Let's Discuss The Effectiveness Of Convenia

spac

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I was on another forum talking about how my vet wanted to use a Convenia injection to treat my older cat's infection (WBC was high on blood work) and how I refused and asked for oral medication. Someone responded back that Convenia is not very effective and really shouldn't be used unless absolutely necessary. Since that forum isn't for discussing antibiotics, I'd like to discuss that here.

My research indicates Convenia was designed to treat skin infections. I've heard that it's often used off-label to treat other infections including UTIs, kidney infections, and other unknown infections. One of my stray/ferals was given an injection following a hind leg amputation. I had asked for oral antibiotics if possible, but they gave him Convenia (this was at the spay/neuter clinic - not my regular vet). His leg had been amputated because it was severely broken and not "salvageable." I remember seeing a hole near the knee with pus coming out of it, I actually thought another cat had bit him. Was Convenia appropriate in this case?

I typically refuse Convenia because I don't like long lasting injectibles if they can be avoided. There's no way to really reverse the affects if something goes wrong and it also tends to be overly expensive. As a side note, everytime I ask for a prescription to take to Costco, I get this look from certain employees as if I just stole their paycheck.

So when should Convenia be used? What's your experience with it?
 

mrsgreenjeens

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white shadow white shadow , the link you provided is to this very thread! (easy to do!) Not sure which thread you wanted to link to, so thought I would put it back in your court :wink:.

To the original poster, I have used Convenia when dosing a cat who is impossible to pill (even the Vet Techs could not dose her). She got it for a UTI and also for an abscess. Worked well for the abscess, but needed it twice for the UTI. I was a little leery about using it because of the reasons you stated, but sometimes it's either go totally without antibiotic, which isn't a viable solution in certain cases, or take your chances with a long lasting one.
 
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Willowy

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I know its safety is often questioned, but I don't think anyone has questioned its effectiveness. Every time I've used it, it seems to have done the job.
 

stephanietx

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I think it's effective, but I am not a fan of it because of the side effects. I have one cat who has had it twice in her life and the side effects were the same. It's a nasty drug.
 

1 bruce 1

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I would have to dig through some records but one of our cats has had "long lasting" shots of antibiotics before but I'm unsure of what the name of the drug was, and he's came through very well. And his health is not the best to begin with.
If this was given at a spay/neuter clinic, it might have been a knee jerk reaction because these clinics often deal with ferals, and who can safely pill a feral cat for a week or two without needing antibiotics themselves ;) They may have given oral antibiotics before upon request but then gotten word that the owner/caretaker couldn't get the pill down the cat in food or whatever, now they're stuck, and an injected antibiotic is the best bet.
Very interesting topic for a new discussion.
 

ailish

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Ailish had Convenia for a skin infection. The vet told me it might take two courses and it did. Cleared it up completely, never to return in the two years since. No side effects that I could see. I would use it again at my vet's recommendation. The point is that it gives a standard dose over the 14 days rather than hit or miss that comes from cats and owners who aren't 100% with the pilling process. I've since researched it and can't come up with much other than "My sister's neighbor's cat died after getting Convenia." I do get the long-acting issue if the cat is allergic. I would have no problem using it again. If Ailish had proved allergic I certainly would not, although then you've got a new set of problems and have to hope there's an antibiotic that your cat isn't allergic to.
 

dianajune

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My cat had a dental cleaning two days ago and one of his teeth had to be pulled too. The vet recommended Convenia because it's difficult to give Pumpkin oral medications.

I was reading another thread here re. that drug and it sent me into panic mode. So, I googled the drug and found lots of horror stories about how a number of animals have died because of it.

It's early Thursday am. Pumpkin has been improving since he came home from the vet's. Please tell me he will be ok and not have an adverse reaction to this medication. I thought it would help him. No one at the vets said he could have a very bad reaction to it.

I'll be on pins and needles waiting 12 more days before it works its way out of his system. This week has been difficult enough so far.....and now this. I am VERY worried.
 

jcat

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I work at a shelter and with a lot of ferals. Convenia is the only option for ferals and some tame cats. I've not yet seen any ill effects from it, and if your cat hasn't had an adverse reaction yet, odds are extremely good she won't.
 

dianajune

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That's good to know. I tend to worry too much and when I read about this it sent me into panic mode. Pumpkin's always been hard to medicate, so I thought this w/b a good option for him.

Thank you! :)
 

cheeser

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I'm usually not too keen about the idea of any kind of medication that can stay in a cat's system for very long, especially after reading lots of scary articles about Convenia. Plus, because our FIV+ kitty is almost always sick, I've gotten pretty good at pilling him, and don't need the convenience of a long lasting injection.

However, sometimes he goes through phases where he gets really wicked, drug resistant skin infections, that he has an even harder time fighting off because his immune system is compromised. In those cases, we've learned that a shot or two of Convenia and a course or two of Veraflox is the only thing that helps him.

So if I had my druthers, I'd prefer that the vet prescribe oral antibiotics whenever possible. We're just resigned ourselves to the fact that that's not always the best option for our kitty.
 

dianajune

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I'm sorry that your kitty is going through so much! <hugs>

Using pills can be difficult unless I use a pill-crusher and then mix it in his food. Problem is, he doesn't always eat all of his food.

I've been trying to get Pumpkin to eat a soft food diet because of his tummy issues. I found that ever since his dental work several days ago he is more willing to eat it. I've been mixing his laxative and Pepcid AC in his food and he gets most of it.

Once he's accustomed to his Laxatone I can start putting his meds in that again. I think that Pumpkin's still trying to get used to eating and even taking his Laxatone with one less tooth.
 
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