Cefoxitin
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Cefoxitin during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Cefoxitin for pets in Perth
(se-fox-i-tin)
Description:
This medicine is an antibiotic in the cephalosporin family.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Mefoxin®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- there are no veterinary-labeled forms.
- For people:
- it comes in vials of 1 gram, 2 grams, and 10 grams.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Highly Important
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this 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, speak with your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- This medicine has to be given by injection (a shot). If it is swallowed, it will not work.
- If it is injected into a muscle, it can be painful.
- After the medicine is mixed, keep it in the refrigerator. Do not use the mixed liquid after 7 days.
How is this medication useful?
Cefoxitin for pets in Perth is used for severe infections in dogs and cats. It is not officially approved for animals. In some situations, veterinarians may prescribe medicines that contain this drug for other species or for different medical problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this option is the best fit.
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 decide together on the best plan.
- Some medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share 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 had treatment in the past 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 with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medication problems your animal has had, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool, 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 though you may not be able to see changes right away. Your animal should start to seem better within 1 to 2 days. The medicine does not last long in the body, meaning 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 concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal has any of the issues listed here, discuss with your veterinarian how the risks compare with the benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or similar medicines (other cephalosporins).
- Animals that have an allergy to other beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- Animals that have kidney failure.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If you notice the signs listed here, you usually do not need to be highly worried unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Loose stool (diarrhea), throwing up (vomiting), and not wanting to eat.
- Soreness and swelling where the shot was given.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- A fever, skin rashes, trouble breathing, and pale gums can be signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Giving too much cefoxitin can be dangerous. If you see or think an overdose happened, contact your veterinarian right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work correctly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is also smart to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it the right way.
Giving by Injection:
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist will provide what you need to give the injections (for example, needles and syringes). If the medicine must be mixed before use, mix it exactly as your veterinarian or pharmacist instructs.
- Each time you prepare a vial or give a shot, use a fresh needle and a fresh syringe. Do not use needles or syringes again.
- When you prepare the medicine, it is important to avoid pressure building up inside the vial. Your pharmacist or veterinarian will teach you how to add the mixing liquid in a way that prevents the liquid from spraying back out.
- After you add the mixing liquid, shake the vial until the liquid looks clear.
- Because this medicine must be given as a shot, make sure you understand the correct dose, the correct place(s) to give it, and the correct way to give the injection.
- Shots of cefoxitin can sting. If your animal reacts strongly to the injections, your veterinarian may be able to provide something you can mix into the solution to reduce or prevent the stinging.
- This medicine may need to be given for different lengths of time depending on the situation. Make sure you clearly understand 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 first, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
- 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 accidentally poking yourself. Do not try to separate the needle from the syringe. Keep the container where children and pets cannot reach it. When the container is about three-quarters full, throw it away using the disposal method required in your area. Ask your local trash service or your health department what disposal options exist where you live.
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 one; instead, give the next dose at the regular time. Then 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 container it came in from the pharmacy.
- Vials of cefoxitin disodium that have not been mixed can be kept at controlled room temperature and should be protected from light.
- After it is mixed into a liquid, it must be kept in the refrigerator.
- After mixing, the expiration time can differ, but it cannot be longer than 7 days.
- Do not use any mixed liquid after that expiration time.
Store it where children and other animals cannot get to it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special safety steps are needed when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it. 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 there is a community medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter (so children and animals will not want it, and so it is not recognizable to someone searching through trash).
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and 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?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given, check the rules.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your 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.”