Instructions for the use of Ceftriaxone for kittens and adult cats: how to dilute the solution for an injection, in what dosage?

An antibiotic called ceftriaxone is frequently used to treat bacterial infections in cats, both adult and kitten. To guarantee that your pet receives the appropriate care without any problems, it’s critical to understand how to give this medication.

Ceftriaxone needs to be diluted into a solution before being administered in powder form. To guarantee the injection is secure and efficient, this procedure needs to be done carefully. Additionally, you must administer the medication according to your cat’s weight and the severity of the infection.

We’ll walk you through the process of diluting Ceftriaxone and figuring out the right dosage for your kitten or adult cat in this article. You’ll be able to give your feline friend the best care possible if you follow these guidelines.

Following the recommended dosage and solution preparation instructions is crucial when administering Ceftriaxone to adult and kitten cats. The dosage of the injection is determined by the weight and overall health of the cat, and it must be appropriately diluted. As certain medications have special instructions for use in cats, speaking with a veterinarian is essential to ensuring a safe and efficient course of treatment.

Composition and principle of action of Ceftriaxone

Ceftriaxone, or sodium salt, is the antibacterial agent’s active ingredient. This ingredient prevents transpeptidase from fermenting, which is what secretes peptide glycan, a component of the cell wall with antigenic and protective properties. The treatment works because the bacteria die quickly as a result of the membrane’s integrity being broken. Particularly vulnerable to the antibiotic are streptococci, enterobacteria, staphylococci, meningitis-causing agents, etc.

The medication has a long-lasting effect. The blood level of ceftriaxone reaches its peak 2-4 hours after injection. Ceftriaxone accumulates in the inflamed area and prevents the spread of pathogenic flora for a full 24 hours. The drug is mostly eliminated from the body through urine, with bile and feces coming in second and third.

Cats are supposed to receive ceftriaxone intramuscularly. The medication comes in bottles containing 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 grams of light powder. For convenience of use, you should consider the quantity of medication when purchasing, as its dosage is determined by the weight of the animal; a small cat, for instance, will require one injection from a bottle containing 0.25 g of powder. The medication should be kept for no longer than three years in a cool, dark place.

See also: What medications can be given to a cat at home that are intended for cats?

Indications for the use of an antibiotic in veterinary medicine

Ceftriaxone is used to treat bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract, joints, soft tissues, genitourinary and respiratory systems. Particular conditions for which the medication is prescribed include otitis, pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, cystitis, urolithiasis, sepsis, etc. In order to avoid complications and the development of resistance to other antimicrobial agents, the antibiotic is used following surgery.

Contraindications for use

It is not permitted to give Ceftriaxone to your pet in the first few months of a kitten’s life, during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage, in cases of renal and hepatic insufficiency, or if your pet is intolerant to beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillins, carbapenems, and monobactams. On the eve of mating, cats shouldn’t take the medication since it raises the possibility of fetal malformations. In this instance, you have three months after the treatment’s conclusion to get pregnant.

When a medication is administered improperly or when a pet has a personal intolerance to it, the pet may experience side effects from:

• central nervous system – headache, dizziness, convulsions and impaired coordination of movements;
• cardiovascular system – anemia, thrombosis and arrhythmia;
• digestive tract – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, liver dysfunction;
• excretory system – renal dysfunction, oliguria and nephritis;
• local allergic reactions – rash, hyperemia and itching.

Ceftriaxone cannot be used with other antibiotics or medications that contain calcium. When taking the medication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the same time, caution is advised because this combination may cause internal bleeding. Nephrosis, an inflammatory process resulting in kidney cell death, is facilitated by the combination of some diuretics and antibiotics.

Instructions for use of the drug for the treatment of cats

Veterinarians alone are authorized to prescribe medications and determine dosages, taking into account the pet’s age, health, and degree of disease neglect. You must carefully read the instructions before giving the medication.

Because intramuscular injections are extremely painful, you should see a specialist about how to perform them correctly to spare the animal needless suffering.

What to dilute in and in what proportions?

For injection, the powder needs to be diluted with either water or an anesthetic. Naturally, the use of an anesthetic is preferred in order to lessen the pain associated with intramuscular injections. Given that lidocaine is extremely allergenic, it is preferable to use Novocaine for this purpose. One bottle’s contents must be diluted with 3.6 milliliters of either water for injection or Novocaine (1%) in order to prepare the solution. The completed composition can be kept for a full day in the refrigerator.

How to calculate the dosage of the prepared solution?

For felines, a dosage of 20–40 mg of powder per kilogram of body weight is acceptable. You must gather 0.5 ml of the completed medication (more than 2 kg – 1 ml) when using a bottle containing 0.25 g of Ceftriaxone powder for a single injection in a cat weighing up to 2 kg. The antibiotic dosage is calculated using the following scheme when 0.5 g of powder is mixed with liquid: 0.14–0.16 ml of medication per kilogram of body weight.

Also read: How to calculate the dosage and where to inject Papaverine for treating cats through tablets and injections.

Where and how to inject?

To make the solution, unscrew the aluminum bottle cap, clean the rubber stopper with alcohol, then fill the syringe with the liquid, inject it into the powder-filled bottle, and shake. After that, you must take a fresh syringe—ideally an insulin syringe—and draw up the necessary quantity of medication. After taking the syringe out of the needle that was used to draw the medication, replace it with a fresh injection needle, lift it up and depress the plunger to let the air out. Warm the liquid by holding the syringe in your hand.

It is preferable to complete all preparations in a separate room to spare the animal needless stress. Since the animal will need to be fixed, it is best to perform the surgery in pairs, with one person holding the cat while the other administers the injection. When administering an injection to a pet, you must:

• fix the cat on a flat surface;
• stretch the limb, feeling for the place to insert the needle – the muscle on the thigh in the area of ​​​​the knee bend, while it is important not to hit the joint;
• insert the needle at an angle of 45 degrees to a depth of about 1.5 cm and slowly inject the medicine so that a lump does not form.

After that, you must massage the injection site and carefully remove the needle to prevent the animal from escaping your hands beforehand. Give the pet its favorite treat and give it a gentle pat to help it relax. Owing to the discomfort of the procedure, it is required to alternate injecting the solution into separate limbs: inject the medication into one thigh one day, and the other thigh the next.

It is best to observe the veterinarian injecting the animal because the most important thing is to work fast and methodically.

How many times a day to give injections and until what time?

Ceftriaxone injections should be given once daily, however occasionally the recommended dosage is split into two shots. The doctor will decide how long the treatment will take, but it usually lasts five to ten days. The animal is given a different medication if, after three days of use, the original medication does not help. Even if the cat feels much better, you cannot stop the treatment before the period that the specialist determines.

Administering Ceftriaxone to adult cats and kittens requires careful attention to the dosage guidelines. For the proper dosage based on your pet’s weight and condition, always consult a veterinarian. Incorrect dosages can cause unintended side effects.

To guarantee that the treatment is both safe and effective, the solution must be properly diluted. Your cat’s injection experience may be less painful if you use the appropriate quantity of sterile water or saline.

Lastly, while giving injections at home may seem intimidating at first, it can become second nature with practice. To prevent issues, always handle your cat gently and, if in doubt, consult a veterinarian.

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