanasia5 reports
- Decreased appetite5 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in Neurological)5 reports
Monitoring1
Clinical efficacy; false-positive urine glucose with copper-reduction tests
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Beta-lactam hypersensitivity (cross-reactivity with penicillin allergy possible, ~1–15% in humans)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions3
Renal dysfunction, geriatric patients
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
No veterinary FDA-approved cephalexin product exists in the US, but it's widely used off-label with published efficacy data for canine pyoderma.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Time-of-day dosing may matter clinically less than pharmacokinetically (differences in peak levels didn't change time above MIC in one study), but be aware of the variability.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions1
Probenecid — ↑ cephalexin levels/half-life
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics4
Bioavailability — ~75% (dog & cat, Plumb's); 57–90% range (Papich)
HorseNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Horse · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Half-life — 1–2h (dog & cat)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Minimal
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Elimination — Renal
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
No documented teratogenicity. Human FDA category B. Small amounts in milk — may affect neonatal gut flora.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 239–242; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 143–144 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references17
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Contamination and antibiotic resistance profile of Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from raw milk and infant formula.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Phylogenetic analysis and susceptibility to antibiotics and phytogenics of Riemerella anatipestifer strains isolated in Poland.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Isolation, identification, and susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus caprae from dairy goats with mastitis to antibiotics and Chinese herbal medicines.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Salmonellosis Outbreak in a Rottweiler Kennel Associated with Raw Meat-Based Diets.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Antibiotic use in companion animals in veterinary teaching hospitals in Thailand.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.
Available products
Products listed in the Health Canada Drug Product Database for this active ingredient. A listing does not establish that a product is authorized for the clinical uses described on this page.