Table 4: Antimicrobials for Skin Infections in Dogs
Table 4: Antimicrobials for Skin Infections in Dogs1*
Download a PDF of Table 4
| First-tier empiric antimicrobials | |
|---|---|
| Clindamycin | 5.5–11 mg/kg PO q 12 hr |
| Cephalexin | 22–30 mg/kg PO q 12 hr |
| Amoxicillin clavulanate | 14–25 mg/kg PO q 12 hr |
| Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine/ sulfamethoxazole | 15–30 mg/kg PO q 12 hr |
| First OR second tier | |
| Cefpodoxime | 5–10 mg/kg PO q 24 hr |
| Cefovecin | 8 mg/kg SC q 14 days |
| Second tier ONLY with culture and susceptibility | |
| Minocycline | 5–10 mg/kg PO q 12 hr |
| Doxycycline | 5–10 mg/kg PO q 12 hr |
| Enrofloxacin | 5–20 mg/kg PO q 24 hr |
| Marbofloxacin | 2.75–5.5 mg/kg PO q 24 hr |
| Pradofloxacin | 3 mg/kg PO q 24 hr |
| Chloramphenicol | 40–50 mg/kg PO q 8 hr |
| Rifampin | 3–6 mg/kg PO q 24 hr2 |
| Do NOT use for Staphylococcus spp. infections | |
| Amoxicillin | |
| Penicillin | |
| Nitrofurantoin | |
PO, orally; SC, subcutaneously.
*For more information on antimicrobial stewardship, see the 2022 AAFP/AAHA Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines at aaha.org/ antimicrobials.
- Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). Vet Dermatol. 2014;25:163–e43.
- Harbour L, Schick A, Mount R, White A. Rifampicin treatment of canine multidrug-resistant meticillin-resistant staphylococcal pyoderma: A retrospective study of 51 cases. Vet Dermatol. 2022;33(5):384–91.
The 2023 AAHA Management of Allergic Skin Diseases in Dogs and Cats Guidelines are generously supported by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health, and Zoetis.
