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Choose the species
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.
Indications2
Skin infections (S. pseudintermedius, S. canis)
DogOn-label (ON_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Skin infections (S. pseudintermedius, S. canis) — Authorized (FDA)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Skin infections (Pasteurella multocida)
CatOn-label (ON_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Skin infections (Pasteurella multocida) — Authorized (FDA)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens3
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 effects205
Lethargy/depression, anorexia, vomiting — Most common ADE reports
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — 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. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Injection-site irritation/edema — Dose- and repeat-injection-related
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Mild ↑ liver enzymes, BUN, creatinine — Documented in pre-marketing studies
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Anaphylaxis — Rare but reported, can be fatal
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — 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
- Vomiting715 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')629 reports
- Anorexia490 reports
- Death412 reports
- Diarrhoea316 reports
- Death by euthanasia283 reports
- Lack of efficacy (bacteria) - NOS240 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS224 reports
- Seizure NOS207 reports
- Anaemia NOS205 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS205 reports
- Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP)200 reports
Cat
- Anorexia1,364 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')1,275 reports
- Vomiting1,142 reports
- Death1,010 reports
- Death by euthanasia805 reports
- Weight loss759 reports
- Ataxia650 reports
- Diarrhoea649 reports
- Fever638 reports
- Lack of efficacy (bacteria) - NOS623 reports
- Anaemia NOS586 reports
- Not eating558 reports
Monitoring1
Clinical efficacy, adverse effect signs
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Known allergy to cefovecin/other beta-lactams; not for small herbivores (rabbits, guinea pigs — UK label)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Severe renal dysfunction; not established <4 months age (US) / <8 weeks (UK)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Drug persists in the body for up to ~2 months after a single injection — tell owners this explicitly, and consider it when adverse effects occur or when planning other protein-bound drug therapy.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Primary practical benefit: solves compliance problems for owners who can't pill a cat/dog or when oral drugs aren't tolerated/absorbed.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Not for use in food-producing animals — extra-label use in those species is an FDA violation.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions1
Other highly protein-bound drugs (carprofen, furosemide, doxycycline, ketoconazole, NSAIDs, propofol, cardiac/anticonvulsant/behavioral drugs) — Cefovecin can displace them, raising free (active) drug levels — clinical significance not fully established but caution advised
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics4
Protein binding — 98.5% (dog), 99.8% (cat)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Half-life — 133h (~5.5 days, dog); 166h (~7 days, cat)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — 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. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Elimination — Primarily renal, unchanged
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Not established by manufacturer, but cephalosporins generally considered reasonably safe in pregnancy/lactation — weigh risk/benefit.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 219–221; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 127–129 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references20
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.
- Pharmacokinetics of Single-bolus Subcutaneous Cefovecin in C57BL/6 Mice.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Sustained Tear Film Exposure After Parenteral Cefovecin Administration in Dogs: Pharmacokinetics and Relevance to Canine Bacterial Keratitis.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- 'Knowledge, attitudes and practices' survey of Austrian veterinarians' antibiotic use in clinical practice.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Beneficial effects of probiotics on dysbiosis of gut microbiota induced by antibiotic treatment in healthy dogs.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Preliminary report: Protective effects of probiotics on cefovecin-induced gut dysbiosis in dogs.
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.