Can I give my cat cephalexin 600mg for an abscess? What's the dose?

My short answer is no. Cats are very small compared to humans and the dosing is completely different. This is not a safe approach. Plus, antibiotics should never be given without a prescription by a veterinarian, as inappropriate use can lead to bacterial resistance, which can cause more serious problems. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

An undrained abscess should be drained and flushed as well. That should be done by a vet, as it will be painful for B, and he likely will need to be sedated in order to do it. In addition, it needs to be done sterilely to prevent additional infection from entering the abscess. I would have B seen by a vet now to have the abscess treated, and the vet can prescribe antibiotics for him as well.

Yes you can give this antibiotic to cats. The dosage depends entirely on the pets weight. The main problem that we run into with prescribing human medication to cats, in particular, is that they require a significantly smaller dosage and often times need liquid medication to avoid an overdose. Also antibiotics should only be given if a veterinarian confirms an infection is present. Please ask your vet who has examined and determined your pet needs antibiotics first, then they can prescribe he proper dosage based on your pets exact weight.

You cannot if they are capsules. It is best to return to the pharmacy and get the correct dosage. If they don't have the correct size in capsules then they can give you a liquid that can be dosed properly.

It is pointless without finding and treating the underlying cause of the abscess. Abscesses typically heal quickly and with no residual issues as long as the underlying cause is addressed. Also, oral antibiotics are probably needed to completely clear the infection. Based on your description the most likely cause of the abscess is probably an infected tooth root.

Hello. While this is not a huge overdose, it is a bit high for an 8-pound cat. Please double check with your veterinarian to see if he wants you to continue with this dose. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately, an abscess cannot be treated at home, Shivers has to see a vet for it. If it's ruptured, it needs to be flushed sterilely to prevent further infection from entering the area, and she needs antibiotics to treat the infection which are available by prescription only from the vet. She does have to see a vet as soon as possible for this, and it truly cannot wait until next week. I would see if a family member can take her to the vet this week since you are only home this week from school.