What is cephalexin and how does it work in dogs. How can cephalexin help treat bacterial infections in canines. What are the potential side effects of cephalexin in dogs. When should pet owners avoid giving cephalexin to their dogs.

Understanding Cephalexin: A Powerful Antibiotic for Dogs

Cephalexin is a widely used antibiotic that belongs to the class of first-generation cephalosporins. This versatile medication is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, making it a valuable tool in treating various bacterial infections in dogs. Its mechanism of action involves disrupting the growth of bacterial cell walls, ultimately causing them to rupture and die.

The World Health Organization recognizes cephalexin’s importance by including it on its List of Essential Medicines. For pet owners, understanding this antibiotic’s uses and potential effects is crucial for ensuring their dog’s health and well-being.

Chemical Composition and Forms

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, cephalexin is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic. Its chemical name is 7-(D-α-amino-α-phenylacetamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid, monohydrate. This complex molecule is the active ingredient in various brand-name medications, including Keflex, Biocef, and Keftab.

Common Uses of Cephalexin in Canine Medicine

Veterinarians often prescribe cephalexin to treat a range of bacterial infections in dogs. Its broad-spectrum effectiveness makes it a go-to choice for many common canine health issues.

Bacterial Infections Treated by Cephalexin

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Skin and soft tissue infections (e.g., hotspots and pyoderma)
• Bone infections
• Respiratory tract infections
• Ear infections (otitis)

Cephalexin’s effectiveness against various bacteria types makes it a versatile treatment option. Some of the bacteria it can combat include:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pneumonia
• Haemophilus influenza
• E. coli
• Streptococcus pyogenes
• Klebsiella pneumonia
• Proteus mirabilis

Administering Cephalexin to Dogs: Best Practices

When prescribed cephalexin for your dog, it’s essential to follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully. The medication is typically given orally and can be administered with or without food. However, offering it with food may help reduce the risk of some common side effects.

Dosage and Duration

The appropriate dosage and duration of cephalexin treatment will depend on various factors, including your dog’s size, the severity of the infection, and any underlying health conditions. Always adhere to the prescribed dosage and complete the full course of treatment, even if your dog’s symptoms improve before the medication is finished.

Potential Side Effects and Precautions

While cephalexin is generally well-tolerated by dogs, like all medications, it can cause side effects in some animals. Being aware of these potential reactions can help you monitor your dog’s health during treatment.

Common Side Effects

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Panting
• Drooling
• Hyperexcitability
• Skin rashes

If you notice any of these side effects or any other unusual behavior in your dog while on cephalexin, it’s important to contact your veterinarian promptly.

Precautions and Contraindications

Before starting cephalexin treatment, inform your veterinarian if your dog:

• Has experienced side effects from other drugs
• Suffers from digestive upset
• Has kidney disease
• Has any known allergies
• Is pregnant or nursing

Additionally, cephalexin can interact with other medications, including penicillin and certain blood thinners. Always provide your veterinarian with a complete list of any medications or supplements your dog is currently taking.

The Importance of Proper Antibiotic Use in Dogs

Responsible use of antibiotics like cephalexin is crucial for maintaining their effectiveness and preventing antibiotic resistance. This means following your veterinarian’s instructions precisely and never using leftover antibiotics from previous prescriptions or medications intended for humans or other animals.

Completing the Full Course of Treatment

Even if your dog’s symptoms improve before the prescribed course is complete, it’s essential to continue administering the medication as directed. Stopping treatment early can lead to a resurgence of the infection and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Alternatives to Cephalexin: When It’s Not the Right Choice

While cephalexin is effective against many bacterial infections, it’s not always the best choice for every situation. Your veterinarian may recommend alternative antibiotics or treatments based on your dog’s specific condition and health status.

Viral Infections

It’s important to note that cephalexin, like all antibiotics, is ineffective against viral infections. If your dog is diagnosed with a viral condition, your veterinarian will recommend appropriate supportive care and treatments specific to the virus in question.

The Future of Antibiotic Use in Veterinary Medicine

As concerns about antibiotic resistance continue to grow, the veterinary community is actively working on developing new strategies for managing bacterial infections in animals. This includes researching alternative treatments, improving diagnostic tools to ensure appropriate antibiotic use, and promoting responsible prescribing practices.

