Cefovecin
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Cefovecin during a consultation by Dr Noor. Cefovecin for pets in Perth.”
Cefovecin for pets
(sef-o-vee-sin)
Description:
This is an antibiotic medicine from the cephalosporin group.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Convenia®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: an 800 mg powder that is mixed to make an injection liquid with 80 mg in each mL.
- For people: none.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you still have questions or need more details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- This medicine has to be given as an injection (a shot). If it is swallowed, it will not work.
- In dogs and cats, one injection can keep working for a long time.
- Keep it in the refrigerator. After the liquid has been mixed, discard any leftover liquid after 56 days.
- Do not use this medicine in small mammals (for example, guinea pigs, rabbits, or hamsters).
How is this medication useful?
For dogs and cats, cefovecin is used for infections affecting the skin, and the breathing and urinary systems. Because one shot can keep working for a long time, it can be chosen for animals that cannot handle medicines that must be swallowed. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the following so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also include how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions or side effects your animal has had, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin acting within 1 to 2 hours, even if you do not notice changes right away. Your animal should start to seem better within 1 to 2 days. The effect lasts a long time and may continue for several weeks (about 4 to 6 weeks). The effect may last even longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
If your animal has any of these issues, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, other cephalosporins).
- Animals that have kidney disease.
- Small mammals (for example, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits).
What are the side effects of this medication?
Dogs and cats usually handle cefovecin well.
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If you notice the signs listed below, you usually do not need to panic unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or eating less.
- A stinging feeling where the shot was given.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- If a cat stops eating completely, this can sometimes point to serious liver trouble. If your cat will not eat at all, contact your veterinarian.
- A fever, skin rashes, trouble breathing, or pale gums can be signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control service for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian ordered. It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
By Injection:
- Most of the time, cefovecin is given by the veterinarian at the clinic. In some cases, owners may be asked to give the injection at home.
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist will provide the supplies needed for injections (for example, needles and syringes). If the medicine must be mixed before use, mix it only in the way your veterinarian or pharmacist instructs.
- Each time you give a shot or mix a vial, use a fresh needle and a fresh syringe. Do not use needles or syringes again.
- When preparing the antibiotic liquid, it is important to balance the pressure inside the cefovecin vial. Your pharmacist or veterinarian will show you how to add the mixing liquid in a way that prevents the liquid from spraying out.
- After you add the mixing liquid, shake the vial until the mixture looks clear.
- Because this medicine must be given as a shot, make sure you fully understand the correct dose, where to give the shot, and how to give it.
- Do not keep mixed cefovecin at room temperature. It must be stored in the refrigerator.
- If you are struggling to give the injection, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on making dosing easier and lowering stress during medication time.
- This medicine may be used for different time periods depending on the situation. Make sure you know how long your veterinarian wants treatment to continue. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
- If you are giving injections at home, put used needles and syringes into a sharps container right after use. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can help you get these containers. Avoid accidentally poking yourself. Do not try to separate the needle from the syringe. Keep the container where children and pets cannot reach it. When the container is about three-quarters full, dispose of it following your local rules. You can contact your local trash service or health department to learn what disposal options exist where you live.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If a dose is missed, give the injection as soon as you remember. Then wait the usual amount of time between doses that your veterinarian recommended before giving the next one. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep cefovecin in the refrigerator and away from light.
- After using it, place any remaining portion back into the refrigerator, and keep it in the original carton.
- After mixing, the liquid may look clear or amber, and it may become darker over time. If it is stored the recommended way, the color change does not reduce how well it works.
- Discard any leftover liquid 56 days after it has been mixed.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a special custom-made version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot access it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special safety steps are needed when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it. After you handle any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a sink and do not flush it in a toilet.
- If there is a community medicine take-back program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and throw it away with regular household trash.
Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- In some animal competitions, using this medicine may not be permitted. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
Cefovecin for pets may also be discussed during a mobile vet consultation in Perth or when arranging booking for home veterinary care.