Walking difficulty after Cefovecin (Convenia) in cats

The FDA has received 135 reports of walking difficulty in cats after Cefovecin. That is 1.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

135Reports
65%Marked serious
10%Recovered
36%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
50 38%
1–2 days
29 22%
3–7 days
24 18%
1–4 weeks
16 12%
Over a month
11 8.5%

How the animals did

Recovered
11 8.1%
Recovered with lasting effects
3 2.2%
Still unwell when reported
52 39%
Died
21 16%
Euthanised
27 20%
Not known
21 16%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite
56 41%
Death
48 36%
Lethargy
46 34%
Wobbliness (ataxia)
27 20%
Weight loss
18 13%
Vomiting
17 13%
Weakness
17 13%
Didn't work as expected
16 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
8
1–3 years
16
4–7 years
20
8–11 years
27
12+ years
59

About this medicine

Cefovecin a long-acting antibiotic injection.

Products with this ingredient include Convenia. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Cefovecin cause walking difficulty in cats?
135 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?
In half of the reports with dates, it started within 1 day of the first dose.
What should I do?
Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

All reported side effects of Cefovecin in cats · Medicines most reported with walking difficulty