Pet owner resources
Read the information sheet below, then print or download it for reference. Follow the instructions on your pet’s dispensing label and from your veterinary team.
Cefovecin
Pet owner information sheet
💊 The most important rule: give this medication exactly as your veterinarian prescribed it — the right dose, at the right times, for the right number of days.
What is this medication for?
- Skin infections (S. pseudintermedius, S. canis)
- Skin infections (Pasteurella multocida)
How is it given?
Give exactly as your veterinarian prescribed — never change the dose or stop on your own unless your veterinarian has told you to.
What if I miss a dose?
- Give it as soon as you remember — unless it is almost time for the next dose (then skip the missed one; never double up).
- Call your clinic if you miss more than one dose in a row.
Side effects — what should I watch for?
Effects listed as common in this handout
- Lethargy/depression, loss of appetite, vomiting (Most common ADE reports)
Worth a phone call to your veterinarian
- Injection-site irritation/edema (Dose- and repeat-injection-related)
- Mild ↑ liver enzymes, BUN, creatinine (Documented in pre-marketing studies)
⚠️ Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice
- Anaphylaxis (Rare but reported, can be fatal)
Before starting (or refilling), tell your veterinarian if your pet:
- has or has had: Known allergy to cefovecin/other beta-lactams; not for small herbivores (rabbits, guinea pigs — UK label)
- has or has had: Severe renal dysfunction; not established <4 months age (US) / <8 weeks (UK)
- is pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding
- is taking any other medications, supplements, or flea/tick products, including:
- Other highly protein-bound drugs (carprofen, furosemide, doxycycline, ketoconazole, NSAIDs, propofol, cardiac/anticonvulsant/behavioral drugs)
Storage and handling
Refrigerate 2–8°C, protect from light, do not freeze. Use within 28 days (Plumb's)/56 days (Papich, newer label) of reconstitution.
Good to know
- Drug persists in the body for up to ~2 months after a single injection — tell owners this explicitly, and consider it when adverse effects occur or when planning other protein-bound drug therapy.
- Primary practical benefit: solves compliance problems for owners who can't pill a cat/dog or when oral drugs aren't tolerated/absorbed.
- Not for use in food-producing animals — extra-label use in those species is an FDA violation.
This information sheet is educational and supplements — it does not replace — your veterinarian's individual instructions. Doses are set by your veterinarian based on your pet's weight, health, and other medications.
Questions? Contact: _________________ (clinic) • After-hours emergency: _________________