Solensia for Cats - Dosage, Side Effects and Cost

Solensia for cats is a veterinary medicine with the active ingredient is frunevetmab. This is a monoclonal antibody that targets nerve growth factor. It inhibits pro-inflammatory cell signaling, providing relief from pain associated with feline osteoarthritis. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-grown proteins which can bind to antigens present in the body. They are clones of immune cells and frunevetmab is the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is based on the use of these lab-grown antibodies that function like natural ones. They are eliminated through the same protein degradation pathways, with minimal involvement of the kidneys and liver. They also have virtually no impact on the gastrointestinal tract.

Learn more about antibodies in cats with our article explaining whether cats have different blood types.

Analgesics are types of drugs used to treat pain, but there are many varieties. Solensia is used to treat pain associated with osteoarthritis in small cats, a disease that affects up to 40% of domestic felines. If the pain is not treated or managed, it affects the quality of life and well-being of our companion animals. When the pain is sufficiently great it can cause such suffering that veterinarians may recommend euthanasia.

By blocking nerve growth factor, responsible for releasing pro-inflammatory mediators related to the appearance of pain and inflammation, Solensia significantly reduces the pain caused by feline osteoarthritis. In addition to being a very effective and safe medication, it is very convenient for cat caregivers. It only requires a monthly visit to the clinic for its administration.

Solensia is a medication that should be administered monthly in the veterinary clinic to the affected cat. It is used to treat the pain that is associated with the degenerative joint disease called osteoarthritis. This results in the affected joint or joints of our cats not only being painful, but degenerating the articular cartilage and even reaching the bone. This causes even greater friction during movement and results in acute discomfort and pain.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that usually appears in older cats as a result of aging. This is because the continued and prolonged usage of joints results in natural wear. It also affects cats that have received damage to the joint due to some type of accident or even degenerative disease.

Discover more by taking a look at our guide to osteoarthritis in cats.

This medication is administered subcutaneously, so the veterinarian is usually the person in charge of administering it, and must avoid excessive agitation with foam formation in the solution. The dose used in our cats is 1 to 2.8 mg/kg administered once every month in the veterinary clinic.

The product must be administered whole. This means the entire 1 ml vial must be administered according to the following Solensia for cats dosage:

• In cats weighing 5.5 to 15.4 lb (2.5 to 7 kg): 1 vial should be administered.
• In cats weighing 15.6 to 30.8 lb (7.1 to 14 kg): 2 vials should be administered.

Why is Solensia for cats administered by a veterinarian?

The reason why the veterinarian needs to administer Solensia is for various reasons. Firstly, the subcutaneous method of injection is a difficult procedure and is best carried out by a qualified expert to ensure it is administered properly. The correct dosage is also crucial, so allowing the veterinarian to carry out the administration better safeguards the cat's well-being. Clinical supervision is also required to ensure there are no side-effects and to determine whether dosage adjustment is required.

Learn more about drugs which can be administered subcutaneously with our article on interferon for cats.

The price of Solensia depends on various factors. The country in which it is sold will largely determine the Solensia cost due to their legislations and governing bodies. However, the individual clinics may also charge a certain price which varies. For example, the cost of Solensia in the United States of America is around $70 to $120 per injection. In Europe, the healthy system is generally more supportive and may cost around €50-€55.

Solensia is an effective treatment, but not the cheapest. The effectiveness and safety it offers makes it highly recommended to control pain and improve the quality of life of our cats with osteoarthritis. Veterinary insurance may help with the cost.

Solensia is a medicine and like any pharmacological product it can produce adverse effects as a result of its use. Some of these side effects may include

• Dermatitis
• Pruritus
• Alopecia

These side effects are usually not very serious, but they can appear relatively frequently. The rate of incidence is at least 1 in 10 cats treated with Solensia, meaning around 10% of cats undergoing treatment.

Learn more with our article on the causes, symptoms and treatment of atopic dermatitis in cats.

This veterinary medicine has the following series of contraindications for use that must be taken into account before starting treatment. Solensia for cats should not be given to cast:

• Under one year of age
• Weighing less than 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)
• With known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any excipient
• That are pregnant or lactating cats
• Intended for breeding
• With stage 3 or 4 kidney disease due to a lack of safety studies
• Taking other medications which interfere in the drug
• Being vaccinated at the same time as they are treated with the drug

The reason cats should not get vaccinations at the same time as they are given Solensia is due to the reaction of their immune system. The injections should be administered at different points to reduce the potential for immunogenicity uptake or formation of anti-drug antibodies.

Learn more with our article on what is the triple vaccine for cats?

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

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