The owners of any cat sooner or later face the question of what to do with its sexual instinct. During estrus, cats become insane, and after an uncovered estrus they walk around in a bad mood and show aggression towards their owners. All this cannot be liked, and therefore many decide to somehow fight sexual desire. In this article we will talk about what a hormonal injection is for a cat in heat, and whether injections are good for cats instead of sterilization. So, what are the risks of sterilizing cats with an injection?
Contraceptive injections for cats are injections that sharply disrupt the animal’s hormonal levels, as a result of which estrus is postponed for some time. These injections are popularly called “antisex cat injection”, “counter sex”, “cat injection from a cat” and similar common words. In fact, we mean such drugs as “Covinan” (the active ingredient is prolygestone, a synthetic analogue of the hormone progesterone), “Depo-Provera” (the active ingredient is medroxyprogesterone), “Depogestone”, as well as a number of other medications.
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Out of ignorance, people think that one injection will solve the problem forever, and then they are surprised to find out that the cat is walking after the injection. You need to understand: to permanently suppress sexual function, injections must be done regularly. For example, the Covinan injection is given according to the following scheme: 1st injection - during the period of sexual rest between estrus, 2nd injection - 3 months after the first injection, 3rd injection - 4 months after the second injection, subsequent injections are given once every 5 months. That is, if a cat has gone on a spree, she cannot be given an injection until her heat is over. Moreover, the injections must be prescribed, given and their consequences monitored by a veterinarian.
Sterilization of cats by injection - price
Injections for a cat to prevent it from wandering, that is, against pregnancy and estrus, cost about $30 per drug. One bottle for this price is enough for several times. Getting an injection from a veterinarian is inexpensive, and it doesn’t even need to be considered if you are able to purchase the drug itself.
Interestingly, buying an injection medication for several uses and injecting a cat against cats costs about the same as performing a sterilization operation. Only injections do not solve the problem forever, but sterilization does, and even does not have the terrible health consequences, which you can read about below.
Composition and properties of the drug
Covinan is a drug based on a steroid hormone, which is an artificial analogue of progesterone (the sex hormone responsible for fertilization). It delays or suppresses estrus (estrus) in cats.
Covinan has the following composition:
- prolygestone;
- preservative E218;
- additive E216;
- sorbitan palmitate;
- TWIN 40;
- lecithin;
- sodium citrate 2-water;
- potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate;
- macrogol 4000;
- water for injections.
Prolygestone is an active substance and provides a therapeutic effect. The remaining components are auxiliary (used as a preservative or solvent).
Covinan is produced in the form of a suspension for injections. It appears as a whitish, cloudy solution that may form a precipitate that disappears after shaking.
The medicine for cats is packaged in 20 ml glass bottles. They are closed with rubber covers and also additionally reinforced with metal caps. Each bottle is in a separate cardboard box along with instructions for use.
Interesting! Covinan must be used within 3 years after manufacture. Expired medication should be thrown away. A dark place with a temperature of +2°C to +25°C is suitable for storing it. Do not place the drug near food or feed. It is necessary to ensure that children do not find it.
Cat after hormonal injections
Injecting a cat for heat is a quick and simple solution that would be ideal if it did not have dire consequences. Drug manufacturers indicate them in their instructions. Yes, they do not occur in all cats. Some people spend their entire lives on injections and nothing. But many face the consequences one way or another. Let's list them:
- increased appetite and weight;
- apathy;
- enlargement of the mammary glands;
- pyometra (purulent inflammation of the uterus);
- breast tumors;
- diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus);
- ovarian and uterine cysts;
- cancer.
After the cat has been given a “walking shot so that she doesn’t get pregnant,” various kinds of disorders begin in the body, because... sex hormones regulate not only reproductive function. At the same time, the hormonal background accumulates, although it is suppressed, and sometimes leads to irreversible consequences. After all, the need for reproduction does not go away; injections only drown it out. And suppressed hormones over time lead to a real explosion in the body. This can happen years after the first injection, or maybe as early as 2 months.
Indications for use and principle of action
Although Covinan is sold without a prescription, it should only be used after consultation with a veterinarian.
Hormonal medication is prescribed to cats in the following cases:
- the appearance of signs of estrus (estrus);
- pseudopregnancy;
- mammary glands swell (pseudo-lactation).
The medication is prescribed for the prevention or treatment of the conditions described above.
Covinan (more precisely, its active component) is an analogue of progesterone. Normally, progesterone is produced by the adrenal glands (the cortex of these glands) in males, and in cats by the corpus luteum of the ovaries. This hormone prepares the inner layer of the uterus (endometrium) for the implantation of an embryo, ensures the normal course of pregnancy and stimulates the mammary glands.
