Ceftiofur Sodium
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Ceftiofur Sodium during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(sef-tee-oh-fur soe-dee-um)
Description: Ceftiofur Sodium for pets
This medicine is an antibiotic in the cephalosporin family.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Naxcel®
- Ceftiflex®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: injectable vials in 1 gram and 4 gram sizes.
- For people: none.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this medicine, and it has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you still have questions or need additional details about this medicine, speak with your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- Ceftiofur sodium has to be given by injection, either:
- under the skin (a shot placed under the skin), or
- into a muscle (a shot placed into a muscle).
- It will not work if it is given by mouth.
- When this medicine is injected into a muscle, it is painful.
- If an animal has kidney failure, the amount prescribed may need to be smaller.
- If the treated animal may later be used as food for people, follow the required waiting times for drug residues.
How is this medication useful?
Ceftiofur sodium is used for breathing-related infections in many kinds of animals. It is also used for some bladder or urinary infections in dogs.
In some situations, the FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe and use medicines that contain this drug for other animal species or for different health problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best choice.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect this medicine. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including:
- vitamins,
- supplements, or
- herbal products.
- Also include how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has been treated before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine-related problems your animal has had, including:
- allergic reactions,
- not wanting to eat,
- diarrhea,
- itching, or
- hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours.
- Even so, you may not be able to see changes right away.
- Your animal should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days.
- This medicine does not last long in the body.
- It stops working within 24 hours.
- However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines (other cephalosporins).
- Animals that have kidney failure.
- Animals that are allergic to other beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If you notice the signs listed below, you usually do not need to be highly worried unless the signs are severe, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Diarrhea, vomiting, and not wanting to eat.
- Swelling where the shot was given.
- In horses, softer stools or mild diarrhea.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Fever, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and pale gums, which can be signs of an allergic reaction to the medicine.
- In horses, severe diarrhea.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
A very large amount of ceftiofur sodium can be dangerous. It can lead to anemias (too few healthy red blood cells) and can harm the kidneys and the nervous system.
If you see or think an overdose has happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control service for guidance. These services are available 24 hours a day:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435)
- Pet Poison HELPLINE (855-764-7661)
A consultation fee is charged.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it.
- Check the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it the correct way.
- If the medicine must be mixed before use, prepare it exactly as your veterinarian or pharmacist tells you.
Giving by injection:
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist will provide the supplies needed to give the injections (for example, needles and syringes).
- Each injection must be given using a fresh needle and a fresh syringe.
- Also use a new needle and syringe when preparing (mixing) new vials.
- Do not use needles or syringes again.
- Because this medicine must be given as a shot, make sure you clearly understand:
- the correct amount,
- the correct place(s) to inject, and
- the correct way to give the injection.
- If giving the injection is difficult for you or stressful for your animal, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on making dosing easier and reducing stress during medication time.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time.
- Make sure you know how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full treatment is finished.
- Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
- If you are giving injections at home, put used needles and syringes into a sharps container right after use.
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist can help you get these containers.
- Avoid accidental needle sticks.
- Do not try to remove the needle from the syringe.
- Keep sharps containers where children and pets cannot reach them.
- When the container is about three-quarters full, dispose of it using the rules in your community.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed dose.
- Instead, give the next dose at the regular time.
- After that, continue with the normal schedule.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original vial.
- Before it is mixed, store the vial at room temperature and keep it protected from light.
- After it is mixed into a liquid, keep it in the refrigerator.
- Throw away refrigerated liquid after 7 days.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot access it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine.
- After you handle any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a toilet or down a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to people who might search through trash.
- Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and then place it in the regular trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- If the animal may be used as food for people, follow the meat (slaughter) and milk withdrawal times your veterinarian gives you.
- This medicine may not be permitted in some animal competitions.
- Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”