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A veterinary blog for pet lovers, vet voyeurs and the medically curious...
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…but will it deliver?
I’m always on the lookout for neat new drugs to complement my arsenal of pharmaceuticals—and this one has the potential to change the way I practice medicine.
Marketed as Convenia in Europe, Pfizer’s new one-time injectable, two-week duration third-generation cephalosporin is an antibiotic approach that may also revolutionize how YOU deal with your pets’ healthcare needs.
Why?
Three reasons:
1-Because some pets are impossible to administer pills to. An injectable antibiotic lasting a full two weeks means I don’t have to convince my clients that pilling their fractious pets is a doable endeavor.
2-Because much as I may trust my clients, I know that busy lives mean sometimes the pills go by the wayside. And that means that I often feel responsible for the failure of my therapeutic regimens—despite knowing it’s possible my clients didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
3-And finally, because a failure to administer antibiotic drugs in an appropriate manner means that bacterial resistance is a possibility. For reasons of public health and future antibiotic efficacy, this is a big deal. That’s why it makes me crazy to hear my clients say: “Oh that antibiotic—I have plenty left over from last time.” Grrrrrr…
It’s the Holy Grail of antibiotic therapy in animals: Create a drug indisputably efficacious over a prolonged period of time so that the vagaries of human administration and animal acceptance are minimized.
A few months ago, one of Dolittler’s UK readers extolled the virtues of this approach, then already available in Great Britain. She’d explained that the higher price for the two-week duration was way worth paying for when it came to her cat’s health. Presumably, her cat was one of the many kitties whose reluctance to accept oral treatments meant failure for almost every antibiotic approach.
At that time I was fascinated by the prospect of such a marvel. “GIMME!,” I remember commenting. This is something I absolutely need!
So when Pfizer’s reps recently made their way to my doorstep, promising me unprecedented access to this drug, I rejoiced. Our hospital has been selected as one of the local recipients of a sizable freebie sample—with one catch: I’m only to use the gifted antibiotic in my canine patients—for now, anyway.
Clearly, Pfizer sees great promise in the drug. But the company’s well aware that the smaller feline doses are unlikely to generate enough profit to justify their licensing expense. They need to push canine adoption of the drug if they’re to recoup their expenses in what they consider a reasonable timeframe.
But will my dog owners pay $100 a dose? Dunno. I do know my cat owners will gladly fork over $40, especially if their alternative is an angry kitty who’s willing to mount a clawed defense against offensive oral antibiotics.
So now it's your turn...will you pay up for Convenia's convenience?
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"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
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- Mohandas Gandhi
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I have one kitty who is virtually impossible to medicate orally. After her dental, with extractions, my ability to get her rx'ed antibiotic into her was very unreliable. As she is now 8 years old and has transitioned into "geriatric" classification, I am full of dread for the day when she gets old age diseases requiring regular meds. I'm just not going to be able to pill this cat, or give her syringes full of liquid.
I am quite certain shots would be a much better option.
I know this is only an antibiotic but there are so many things that require antibiotics that I am sure this will come up again.
Aside: It never ceases to amaze me how many people whose cats are diagnosed with feline diabetes press their vets for alternatives to giving insulin shots. Often these people are given oral meds which are not effective in most cats and even when they work, I have been told that all they really do is force the failing pancreas to work even harder and can make things worse in the long haul.
But what really amazes me is that people prefer the struggle of pilling a cat to giving a shot in their scruff that they barely feel! If people realized how easy the shots are compared to the pills, I wonder if that would sway them?
I think we've used it about three times, fortunately not since 2007 - touching wood right now, everybody's been spectacularly healthy for a long time, even my old heart-failure suffering Wiener dog.
for the cat - it would depend....
So a big YES PLEASE to long-acting medicines of any kind in the veterinary sphere. Although to raise the other side of the issue, after having seen a friend go through hell with the injectable contraceptive (lasts 6 months!), side-effects would be something to look at as a client. I would perhaps choose the shorter-acting drugs for the more people friendly of my pets.
I've had some nasty drug reactions myself, and I don't like the idea of my animal suffering from a two-week period of distress that can't be stopped.
Drugs are tested, sure, but it's not until they are widely used that we know about a lot of side effects. I'm old enough and suspicious enough of marketing that it won't be my pets that suffer. Even though my vet was pushing them, I didn't do the long-term heartworm treatments, either, and I haven't lost a night of sleep about that one.
I have no trouble pilling my dogs, and like the idea that I can STOP the meds and call my vet if something goes terribly wrong.
I'm not saying it's harmless, no drug is, but that was my experience and I'd let them take it again if it was the right drug for the problem.
I hate pilling my cats...but a pill gun works wonders, and those I can't pill get injectible antilb's when needed. There are also pill pockets, they work well and now I see pill dough....then there is always a little cheese....
I'd have to wait quite a while and know quite a bit more before I was willing to use this.
Sincerely,
Aoife the flat-coated retriever
I hasn't even thought of the potential of a drug reaction which might last for two weeks. Is there a way to check beforehand -- something like "test in an inconspicuous spot before using"?
It's interesting how disconnected Pfizer is from their target market. It seems, from these comments alone, that cat people would benefit greatly from this and would be willing to pay the higher cost.
/Mette, DVM
If there is any evidence that it works better to knock down my dogs periodic ear infections hen I would certainly spring for it.
Oh, and I wouldn't touch lufenuron (injectible Program) with a barge pole. Cats do not need more shots. There have been some problems with long persisting lumps with this product. CLEANING is the primary reaction to a flea infestation, followed by something like Precor and a topical.
CathyA: I think antibiotic selection in pets is often related to its convenience and our clients' compliance. If we make it convenient, you'll be more compliant. Hence, we should see less resistance.
Is it the right antibiotic? Well...depends. It's best for wounds and skin infections. It wouldn't be my choice for respiratory, gastrointestinal or urinary issues, for example. Vets do actually make antibiotic decisions based on more than just convenience, of course, but it's a big issue for us.