Accidental exposure after Cephalexin in cats

The FDA has received 37 reports of accidental exposure in cats after Cephalexin. That is 42% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

37Reports

24%Marked serious

41%Recovered

0.0%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 93%

1–2 days

2 7.1%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 41%

Not known

22 59%

Problems reported at the same time

Vomiting

35 95%

Overdose

29 78%

Crystalluria

5 14%

Kidney problems

5 14%

Lethargy

4 11%

Decreased urine concentration

3 8.1%

Loss of appetite

2 5.4%

Hiding

2 5.4%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Cephalexin cause accidental exposure in cats?: 37 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Accidental exposure with similar medicines

Accidental exposure after Atipamezole 22 reports · 2.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Cephalexin in cats · Medicines most reported with accidental exposure