Product Description

Ultimate Guide to Simplicef

Meet the Skin Infection Defence: Simplicef!

Simplicef is a veterinarian-approved, FDA-approved that is an antibacterial product that protects your dog from various skin infections - wounds and abscesses - in dogs. These bacterial skin infections can derive from numerous factors such as insect and animal bites, ill human contact, allergens, and many other factors.

How does Simplicef work?

Simplicef has one active ingredient - Cefpodoxime proxetil. This ingredient is an oral antibiotic, that derives from cephalosporin antibiotics, that treat bacterial infections by suppressing the growth of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoans. Simplicef can be used as a preliminary dog medication before antimicrobial therapy.

How is Simplicef administered?

Simplicef comes in a scored, film-coated, and odorless pill/tablet form that is easy to administer orally every 24 hours with or without food. Maximum effectiveness can be demonstrated when taken with food to increase absorption into the body.

Give the exact dosage your vet directed. Administer daily for 5 to 7 days; however, if no response is seen within the first 2 to 3 days, discontinue the medication.

Simplicef pills/tablets come in 100 mg (elliptical reddish-orange tablets) and 200 mg (round rectangle, light orange) in 100 tablets or 250 tablets in the bottle. The recommended dosage for dogs is 2.3 to 4.5 mg per pound, depending on weight. See the dosage charts below.

Number of Tablets by Body Weight (2.3 mg/lb)

Number of Tablets by Body Weight (4.5 mg/lb)

What are the precautions of which you should be aware?

• Simplicef is not for human use.
• Simplicef is not for viral infections (e.g., influenza).
• If no response is seen within the first 2 to 3 days, discontinue the medication.
• Use in breeding, pregnant (found okay), and lactating (cautionary) dogs have not been demonstrated.
• Don't give to dogs that are sensitive to penicillin or cephalosporin.
• Don't give to dogs that are taking antacids (e.g., Maalox) or stomach acid-reducers (e.g., Tagamet).
• Caution with dogs that have kidney disease or history of seizures.
• If you exceed the recommended dosage (i.e., an overdose), call your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to an emergency veterinarian clinic. Signs are vomiting, diarrhea, and/or jaundice.

What are the potential side effects of which you should be aware?

Take your dog to your regular vet or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately if you observe any of the following reactions:

• Vomiting
• Severe nausea
• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Mucus or blood in the stool
• Diarrhea
• Allergic reactions that result in shortness of breath, hives, rash, fainting, and/or swelling

Less serious Simplicef side effects should be told to your vet especially if they seem unusual or bothersome to your dog, such as mild nausea, diarrhea, or a yeast infection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Simplicef for Dogs?

Simplicef is an antibacterial medicine that protects your dog from various skin infections. It is an FDA-approved and veterinarian-prescribed drug. Your dog may succumb to bacterial infection from numerous factors like allergens, insect and animal bites, ill human contact, .etc.

Simplicef or cefpodoxime proxetil is a third-generation antibiotic for the treatment of dog skin infections. Urinary tract infections causing bacterias, E. coli, Streptococcus canis, and certain other bacteria strains are vulnerable to cefpodoxime.

What Are the Side Effects of Simplicef in Dogs?

The common side effects of Simplicef tablets in Dogs are

• Vomiting or Diarrhea
• Bruising
• Severe nausea
• Mucus or blood in the stool
• Bleeding
• Hives
• Fainting
• Shortness of breath
• Rash
• Swelling

Contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe any of the effects. Visit a veterinarian regularly to keep your dog under supervision.

Also, if your dog gets yeast infection or nausea, book an appointment.

How Is Simplicef Administered and What Is the Dosage?

Simplicef is an oral medication for your dog.

You can give the drug with or without food, but the maximum effect is seen with food as it increases absorption.

The dosage, as prescribed by your dog's veterinarian, should be strictly followed. Veterinarians recommend administering the medicine daily for 5 to 7 days; stop use if no response after 2 to 3 days.

The elliptical reddish-orange or rectangular round, light orange Simplicef tablets come in 100 or 250 tablet bottles of 100 mg and 200 mg. The veterinarians recommend the dosage as 2.3 to 4.5 mg per pound body weight of the dog.

How Long for Simplicef to Start Working in Dogs?

The medicine starts its action 1 to 2 hours post-administration. Your dog will start feeling better after 1 to 2 days of medication. The effects of the drug last for 24hours but have prolonged benefits if your dog has declining kidney or liver functions.

Does Simplicef Make Dogs Thirsty?

Cefpodoxime Proxetil or Simplicef, like any other antibiotic, can disturb the stomach of your pet. The drug may lead to heat generation in the stomach if administered on an empty stomach or without food. The best way is to give food to your dog with Simplicef.

You can try milk if there is no allergy to it. The milk helps hydrate the body and helps provide essential nutrients.

Does Simplicef Make Dogs Sleepy?

Your dog may feel a little lethargic post-taking the medications, which is normal.

What Does Simplicef Treat in Dogs?

A playful pet often reaches areas beyond bounds and attracts a lot of unwanted elements to its body. These may lead to skin infections. Also, while moving around in the bushes or outside, they get bruises and cuts. Cefpodoxime proxetil or Simplicef treat such skin infections and wounds.

