Danofloxacin
Danofloxacin mesylate
Also known as: A180 · Advocine · Danocin · Advocid · Advovet · Exocin · CP-76136-27 · danofloxacine · danofloxacino · Ofloxacinum
Reviewed by the VetSheet Veterinary TeamUpdated Apr 5, 2026Evidence-based veterinary reference
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Dosing by species
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Dogs
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmic infections | 1 drop to affected eye | topical | q6h | As directed by veterinarian | 🌍 EU |
- Ophthalmic infections: Intensive therapy: q30-120min for short-term use (1-2 days).
Cats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmic infections | 1 drop to affected eye | topical | q6h | As directed by veterinarian | 🌍 EU |
- Ophthalmic infections: Intensive therapy: q30-120min for short-term use (1-2 days).
Cattle
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) | 6 mg/kg (1.5 mL per 100 lb body weight) SC | SC | Repeat once in approximately 48 hours | 2 doses total | 🌎 NA |
- Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD): Administered dosage volume should not exceed 15 mL per injection site.
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Overview
Danofloxacin is a veterinary-specific, injectable fluoroquinolone antibiotic primarily used in beef cattle to treat Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). It exhibits concentration-dependent bactericidal activity against major respiratory pathogens like Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida.
Clinical Pearls:
- Like other fluoroquinolones, it has excellent tissue penetration, particularly into lung tissue, making it highly effective for respiratory infections.
- It has a high volume of distribution and concentrates well in exudates and transudates.
- Regulatory Warning: The FDA strictly prohibits the extra-label use of fluoroquinolones in food-producing animals in the USA.
Mechanism of action
Fluoroquinolones are bactericidal antibiotics that act by inhibiting bacterial DNA replication and transcription.
- They enter the bacterium and inhibit DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II) and topoisomerase IV.
- Inhibition of DNA gyrase → prevents DNA supercoiling → halts DNA replication.
- Inhibition of topoisomerase IV → interferes with the separation of interlinked replicated DNA molecules.
- This dual action leads to rapid bacterial cell death. The bactericidal activity is concentration-dependent rather than time-dependent.
Safety & warnings
Contraindications
- Extra-label use in food-producing animals (FDA prohibited)
- Lactating dairy cattle (where milk is for human consumption)
- Veal calves
- Animals with known or suspected CNS disorders (relative contraindication)
- Known hypersensitivity to ofloxacin or other fluoroquinolones
Adverse effects
- Hypersensitivity reactions (uncommon)
- Lameness or arthropathies (especially in young animals/calves)
- Local tissue reaction at the subcutaneous injection site (may result in trim loss)
- Mild, transient ocular irritation or stinging upon application (general class effect)
- Conjunctival hyperemia (rare)
Precautions
The FDA strictly prohibits extra-label usage of this drug in food animals. Use with caution in animals with known or suspected CNS disorders, as quinolones have rarely caused CNS stimulation. Do not use in lactating dairy cattle or calves to be processed for veal.
Drug interactions
Potential increase in serum concentrations of theophylline; increased monitoring of theophylline concentrations is recommended
Monitoring
- Clinical efficacy
- Injection site reactions
- Signs of lameness or CNS stimulation
- Clinical response to therapy (resolution of ocular discharge, inflammation, or ulceration)
- Culture and sensitivity testing prior to and during prolonged treatment if no improvement
Pharmacokinetics
Half-life
Absorption
Rapidly absorbed after subcutaneous injection in cattle with high bioavailability (≈90%). Peak serum levels occur about 2-3 hours after dosing.
Distribution
High volume of distribution (approximately 2.7 L/kg in cattle); lung levels exceed those in plasma. Penetrates well into exudates and transudates.
Metabolism
In cattle, minimal metabolism occurs. Other species may metabolize greater percentages of the drug into a desmethyl metabolite (desmethyldanofloxacin).
Elimination
In cattle, elimination is primarily as unchanged drug into the urine. Terminal elimination half-life in cattle ranges from 3-6 hours.
Overdose
Limited information is available for cattle. High dosages (18-60 mg/kg for 3-6 days) in feeder calves can cause arthropathies/lameness (consistent with other fluoroquinolones), CNS stimulation (ataxia, nystagmus, tremors), inappetence, recumbency, depression, and exophthalmos. Some calves receiving 18 mg/kg twice 48 hours apart developed nasal pad erythema.
In adult dogs, 2.4 mg/kg/day PO for 90 days resulted in no observable adverse effects.
Available products
Formulations
- Injection
- Topical: 0.3% ophthalmic solution in 5 ml bottle
Veterinary
- Danofloxacin Mesylate 180 mg/mL (of danofloxacin) in 100 mL & 250 mL multi-dose vials (A180)
Human-labeled
- Exocin 0.3% eye drops
Regulatory status
Human product (Exocin) used under the prescribing cascade. POM.
Human product (Exocin) used under the prescribing cascade. POM (Prescription Only Medicine).
No regulatory data for: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Storage & stability
Store at or below 30°C (86°F) and protect from light and freezing. The color of the solution (yellow to amber) does not affect potency. Do not mix with other medications or diluents, as fluoroquinolones are very sensitive to pH changes and chelation with cationic substances (calcium, magnesium, zinc).
Client information
Important: If administering to food animals, strict adherence to label directions is legally required.
- Ensure proper subcutaneous (SC) injection technique.
- Do not exceed 15 mL per injection site to minimize tissue damage.
- Observe the mandatory 4-day slaughter withdrawal time from the last treatment.
- Monitor the animal for any signs of lameness, neurological signs, or injection site reactions.
VetSheet drug reference is intended for licensed veterinary professionals as a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for professional judgement or the manufacturer’s current label.