Proligestone disrupts the natural process; it suppresses the production of gonadotropic hormones (hormones of the pituitary gland and placenta that regulate the functioning of the genital organs), especially LH (luteinizing) and FSH (follicle-stimulating). The latter substances determine the function of the ovaries. Under the influence of proligestone, the maturation of follicles in the ovaries and their formation of estradiol (an important hormone from the estrogen group) are disrupted. These changes help prevent the development of estrus.
Prolygestone changes the properties of cervical mucus (mucous secretion of the cervix) and makes it thicker. Then the fertilized egg cannot attach to the endometrium, the growth of the glandular component of the uterus is inhibited and the function of the mammary glands is disrupted.
Covinan helps the cat enter the period of sexual rest (anaestrus), maintains low LH and FSH levels and provides a contraceptive effect (prevention of ovulation). After discontinuation of the medication, the concentration of prolygestone in the blood decreases, the level of gonadotropins (FSH, LH) increases, and reproductive function is restored.
Covinan provides a long-lasting effect, since the active component accumulates in fatty tissue and is retained in the liver. Next, prolygestone penetrates into the intestines with a flow of bile, from where it comes out mainly with feces, and a little with urine.
Interesting! Covinan is a low-hazard drug (hazard class 4). If the dosage is observed, it does not cause negative reactions.
Injections for cats from walking - reviews
Galina, owner of a Sphynx cat: “We gave two injections and so far we have only encountered temporary side effects. The cat becomes apathetic, has a local pain reaction at the injection site, and also has a slight enlargement of the chest.”
Ivan, veterinarian: “I always tell my patients that hormonal injections and pills are a direct path to the operating table. Just last week we had a cat whose heat was stopped with hormones. Less than a year later, she had to be cut. And, just so you understand, healing after surgery is much more difficult, because... the tissue is already damaged and the cat is weakened. Therefore, if you don’t want kittens, sterilize the animal.”
Leonid, owner of a mongrel cat: “We didn’t want our cat to give birth to kittens. So they gave her an injection. After 2 months, the cat suddenly left the house and did not appear for a long time (we had also let her out into the street before). Afterwards we found her in the basement of the house, exhausted, in very poor condition and thought that she had gone to die. They took him to the vet. She was diagnosed with inflammation and cysts in the uterus and was scheduled for surgery. During the operation, something terrible was revealed - the cysts were huge, and dead kittens were found in the uterus! That is, she still managed to take a walk under the injection. We were lucky - the cat, after surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries, began to recover and recovered. I don’t advise anyone to take such injections now.”
Directions for use, dosage for cats
The drug is available in the form of tablets and solution for injection. In veterinary medicine, an injection is usually given. For cats weighing up to 5 kg, a dose of 1 ml is used.
Large animals may need to increase the volume of the composition up to 2 times. The veterinarian will determine exactly how much hormonal drug to administer.
Shake the medicine before use. The injection site is wiped with alcohol, since when pathogenic bacteria are introduced through the puncture, severe inflammation can develop. If injections are given to several animals, then a separate syringe must be used for each. The composition is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
What is better - cat sterilization or injections?
If you want the best for your pet, but don’t want her to ask for a cat and give birth to kittens, then the only correct solution to the problem is sterilization. This is recommended by all veterinarians without exception, as well as by the MURKOTIKI website, which has collected numerous reviews from owners about sterilization and what injections are that sterilize a cat.
Perhaps now it seems to you that sterilization is an unnatural solution, but in fact, only it allows the cat to stop pestering its owners, to suffer and languish from an unsatisfied sexual instinct, but to remain healthy and sexually neutral. Read more about sterilization to make your final decision.
For now, let's say that castrated cats are generally healthier than even females who give birth regularly. The fact is that childbirth wears out the body. And a sterilized animal is a happy animal with life, whose only thing on its mind is to eat, play, cuddle and sleep. Isn't this the ideal cat's life?
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Many people are frightened by the prospect of abdominal surgery, so they decide to undergo injections. But injections are much more dangerous. As we said above, such cats with a high degree of probability will sooner or later end up on the operating table, but with pathologies that are difficult to operate on. Healing after such an operation is also a long process. And there are often inoperable conditions when it is better to euthanize the cat. Therefore, you must clearly remember that in many cases, constant hormonal injections = surgery or early death. In the case of planned sterilization, rehabilitation will take 4-5 days, and after 10 days the cat will already be running around as if nothing had happened.
What does the price depend on?
The price of injections varies greatly and depends on many factors:
- Animal health.
- Cost of administered drugs.
- Cost of consumables.
- Qualification of veterinarians in the clinic.
- Type of injection.
If the animal is healthy, then it only needs annual vaccinations as injections. Typically, the cost of such an injection includes consumables (insulin syringe, cotton wool, antiseptic, rubber gloves) and the vaccine. However, clinics charge from 400 to 1600 rubles . If the animal is sick, it may require more complex injections.
An important factor influencing the price of injections is the qualifications of the veterinarian. After all, the higher the experience, the better the education of the doctor, the higher the prices for all his services, including a regular injection.
