Depo-Provera for cats: instructions for use, dosage, injections for walking

The hormonal drug Covinan prevents and inhibits the development of estrus in cats. The medication is also used as a contraceptive and helps cure false pregnancy. However, the drug has contraindications, affects the reproductive and endocrine systems, and can cause serious negative reactions. Therefore, it is important to find out how to properly use Covinan for cats.

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.

Signs of heat in a cat

Every owner of an unsterilized cat sooner or later encounters manifestations of her sexual instinct: as a rule, unpleasant manifestations. Next, let's look at what signs indicate that a cat is in heat.

The cat becomes too excitable, often nervous, and shows increased love and activity. If on ordinary days the animal is independent and does not like to be held, then during periods of estrus she literally does not leave her owners, caresses, rubs, and requires stroking. The animal falls on its paws, putting its tail back - a standard calling pose for cats.

An animal can meow for hours, trying to attract at least some cat with its vocal abilities. Sometimes such concerts can literally drive cat owners (as well as their neighbors) crazy.

A cat can also mark its territory: this sign of estrus becomes a real problem, especially in confined spaces in apartments. If the balcony door is open, the cat may risk walking along the balcony parapet, smelling the smell of street cats. Sometimes such walks lead to disaster in the form of an animal falling down.

You can see for yourself that the problem needs to be solved, and then we will tell you exactly how.

Indications for use

Indications for the use of hormonal contraception in cats are the need to prevent estrus once or the need to constantly eliminate it in the case when the cat cannot be sterilized due to contraindications to surgery.

Indications for the use of hormonal contraception in cats are the need to prevent estrus once

The drug is also prescribed if during the operation, at the owner’s request, the tubes were only tied, and after a while the estrus resumed again. Sterilization may be prohibited in case of severe pathologies of the cat’s liver, kidneys and heart, as well as in cases of intolerance to anesthesia.

Be sure to read:

At what age is it better to adopt a kitten: when is it possible, why can’t it be taken early, what are the dangers

In rare cases, the drug is included in the complex therapy of uterine tumors. Such treatment requires constant monitoring by a veterinarian and does not allow the pet to prescribe the drug independently.

At what age and in what dosage it is permissible to use the drug for each specific animal should be determined by a veterinarian. Unauthorized use of hormonal drugs poses a serious danger to the cat.

Conditions and instructions for use of injections

Injections are given under the following conditions:

• Age over 10 months;
• No allergic reaction to the drug;
• The pet is in normal health.

Mode of application:

• The first injection in the withers is given during the period between estrus;
• A second injection is given after 3 months;
• The third injection is given 7 months after the start of the procedure;
• Control injections are administered every 5 months.

The drug is administered to the cat only during periods of sexual calm and in a veterinary clinic.

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.

Why do bumps appear from injections on the buttocks?

Several factors can lead to the formation of swelling after injections.

• Injection technique.
  Have you heard that after injections, nurses with a “light” hand do not get “bumps”? There is a deal of truth in it. “Incorrect intramuscular injection site, administering the drug too quickly, or getting the needle into a nerve or vessel can cause injection bumps,” says the specialist. “Also, compactions can appear as a reaction to the simultaneous administration of a large volume of the drug, frequent injections into the same place,” adds Bulat Yunusov, surgeon at GMS Clinic.
• Allergic reaction.
  “It can develop due to an overreaction of the immune response to the drug,” the doctor adds. Or - a mixture of drugs.
• “Many patients, when injecting themselves, commit the sin of mixing several different drugs in one syringe, which is strictly prohibited. This can cause irreversible complications and serious allergic reactions,” says the doctor.
• Consistency of the drug.
  “Oil solutions most often cause swelling and swelling,” says Bulat Yunusov. — These are the drugs that can only be administered intramuscularly. Such injections are characterized by a longer resorption time, and, consequently, an increased risk of complications.”
• Incorrectly selected needle.
  “A needle that is too long or too short leads to the fact that the medicine enters either very deep muscle layers or into the subcutaneous fatty tissue, that is, it does not reach the muscle layer,” the doctor notes.
• Excessive muscle tension during injection.
  Intramuscular injections must be performed with a relaxed muscle and preferably in a prone position.
• Patient's body weight.
  “Build and weight are also factors that need to be taken into account when administering injections,” adds Bulat Yunusov. — Obese patients have a lot of subcutaneous fat. If a drug gets into it, it will inevitably lead to the formation of inflammatory changes (infiltrates, abscesses).”

To prevent injection bumps from appearing, experts advise doing injections following certain rules. “It is important to use needles of the appropriate length and diameter; the choice depends on the patient’s age, injection site, volume of fluid, amount of muscle and fat tissue and solution viscosity,” says Bulat Yunusov. — It is necessary to strictly observe the rules of asepsis and antiseptics. It is preferable to perform injections while lying on a couch or bed.”

Contraindications and possible side effects

The main contraindications to the use of the composition are:

• the beginning of estrus;
• pregnancy;
• contraceptive intolerance;
• mammary cancer;
• bleeding of unknown nature from the genital fissure;
• severe liver pathologies.

