Medication: Sulfadimethoxine

Your cat has been prescribed sulfadimethoxine for the treatment of a bacterial infection or coccidiosis.

Key points:
• Antibiotic.
• Dosage: once daily.
• Ensure your cat drinks plenty water whilst on this medication.

This information sheet is designed to help answer commonly asked questions and help you give the medication safely and effectively to your pet. It does not contain all available information for this medication. If you have other questions or need more information, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.Always follow the dosing instructions provided by your veterinarian.

Name

• Sulfadimethoxine (Sulf-a-dim-eh-thox-een).

Brand name

• Albon (Sulfadimethoxine tablets)® (US).
• Albon Injection 40%® (US).
• Albon Oral Suspension 5% (US).
• Bactrovet 250 mg oral tablets (US).

Class of medication

• Antimicrobial.
• Anticoccidial.
• Sulfonamide antibiotic.

Storage

• Store at 15°C-30°C (59°F-86°F) and in a dry environment.
• Oral liquids must be shaken well prior to withdrawing a dose from the bottle.

Your veterinarian has prescribed sulfadimethoxine for the treatment of infections caused by:

• Gram-negative bacteria:
  • Klebsiella spp. 
  • Escherichia. 
  • Proteus spp. 
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Shigella.
• Other bacteria:
  • Staphylococcus spp.
  • Streptococci.
• Other organisms:
  • Coccidia.

Sulfadimethoxine is given by injection or orally (as tablets or in liquid form). It is administered once daily. Tablets and liquid can either be administered directly into your cat’s mouth or along with some food. Humans who are allergic to sulfonamides should avoid contact with this drug.  

Sulfadimethoxine is a very safe drug for cats. When administered at extremely high doses, diarrhea has been reported. Sulfonamides may cause birth defects when administered to pregnant cats in high doses. Sulfadimethoxine should be used with caution in combination with drugs that suppress the immune system as they may increase the risk of bone marrow suppression.  

Sulfadimethoxine tablets or liquid should be administered according to your veterinarian’s instructions. The treatment course usually extends for 3-5 days, or for 48h after the resolution of clinical signs. If no improvement is seen within 5 days, your veterinarian may recommend a different course of therapy.  

Dispose of any unused sulfadimethoxine safely – do not flush down the toilet or sink. Ask your veterinary team if they take back medication for disposal. Do not save sulfadimethoxine for future use or give to other pets. 

If you miss a dose, give the dose as soon as possible but do not give a double dose. Make sure the dose given does not exceed the total recommended dose in any 24-hour period. 

If your pet is unwell, contact your veterinarian for advice. 

Sulfadimethoxine should only be given to the cat that it has been prescribed for. If accidentally given to other pets, contact your veterinarian for advice.

If accidentally consumed by a human, speak to your primary care physician or poison control center. Some humans are allergic to sulfonamides.

No specific tests are required while your cat is taking sulfadimethoxine. If your cat is on other medications such as immunosuppressive agents, your cat may need blood tests to make sure that the combination is not causing adverse effects on the bone marrow.

Further information

If you have any concerns, further information on sulfadimethoxine can be found on the package insert and the following websites:

Europe & UK

• There are no veterinary products containing sulfadimethoxine licensed for use in cats in the UK or Europe.

USA

• Zoetis (US) Albon (sulfadimethoxine tablets). Webpage: www2.zoetisus.com/content/_assets/docs/Petcare/Albon-Tablets-Marketing-Package-Insert.pdf
• Zoetis (US) Albon (sulfadimethoxine) Oral Suspension 5%. Webpage: www2.zoetisus.com/content/_assets/docs/albon_suspension_5.pdf

Always follow the recommended dosage and contact your veterinary team or pharmacist if you have any questions regarding your cat’s medication.