Ceftiofur Hydrochloride
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Ceftiofur Hydrochloride during a consultation by Dr Noor in Perth.”
Ceftiofur Hydrochloride for pets
(sef-tee-oh-fur)
Description:
This medicine is an antibiotic in the cephalosporin family.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Excenel® RTU
- Excenel® RTU EZ
- Spectramast®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- an injectable liquid that contains either 125 mg in 10 mL (12.5 mg per mL) or 500 mg in 10 mL (50 mg per mL).
- For people:
- none.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
Key Information
- Make sure you understand the safe way to give this medicine. If this type of ceftiofur is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, the animal may die suddenly.
- Ceftiofur hydrochloride must only be given as an injection under the skin or into a muscle. Do not inject it into a vein or an artery. If it is given by mouth, it will not work.
- Do not inject more than 15 mL in a single spot.
- The skin where the injection is given may change color.
- If you are treating an animal that may later be used as food for people, follow the required waiting times for drug residues when using this medicine.
How is this medication useful?
For cattle, horses, and pigs, ceftiofur hydrochloride may help treat breathing-related infections. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for an 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, and include how much you give and when you give it.
- 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 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 with your veterinarian.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had side effects from medicines before, 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 though you may not notice changes you can see. Your animal should start to seem better within 1 to 2 days.
This medicine does not last long in the body. It usually 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 either situation applies to your animal, speak with your veterinarian about the risks and benefits.
- Do not use this medicine in animals that are allergic to it or to similar medicines (other cephalosporins).
- Use this medicine carefully in animals that have kidney failure.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If you notice any of the signs listed here, you usually do not need to be highly worried unless the signs are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Swelling where the injection was given.
- In horses, loose manure or mild diarrhea.
- Fever, skin rashes, trouble breathing, and pale gums. These may be signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine.
- In horses, diarrhea.
- If ceftiofur is injected into an artery or a vein, sudden death can happen. Make sure you know the correct and safe way to give this injection.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Giving too much ceftiofur hydrochloride can be dangerous. It may cause anemia (too few red blood cells) and may harm the kidneys and the nervous system (the brain and nerves). If you see or think an overdose has happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for advice.
How should this medication be given?
To get the expected results, give this medicine exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
Giving by Injection:
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist will provide the supplies needed for injections (for example, needles and syringes). If the medicine must be mixed before use, mix it only in the way your veterinarian or pharmacist tells you.
- Use a fresh needle and a fresh syringe for every injection. Do not use needles or syringes again. Because this medicine must be injected, make sure you understand the correct dose, the correct place(s) to inject, and the correct way to give the injection.
- Before each use, shake the bottle well.
- Do not inject more than 15 mL in one injection location.
- If giving the injection is difficult for your animal, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medication time.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. 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 to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
- 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 the container where children and pets cannot reach it. When the container is about three-quarters full, dispose of it using your local rules.
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. 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 bottle at room temperature. Do not let it freeze. Shake well before each use. Store it where children and 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 there is a community medicine take-back program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, 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 trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it does not leak, and throw it away with household 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 for food for people, follow the meat and milk withdrawal times your veterinarian gives you.
- Some animal competitions may not allow this medicine. Before entering a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine, check the rules.
- 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.”