Emerging Therapies

Researchers are exploring various alternatives to traditional antibiotics, including bacteriophage therapy, immune system modulators, and novel antimicrobial compounds derived from natural sources. These emerging therapies may offer new options for treating bacterial infections in dogs while reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance.

In conclusion, cephalexin remains a valuable tool in treating bacterial infections in dogs. By understanding its uses, benefits, and potential side effects, pet owners can work more effectively with their veterinarians to ensure the best possible care for their canine companions. As with any medication, responsible use and close monitoring are key to achieving optimal results and maintaining your dog’s health and well-being.

What It Is and How It Can Help Your Dog – American Kennel Club

• skin
• pregnancy

AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.

Cephalexin is one of several antibiotics (medicines that kill bacteria) used to treat a range of bacterial infections in people, dogs, and other animals. Like other antibiotics, it does not work against viral infections.

It belongs to the class of antibiotics known as a first-generation cephalosporin. The drug also goes by the name cefalexin. These are the generic names for a drug that is known by the brand names Keflex, Biocef, and Keftab. Cephalexin for dogs is an oral medication and can be given with or without food. Offering the drug with food, however, can reduce the risk of some of the more common side effects.

Tell your vet if your dog is taking any other kind of drug, including herbal and over-the-counter remedies, or has a medical issue that might rule out cephalexin treatment, including:

• side effects from other drugs
• digestive upset
• kidney disease
• allergies
• pregnancy, nursing

The World Health Organization includes this drug on its List of Essential Medicines. It is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and it kills these bugs by disrupting the growth of the bacterial cell wall and causing it to rupture.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Cephalexin is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic It is 7-(D-α-amino-α-phenylacetamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid, monohydrate.

What Dog Diseases Are Treated With Cephalexin?

Cephalexin is effective against several infections in dogs, including:

• Urinary tract (UTI)
• Skin and soft tissue, such as hotspots and pyoderma
• Bone
• Respiratory tract
• Ear (otitis)

The drug is considered a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and is effective against several bacteria, including:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pneumonia
• Haemophilus influenza
• E. coli
• Streptococcus pyogenes
• Klebsiella pneumonia
• Proteus mirabilis

Side Effects of Cephalexin in Dogs

As in humans, antibiotic treatment with drugs like cephalexin are usually well-tolerated. This drug can interact with other medications, including the antibiotic penicillin and some blood thinners. Some side effects to look out for include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Panting
• Drooling
• Hyperexcitability
• Skin rashes

If you see any of these side effects, contact your veterinarian.

Cephalexin is available by prescription. All antibiotics should be administered with veterinary supervision, and you must follow your medical professional’s instructions to the letter. Never give your dog antibiotics that have been left over from a prescription for a person or another animal.

https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php

Share a few contact details to get your FREE e-book

Breeder Education Courses

Training isn’t just for pets – here’s your chance to learn too. Visit the AKC Breeder Education Platform designed to support your continuing education needs. Course topics include introduction to breeding, genetics, anatomy, whelping and nutrition.

*Turn off pop-up blocker to download

*Turn off pop-up blocker to download

AKC Privacy Policy

What Should I Not Take With Cephalexin?

iStock

Every drug has the potential to interact with something else you’re ingesting (other medications, supplements, and even certain foods), and the antibiotic cephalexin (brand name Keflex) is no different. That’s the reason your physician should ask you what else you’re taking before prescribing it (and also the reason why you should tell your doctor if you’re using something as seemingly harmless as Tylenol).

If you’ve never heard of cephalexin, it is what’s called a cephalosporin antibiotic. These commonly prescribed antibiotics are used to treat respiratory infections (including pneumonia), urinary tract infections, skin infections, and more. Cephalexin is considered a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which means it targets only specific strains of bacteria.

If you do a quick internet search on the drug, you’ll see a laundry list of potentially problematic medications and supplements that cause negative health issues when taken with cephalexin. But experts say many of these side effects are unlikely, and some are more common than others.

A big one to be aware of: If you’re taking the diabetes drug metformin, which lowers blood sugar levels, cephalexin can be a problem, says Alia Aaeedy, the director of pharmacy at Texas Surgical Hospital in Plano, Texas. “Cephalexin is known to increase the serum levels [i.e. concentration] of metformin,” she says. If you take the two drugs together, you will need blood monitoring since metformin serum levels that are too high can cause your blood sugar to dip dangerously low.

