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Terramycin is a prescription antibiotic eye ointment that combines oxytetracycline hydrochloride and polymyxin B sulfate. Its US label covers superficial eye infections caused by organisms sensitive to those two antibiotics, and cats are among the labeled species. The label directs application to the eye two to four times daily, and the product can be used only by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. It is not a general remedy for every red, watery, or irritated eye, because many feline eye problems have causes the ointment does not treat.
What Terramycin ointment contains
The product is an ophthalmic ointment with two active ingredients. The label lists the following strength and package details:
- Active ingredients: oxytetracycline hydrochloride and polymyxin B sulfate.
- Strength per gram: oxytetracycline HCl equivalent to 5 mg oxytetracycline, and 10,000 units of polymyxin B.
- Labeled package: one 3.5 g (1/8 oz) tube.
The manufacturer, Zoetis Petcare, lists the product on its Terramycin product page. The full prescribing information is in the DailyMed Terramycin label, which was last updated on September 24, 2025. Check that date against the label on your cat’s packaging or the pharmacy printout, because labels are revised.
What the label covers
The official indication is prophylaxis and local treatment of superficial ocular infections caused by oxytetracycline- and polymyxin-sensitive organisms. The label names infections due to streptococci, rickettsiae, E. coli, and A. aerogenes, and lists conditions including conjunctivitis, keratitis, pink eye, corneal ulcer, and blepharitis.
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- FOR ANIMAL USE ONLY: Contains a tube of 10 grams of ophthalmic ointment, suitable for animals of all ages.
- EASY APPLICATION: Administer topically into the animal's eye 2 to 4 times a day, as needed. (Can be applied with a clean finger)
- Fresh Product Promise: Date on tube indicates when it was made, not when it expired. Our ointment stays fresh for two years from the date of manufacture. If you are not satisfied with the result, please contact us and we will make it right.
Why a labeled indication is not a diagnosis
The indication describes what the drug is approved to treat when the cause is a susceptible organism. It does not establish that your cat’s eye problem is bacterial. Redness, discharge, squinting, or a cloudy cornea can also come from injury, a foreign body, dry eye, allergy, or other non-bacterial inflammation. The veterinarian-reviewed PetMD explainer, updated November 8, 2025, makes this same point: some eye problems have causes that Terramycin does not treat. Applying an antibiotic to an eye that needs a different treatment can delay the correct diagnosis, and it does not address the underlying problem.
A veterinary exam, and where needed a stain or other test, is what determines whether a bacterial infection is likely. Treat the label as a description of the product’s approved use, not as a home diagnosis tool.
Rank #2
- Designed to support daily eye hygiene and comfort for cats and dogs with sensitive eyes.
- Easy topical application for regular use as part of your pet’s eye care routine.
- Gentle Cream – A Practical Alternative to Traditional Cream : Formulated for ease of use, this cream is a convenient non-medicated option for daily pet eye care routines.
- Easy to administer with no need for separate applicators or accessories.
- For animal use only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Dosage and administration
The label states that Terramycin should be administered topically to the eye 2–4 times daily. This is the labeled frequency. It is not a complete treatment plan for your cat.
The reviewed label text does not give a universal treatment duration. Before the first application, ask the veterinarian or check the prescription label for:
Rank #3
- Prescription topical antibiotic ointment for treating eye infections including conjunctivitis, inflamed cornea, corneal ulcer, and inflammation of the eyelids in dogs, cats, cattle, horses, and sheep. It’s also used to treat eye infections due to secondary bacterial complications of distemper in dogs and bacterial inflammatory conditions which may occur secondary to other infectious diseases.
- Targets the most common bacteria responsible for eye infections. A study showed after applying to the eye, Terramycin concentration in tears were higher than those needed to kill bacteria for up to 12 hours.¹
- Terramycin possesses potent antimicrobial activity and is one of the most versatile of the broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- Typically administered topically 2-4 times a day. Follow your veterinarian’s directions as prescribed.
