Ceftiofur for Pigs: Uses, Dosing & Side Effects

This information is for educational purposes only. Never give your pet any medication without your veterinarian's guidance. Dosing, frequency, and safety depend on your pet's specific health profile.

Ceftiofur is a prescription cephalosporin antibiotic used in pigs to treat certain bacterial infections, especially swine respiratory disease (SRD). In the U.S., labeled swine products include formulations such as ceftiofur sodium and ceftiofur crystalline free acid, sold under brand names your vet may recognize like Naxcel and Excede for Swine.

This medication works by interfering with bacterial cell wall formation. That means it targets susceptible bacteria, not viruses. If a pig has coughing, fever, poor appetite, or labored breathing, ceftiofur may be one option your vet considers when bacterial pneumonia or a mixed respiratory infection is part of the problem.

For pet pigs and small hobby herds, the exact product matters. Different formulations have different concentrations, dosing schedules, injection-site limits, and meat withdrawal times. Because pigs are a food-producing species, your vet also has to follow federal rules on labeled use and residue avoidance.

Ceftiofur should never be started, stopped, or adjusted without veterinary guidance. In pigs, even small changes in dose, route, or duration can create safety and food-residue concerns.

Ceftiofur is used most often for swine respiratory disease, a broad term that covers bacterial pneumonia and related respiratory infections. FDA-approved swine labels include pathogens such as Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Haemophilus parasuis, Streptococcus suis, and for some formulations Salmonella choleraesuis.

In real-world practice, your vet may choose ceftiofur when a pig has fever, depression, reduced appetite, coughing, increased breathing effort, or other signs that fit a bacterial respiratory process. It may be used for an individual pig, or in some labeled situations for control in a group of pigs when SRD has already been diagnosed in that group.

That said, ceftiofur is not the right answer for every sick pig. Respiratory signs can also be caused by viruses, parasites, poor ventilation, heat stress, or noninfectious inflammation. Your vet may recommend an exam, temperature check, lung assessment, and sometimes testing before deciding whether an antibiotic is appropriate.

Because antimicrobial stewardship matters, ceftiofur is usually best reserved for cases where your vet believes a susceptible bacterial infection is likely. Using it when it is not needed can make future infections harder to treat.

Ceftiofur dosing in pigs depends on the specific formulation your vet prescribes. For example, labeled ceftiofur sodium (Naxcel) is given intramuscularly at 1.36 to 2.27 mg per lb (3 to 5 mg/kg) every 24 hours, typically for 3 consecutive days. Labeled Excede for Swine is a single intramuscular dose of 2.27 mg ceftiofur equivalents per lb (5 mg/kg) in the post-auricular region of the neck.

For miniature pet pigs, Merck Veterinary Manual lists ceftiofur sodium at 3 to 5 mg/kg IM every 24 hours for 3 days, and long-acting ceftiofur at 5 mg/kg IM every 3 to 5 days, with no more than 2 mL per injection site. Those numbers may help you understand what your vet is calculating, but they are not a substitute for an individualized prescription.

Never estimate a dose by eye. Pigs can vary a lot in body weight, and concentration differs by product. Your vet may weigh your pig, calculate the exact milliliters needed, choose the correct injection site, and set a treatment duration based on severity, response, and whether the pig is intended for food use.

If your pig misses a dose, vomits after unrelated medications, seems worse, or develops swelling at the injection site, contact your vet before making changes. Do not double the next dose unless your vet specifically tells you to.

Many pigs tolerate ceftiofur well, but side effects can still happen. The most common concern is injection-site irritation, including soreness, swelling, or tissue reaction where the medication was given. With some formulations, label information notes that injection-site changes can affect edible tissue at slaughter.

As with other beta-lactam antibiotics, allergic or hypersensitivity reactions are possible, though uncommon. Signs can include hives, facial swelling, sudden itching, or breathing difficulty. If you notice any of these, see your vet immediately.

Digestive upset is less emphasized on swine labels than injection-site reactions, but any antibiotic can potentially disrupt normal gut bacteria. If your pig develops diarrhea, marked appetite loss, lethargy, or worsening fever during treatment, your vet should know right away.

Also watch for lack of improvement. If coughing, fever, or breathing effort is not improving within the timeframe your vet discussed, the problem may involve a resistant bacterium, a different diagnosis, or a need for supportive care in addition to antibiotics.

There are no widely emphasized day-to-day drug interactions on common swine ceftiofur labels, but that does not mean interactions are impossible. Your vet still needs a full medication list, including other antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, supplements, dewormers, and any recent injections.

The biggest practical concern is using the wrong ceftiofur product, route, dose, or duration alongside other treatments in a food animal. In pigs, cephalosporin use is tightly regulated. FDA rules prohibit certain extra-label cephalosporin uses in swine, including unapproved doses, frequencies, durations, routes, and use for disease prevention.

Your vet may also think carefully before combining antibiotics unless there is a clear reason. In some cases, combination therapy adds cost and handling stress without improving results. In others, it may be appropriate if your vet is targeting multiple likely pathogens or managing a severe outbreak.

Before each visit, bring a written list of everything your pig has received in the last few weeks. That helps your vet avoid duplicate therapy, residue problems, and unnecessary medication changes.