The drug also treats other bacterial infections, such as

• Bladder infection
• UTI (urinary tract infection)
• Ear infection
• staph infection
• Stomach Infection
• Kennel Cough

Your veterinarian may suggest an apt dose for your pet as per the health conditions and body weight.

The Simplicef susceptible bacteria strains are Escherichia coli (or as commonly called E. Coli), Staphylococcus intermedius, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida, and Streptococcus canis (Group G, -hemolytic).

Your dog's vet may prescribe the medicine if he suspects an infection in the dog resulting from any of the above bacteria strains.

Can a Dog Take Simplicef and Novox Together?

Cefpodoxime proxetil or Simplicef is an antibiotic, while Carprofen or Novox is a pain reliever. Carprofen belongs to a class of drugs known as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs).

Carprofen, when combined with cefpodoxime, can increase the risk of nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity is a rapid kidney deterioration due to medicinal or chemical toxic effects. Some drugs may affect renal function in one form or the other.

Can I Crush Cefpodoxime Simplicef?

Crushing the medicines helps to administer them to the pets easily. Simplicef tablets for dogs often have flavors that dogs love, so chances are your dog will take them without a fuss.

However, if your dog does not like the taste of Simplicef, you can try giving the medicine with some food.

Can I Give My Dog Benadryl With Simplicef for Dogs?

Benadryl and Simplicef are both FDA - approved drugs. However, the consultation of a certified veterinarian before administering the two together is advisable. The need for a particular medicine should always be finalized post discussion with your dog's veterinarian.

If you are administering Simplicef and Benadryl together for your dog, then ensure an hour's gap between their doses. But it is recommended to avoid them during your dog's pregnancy period.

Concluding Thoughts

The most important thing that you should know about Simplicef is its power to protect your dog from bacterial skin infections that are caused by a number of external factors, from parasite to animal bites, allergens, etc. Simplicef can be a preliminary medication before intense antimicrobial therapy.

DISCLAIMER: FDA law restricts Simplicef only on order or prescription of a licensed veterinarian for the best pet health care advice. Ask your veterinarian or consult with one of our pet care specialists at 1-800-844-1427. This informative article is not meant to substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, and professional advice from your veterinarian or other qualified professionals regarding a medical condition. Ask your veterinarian if it's a good idea to treat all of the animals in your household to control a home flea infestation.

Side Effects & Warnings

Stop giving Simplicef and seek emergency veterinary medical care in the event of an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; rash; or fainting), severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, mucus or blood in the stool, and unusual bleeding or bruising. Other, less serious side effects such as mild nausea, diarrhea, or yeast infection may be more likely to occur. Continue to give Simplicef and notify your veterinarian if these symptoms occur. Talk to your veterinarian about any side effect that seems unusual or bothersome to your pet.

Contact your veterinarian in the event of an allergic reaction (such as shortness of breath, hives, swelling, rash, fainting, vomiting, diarrhea, muous or blood in the stool, unusual bleeding, or bruising). Do not give Simplicef at the same time as antacids such as Maalox or other stomach acid-reducers, like Tagamet.

Ingredients

Cefpodoxime Proxetil
How to Use this Antibiotic to Treat Skin Infection in Dogs?

Overview 

Cefpodoxime is a cephalosporin antibiotic that is one of the most popular choices to treat skin infections in dogs. The action of cephalosporin antibiotic helps eradicate the bacterial infestation caused by the strains of Pasteurella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus canis, which cause urinary tract infections. 

While the drug is for use among dogs, its off-label usage is prevalent among cats for urinary tract infections treatment. It often happens that a few of the medications are off-label that are in use. Under such circumstances, it is advisable to refer to the guidelines prescribed by your veterinarian about the caution and direction of usage.

Special Precautions

Overdose of cefpodoxime can lead to lack of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, and vomiting. A few cases of cefpodoxime overdosing can be fatal, and your pet can undergo adverse reactions. It is advisable to contact your veterinarian immediately if such a situation occurs. In the absence of a veterinarian nearby, it is advisable to contact any emergency clinic in your vicinity.

Pets that have an allergy to cephalosporins should not have cefpodoxime. You must not give it to pets with a history of seizures or kidney diseases. Extra caution is essential for giving the drug to nursing animals or pregnant ones.

Mechanism of Action

The drug's actions are highly efficacious against a wide spectrum of bacteria. It specifically helps to tackle gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In the presence of beta-lactamase enzymes, cefpodoxime is stable. Due to the higher production of beta-lactamase enzymes in many organisms, they are resistant to cephalosporins and penicillins. However, they may get affected by cefpodoxime.

Studies suggest that cefpodoxime becomes inactive in the presence of an extended spectrum of beta-lactamases. The inhibition of cell wall synthesis brought by cefpodoxime leads to bactericidal activities. The primary constituent of bacterial cell walls or peptidoglycan ceases to produce due to cefpodoxime’s active metabolite binding.

Known Drug Interactions

Cefpodoxime can interact with a few of the drugs and please its absorption. Therefore you need to inform your veterinarian about any ongoing medication for your pet.

Brand/Generic Equivalents
Simplicef

Directions

Should be given with food to increase absorption by the body.

Dogs (All weights): Give exactly as directed by your veterinarian. The usual dose of Simplicef in dogs is 2.3-4.5 mg/pound, given by mouth, once a day for 5 to 7 days or 2 to 3 days beyond the cessation of clinical signs, up to a maximum of 28 days.