Another common problematic drug is probenecid, a medication used to treat chronic gout by helping the kidneys get rid of a buildup of uric acid in the blood. However, when taken with cephalexin, probenecid increases the levels of cephalosporins in your blood, says Christina M. Madison, Pharm.D., the founder of The Public Health Pharmacist in Las Vegas, NV. As a result, you may have more antibiotics in your system than you need to fight your infection, which can cause more side effects, such as an upset stomach.

On the flip side, you also need to be careful taking certain vitamins and probiotics with cephalexin, which can block the absorption of the antibiotic. Mineral vitamins in particular get a red flag. “Specifically, the zinc contained in many multivitamins may decrease cephalexin absorption,” says Madison. The same goes for oral zinc salts. You don’t have to skip your vitamin or zinc supplement while taking the drug, but it’s wise to separate the two doses by three hours, says Madison.

In addition, cephalexin can interfere with the efficacy of certain vaccines, including shots for typhoid and cholera, often needed for international travel. Wait until you’ve finished the antibiotic before getting your vaccines, says Eric Goldberg, M.D., an internist and medical director of NYU Langone Internal Medicine Associates in New York City. “The antibiotic would kill off what the vaccine puts into your system,” he explains.

Also good to note: Taking cephalexin with vitamin K can interfere with the anticoagulant effect of the vitamin and may require blood monitoring. In addition, a probiotic, including Lactobacillus, may interfere with absorption, so wait until you’re done with your course of cephalexin before taking one.

The other drug interactions that make internet lists are not likely, say experts. “It’s a pretty well-tolerated medication and fairly safe in terms of interacting with other things,” says Dr. Goldberg. Of course, if you’re unsure about anything, it’s always best to check in with your doctor before forging ahead. Better safe than sorry!

Notes: This article was originally published November 16, 2021 and most recently updated December 14, 2021.

Cephalexin Overview: The Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). “Drug and Supplements: Cephalexin.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cephalexin-oral-route/precautions/drg-20073325

Cephalexin and Metformin: Drug Metabolism and Drug Interactions. (2002.) “Effects of cephalexin on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in healthy human volunteers.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12222753/

Our Review ProcessKrista Bennett DeMaio, Health Writer:  

Krista Bennett DeMaio has well over a decade of editorial experience. The former magazine editor regularly covers skincare, health, beauty, and lifestyle topics.

Vincent A. Covelli, D.O., Infectious Disease Specialist and Internal Medicine Physician:  

Dr. Vincent Covelli is an Infectious Disease specialist and Internal Medicine physician. He completed his training at the University of Virginia and is currently the chair of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control & Prevention at Providence-St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, CA.

Cephalor (oral powder)

Description

White powder
to light brown color with the smell of constituent components.

Composition

1 g of preparation
contains active ingredient:

cephalexin
monohydrate – 250.0 mg.

Auxiliary
substances: sodium carbonate, sodium citrate.

Pharmacological properties

АТС vet
classification code QJ01 – antibacterial veterinary drugs for
system application. QJOlDB0l – Cephalexin.

Cephalexin –
semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic of the first generation. Active
bactericidal. The mechanism of action is to disrupt the synthesis of cellular
bacterial walls. Cefalexin has a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity
against gram-positive (Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Clostridium
spp., Corynebacterium spp., Erysipelothrix spp.) and gram-negative (E. coli,
Haemopl. Rilus spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Pasteurella spp. , Proteus
spp., Klebsiella spp.) bacteria.

Cephalexin after
oral administration is rapidly absorbed, its bioavailability is 95%.
Cephalexin is evenly distributed in body tissues, its high
concentrations are observed in the liver, kidneys, respiratory tract, heart, bile,
bones and joints. Only 10-15% of cephalexin binds to plasma proteins.
Peak serum concentrations are reached 60-90 minutes after ingestion.
drug, the maximum concentration is about 5.53 mcg / ml. Cefalexin
does not pass through the blood-brain barrier. Cephalexin is excreted from the body
through the kidneys by glomerular filtration unchanged and, to a lesser extent,
with bile.

Indications for use

Treatment of decorative
birds (pigeons, parrots, canaries, pheasants), patients with collibacteriosis,
salmonellosis, necrotic enteritis, staphylococcosis, streptococcosis, and
as well as other diseases caused by microorganisms sensitive to
cephalexin.