- Comes in a tube for easy application to the eye.
- How long to continue the ointment, and whether to stop once the eye looks better or only when the course is complete.
- How much ointment to apply each time.
- What to do if a dose is missed.
- Whether a recheck exam is planned, and what changes would prompt a call back.
Because the product is restricted to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian under federal law (see 21 CFR § 524.1662b), these answers should come from the prescriber rather than from general guidance online.
Side effects and the four-hour warning
Hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions
The most important cat-specific warning is that serious, life-threatening hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in some cats following application of antibiotic ophthalmic preparations. The label’s instruction reads:
Rank #4
- FOR ANIMAL USE ONLY: Includes a 0.125 oz / 3.5 g tube of ophthalmic ointment, suitable for animals of all ages.
- TREATS VARIOUS EYE CONDITIONS: Provides effective treatment for conjunctivitis, keratitis, pink eye, corneal ulcers, blepharitis, and bacterial infections causing inflammation. Use as instructed.
- SIMPLE APPLICATION: No extra tools or applicators are needed (can be applied with a clean finger). Apply directly to the animal’s eye 2 to 4 times daily, as required.
- NO SAFETY SEAL INCLUDED: This pet eye ointment is produced without a safety seal. The lack of a safety seal does not affect the product’s safety or quality. You can use this ophthalmic ointment with assurance.
- CAUTION WHEN FIRST OPENING: When opening the tube for the first time, pressure may cause the ointment to be released quickly. This does not compromise the product’s safety and is not a flaw. To minimize waste, open the tube carefully during the initial use.
“If your cat has swelling of the face, itching, appears weak, vomits, or has difficulty breathing within 4 hours of application you should discontinue treatment and contact your veterinarian immediately.”
Watch for these signs for at least four hours after each application:
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- For animal use only.
- Treats diseases such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, pink eye, corneal ulcer, blepharitis, and bacterial inflammatory conditions resulting from other infectious diseases. Use only as directed.
- Easy to administer with no need for separate applicators or accessories. Apply topically to the eye of the animal 2 to 4 times daily as needed
- Contains one 3.5 Gr. tube of ointment. For animal use only.
- Age Range Description: All Ages
- Swelling of the face
- Itching
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
If any of these appear, stop the ointment and contact a veterinarian immediately. Difficulty breathing is an emergency, so if the veterinarian cannot be reached quickly, go to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.
Overgrowth of resistant organisms
The label notes that oxytetracycline and other antibiotics may cause an overgrowth of resistant organisms such as Monilia, staphylococci, and other bacteria. It says appropriate measures should be taken if nonsensitive bacteria or fungi appear during therapy. This is a reason to keep the course under veterinary supervision rather than extending it on your own.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the sources do not quantify
The label does not provide an incidence rate for hypersensitivity or for overgrowth of resistant organisms, and it does not give a treatment-success rate. The statement that reactions have been reported in some cats should not be read as a frequency. No named study with a published rate was identified in the official label, the manufacturer’s page, the PetMD explainer, or the federal regulation.
Storage and handling
- Storage temperature: controlled room temperature, 20–25°C (68–77°F), with excursions permitted between 15–30°C (59–86°F), according to the label.
- Who may dispense or direct use: the veterinarian, under the federal restriction noted above.
Keep the tube capped and out of reach of children and other pets, and store it as the label directs.
Quick Recap
Sources
- DailyMed, official Terramycin label (updated September 24, 2025): ingredients, indications, dosage, warnings, storage, and package size.
- Zoetis Petcare, Terramycin for Pet Owners: manufacturer information on listed indications and emergency signs.
- PetMD, Terramycin for Cats and Dogs: Uses and Side Effects (updated November 8, 2025): veterinary-reviewed consumer explanation.
- 21 CFR § 524.1662b, Oxytetracycline and polymyxin B ophthalmic ointment: federal regulation covering ingredients, labeled frequency, indications, and the veterinary-use restriction for dogs and cats.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