An injection for a cat so that the cat does not ask: when is this a solution?
There are cases when the so-called injection of a cat from a party is the only way out, but they are rare. Such cases include all sorts of contraindications to surgery. For example, a cat has a weak heart or kidneys, and therefore cannot be given anesthesia. It is impossible to carry out a sterilization operation without general anesthesia, so the only thing left is to endure the heat, or give injections, or give hormonal pills.
Sometimes this is practiced in nurseries, because... cats should not become pregnant every time they are in heat, and for some, the condition is so debilitating that breeders may resort to the last resort of injecting the drug.
But in any case, such things must be done strictly under the supervision of a veterinarian, who will select the right drug, the right dosage and the correct injection schedule.
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Properties, principle of operation
Depo-Provera is a synthetic hormonal preparation of progesterone.
Depo-Provera for cats
The drug suppresses ovulation, which makes conception impossible, since the egg does not leave the follicle. If the animal has already started estrus, then there is no point in using the drug.
The sex hormones included in the medicine quickly saturate the body, preventing complete maturation of the egg and ovulation. Synthetic compounds act more pronouncedly and intensely, which is why synthetic progesterone is used in Depo-Provera.
The drug has a large number of side effects, since disruption of natural hormonal levels affects the entire body.
Important! If there are no contraindications, a cat that is not allowed to be bred should be sterilized if possible. Thus, the owners will forever relieve themselves of the problems associated with estrus.
Video “Oestrus period in cats”
What to do if cats go into heat? Find out in the following video.
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How can you replace hormonal drugs?
For this purpose, sedatives have been developed, which you can buy at a veterinary pharmacy. They are based on herbal components that have a mild sedative effect. But you should know that these funds have a cumulative effect, so they will have to be given for a long time. They do not affect the reproductive system, are relatively harmless, but you cannot expect a quick calming of the animal. And in no case should you replace veterinary drugs with “human” sleeping pills or tranquilizers - this can lead to irreparable consequences.
Tips and tricks from veterinarians
Most veterinarians advocate that the best method of contraception for cats with minimal health risks is neutering. If you breed kittens and the reproductive function of your pet is important to you, then a hormonal injection will help you avoid unpleasant symptoms during periods when you do not plan to mate your pet.
The most important requirement for such an injection is that the pet must be healthy and in a state of sexual rest. And although there are irresponsible veterinarians who, at the client’s request, will give an injection to an animal in any condition, be responsible owners. After all, who will protect your pet if not you. If the injection will only benefit the cat, and the health risks are minimal, then all that’s left is to find a good clinic and a reliable specialist.
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Dexamethasone for cats - dosage forms and features
On the shelves of the ZooMedic veterinary pharmacy you can find Dexamethasone, presented in eye drops, tablets, injection solution and ointment. All these forms are developed taking into account the specifics of the disease and ease of use. Most often, therapeutic therapy for cats is carried out using an injection solution. Containing disodium phosphate and excipients, it is packaged in 100 ml glass ampoules/bottles.
In appearance, the drug is a clear, colorless liquid. The option of slight opalescence with the coloring of the composition in yellowish tones is allowed. The shelf life of such a medicinal product (subject to storage conditions) is 3 years from the date of manufacture. After opening the bottle - no more than 21 days. Important: store Dexamethasone in a closed package away from direct sunlight at a temperature of 4°C - 25°C. Must be kept separate from food and feed.
This type of hormonal drugs is produced in Moscow for both animals and people. The only difference is the concentration of the active substance (2 and 4 mg, respectively). To eliminate the risk of overdose, it is important to consult with a veterinarian before starting drug therapy, and then follow his recommendations. Since only a specialist, having previously examined the cat, can choose the correct dosage and regimen of the drug.
What are the benefits of Dexamethasone treatment?
Carrying out drug therapy using this drug allows you to compensate for the lack of a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. Thus, the functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems of the sick animal improves, and the functioning of muscle tissue and joints is normalized. If we consider the action of Dexamethasone in detail, then it:
- stabilizes membranes;
- reduces the level of capillary permeability;
- slows down the processes of cytokine release from lymphocytes and macrophages;
- accelerates protein catabolism;
- slows down glucose utilization and calcium absorption;
- retains water and sodium ions in tissues.
After which it is processed and excreted in the form of metabolic products through the genitourinary system of the pet.
Dexamethasone for cats is a drug that suppresses the production of substances involved in inflammatory processes. By disrupting the kinetics of T-lymphocytes and inhibiting cellular immunity, it “inhibits” the functioning of the immune system. And this, in turn, allows the animal’s body to stop reacting to irritants (an example of the manifestation of the antiallergic effect of the drug). Often a hormonal agent is used to eliminate shock conditions. At the same time, the bioavailability of the steroid hormone when administered intramuscularly with an injection solution is 100%, when using tablets - no more than 60%.