Dosage and administration

Oral with
drinking water in doses:

– 0. 5-0.6 g
drug per 1 liter of drinking water (125.0-150.0 mg of cephalexin monohydrate per 1 liter
drinking water) or 25.0-50.0 mg of cephalexin monohydrate per 1 kg of body weight
daily for 3-5 days.

Cooking first
concentrated solution of the drug (0.05-0.06 kg of the drug per 1 liter of drinking
water) pour the required amount of drinking water into a small container,
preferably warm, and make the drug in small portions, stirring continuously,
until the powder is completely dissolved, the concentrate prepared in this way
added to the amount of drinking water required for daily consumption.
Daily prepare a fresh solution of the drug.

Contraindications

Increased
sensitivity to cephalexin.

Do not use
simultaneously with bacteriostatic antibiotics (macrolides, tetracyclines),
as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Do not use
rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and other small herbivores.

Warning

Side effects

Cases
negative effects of the drug caused by a single overdose,
unknown.

Special precautions for use

Use
the drug should be discontinued if resistance is detected
microorganisms to the active substance of the drug, microbiological
Confirmation of diagnosis and susceptibility tests for pathogens
should be performed before prescribing the drug.

Interaction with other means and other forms
interactions

The drug is not
It is recommended to mix with other drugs.

Do not apply
simultaneously with preparations containing Mg2+, Al3+ cations in their composition,
Ca2+, since the latter bind to cephalexin and prevent it
absorption.

Presentation

Packs of
polyethylene or other plastic film 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 g each

Containers 100

Storage

Dry dark,
a place inaccessible to children at a temperature of 5 ° C to 25 ° C.

Shelf life

2 years.

Expiry date
after opening the package is 14 days, in the conditions of storage of an open
container with the drug at a temperature of 15 ° C to 25 ° C in a dry, protected from
light place.

Expiry date
after dilution in water is 24 hours.

For use in
veterinary medicine!

Faces of Control – Assistance to patients free of charge to take good, effective signs and medical services

Call, mi we buy faces at the station stress .

We are worried about the health of our health, worrying about the health of our relatives and loved ones, so we can often be manipulated.

precautions to take medications are formed according to official instructions before medical stoppage preparations.

We often suffer from the impossibility of having a face

through їх variance ,

daily liquor in the pharmacy,

and likuvatsya required already today.

In the very same way, we have developed an even more efficient and simple service, so that a person could, in a few seconds , turn over the faces , having secured themselves the appearance of rude medicines.

0005

Take a look at the video – learn to look through the faces and find analogues to the faces

for 2 credits:

9 0005 “Available faces” in services Faces Control

Likes, variability abo chastkovo the state pays for the program “Accessible Faces” is recognized in the transfer of medicinal benefits by the logo of the program.

How to get free faces? – Pokrokov’s instruction

Telegram and Viber chat-bot “Sleep Gritsya” – a simple way to take Accessible faces to patients with chronic illnesses. Yak? – “Sleep Gritsya.”

Grits distribution:

• Dealing with skin patient in a village, small town or metropolis
• How to prepare can be found in “Accessible faces”
• Guessing what time to take away upcoming recipe and new “Available faces”
• To help organize a family home first aid kit and remember all the terms of the attachment of your faces.

Liki Control allow

how to make buti skin-free for the skin patient of the drug.

National benefit for equal and fair access of patients to basic effective treatment of diseases, which are priorities for Ukraine.

Telegram and Viber chat-bot “Have fun” – a guide for patients with breast cancer. He is interested in the possibilities of free diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer in the skin region of Ukraine. Dopomozhe rejoice diyno free of charge.

Chatbot “Hi” helps skin patients who have been diagnosed with “breast cancer”, look for a medical mortgage, such medical services and in such a case can be taken free of charge. It is worth it as a service for the diagnosis of oncological illnesses, so it is their exaltation. The chatbot’s clerk can choose a medical service, take a pokrokov’s instruction for її otrimanna, and turn to the medicine.

In order to make known that the joy of cancer is accessible not only for the rich and famous, but also for outstanding people with average and low incomes, we created the project “Become the star of your life – Enjoy it for free” .

Service Faces for oncologists – Subscribe to life to help the patient know faces, which can be taken again free of charge . We improved the per-shukovy algorithm in such a way that it would help the skin patient as much as possible to know the ability to enjoy it for free. Tell about the need for the drug you need in the selected region.

On the website you will find all labels that the state purchases directly oncological and oncohematological infections, as well as labels from the National transfer of the main medicinal products sobiv.