Side effects of the drug occur quite often. They are numerous, which is why veterinarians consider the use of hormonal injections not the best option.

The most common of them:

• breast cancer;
• cancer of the uterus and its appendages;
• purulent inflammation of the uterus;
• severe hormonal imbalances;
• diabetes;
• obesity;
• baldness;
• thyroid diseases;
• disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system;
• digestive disorders.

The risk of side effects from using the drug is very high. The owner should not use hormonal injections unless absolutely necessary.

Hormonal Injection for Cats - What You Need to Know:

- Is it possible to give a cat such an injection, so that she doesn’t ask the cat? — from an appeal to a veterinary clinic
The question is simple, nevertheless, it has a global scale, is relevant for all times, all countries and peoples - where there are cats, there it exists.

And in order to answer it, you need to understand something, and understand it thoroughly.

Believe me, it's worth it.

Only the prince is missing, where did he go?..

Oh, these cat “wants”! More precisely, their lack of demand.

Starting from the age of 8-10 months (or even less!) In the cat’s head, the light bulb of the instinct “be fruitful and multiply!” begins to blink and send a signal, the same one that suppresses all other instincts and turns a cute creature into a small monster - heart-rendingly screaming , rolling around on the floor, leaving odorous marks. An instinct that makes the owner’s life similar to living on a volcano - it is not known when it will “explode”, which night will turn out to be sleepless.

To satisfy the sexual instinct, at least a sexual partner is required. Oops, but no one was going to give it to the cat. As well as creating conditions for the “getting to know each other” process. And the result of the meeting - kittens - is of no use to anyone... Let's not talk about how detrimentally this affects the cat itself - this is described in detail here. Let's talk about solving the problem.

What to do?

Of course, the most radical, most effective and healthiest thing in the whole wide world is CASTRATION-STERILIZATION. But the operation requires some effort from the owner, material and time costs and, finally, the desire to do it. It happens that something from this list is missing.

Then chemical melee weapons are used - Ex, Stop-intim, Sex-barrier, Counter-sex and other “contrasts” - pills or drops that interrupt estrus. Alas, they are all short-term or “it helped before, but now it doesn’t work.” Clearly something more efficient is required.

And then the owner comes to the idea that the pet needs a magic injection, about which a neighbor (friend, acquaintance or work colleague) told me: “you put it on, and that’s it!”

Long-acting hormonal contraceptives

There are several of them.
But the two most popular are Covinan and Depo-Provera. We will consider them. Covinan is a veterinary hormonal drug intended to suppress sexual estrus in bitches and cats.
The active ingredient is prolygestone, a synthetic analogue of progesterone. Prolygestone is a steroid hormone that prevents the development of estrus. It increases the viscosity of mucus in the uterus, which prevents the implantation of a fertilized egg, inhibits cell hyperplasia and secretion of the mammary gland. When administered during the phase of sexual rest (anestrus), prolygestone maintains a low concentration of LH - luteinizing hormone - in the cat's body, which provides contraception for the animal. When the drug is discontinued, the amount of prolygestone in the body decreases, normal LH levels are restored, and the contraceptive effect ceases.

How to do it correctly

To develop stable sexual dormancy in a cat, Covinan is used according to the following basic scheme:

This is how its manufacturer, the Netherlands, suggests putting Covinan. Its specialists conducted scientific research, taking into account the entire complex process of hormone production by the pituitary gland, hypothalamus and ovaries of the cat - all in order to make the drug the most effective and least safe. And this is important, because hormonal drugs are no joke. They also have a downside.

Side effects (from the instructions): When using the drug, in rare cases, pyometritis, endometrial hyperplasia, slight increase in body weight, increased appetite, apathy, and slight hypertrophy of the mammary glands are possible. Immediately after administration of the drug, a minor local painful reaction is possible. At the injection site, lightening of the coat and slight hair loss are possible.

The most common negative consequences are:

• pyometra (purulent inflammation of the uterus)
• breast tumors
• diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus)

Now let's look at the contraindications (from the instructions): Covinan is not used for pregnant or lactating animals; during estrus (estrus); animals with diseases of the genitourinary system; animals with prolonged vaginal discharge. For animals suffering from diabetes, the drug is used with careful monitoring of blood glucose levels.

Everything seems simple - injections are given according to a simple schedule during the period when there is no sexual heat. What do we have in reality?

Here's how it's usually done

As has been our custom since time immemorial, the system works “until the thunder strikes...”. While the cat is calm, its owner is also carefree. So she screamed obscenities, rolled on the floor, and began, God forbid, to shit in inappropriate places - and then the owner ran with her to the nearest hospital. He comes running and says: “Do something!”

And veterinarians are different - good and not so good (see here). A good doctor, out of all the possibilities of “anything”, really wants to perform an operation - “the healthiest in the whole wide world.”

1. The doctor suggests sterilization first of all. But the owner believes that an injection is the best solution to the problem.
2. Then a good doctor talks about the possible consequences of such a hormonal injection. But the owner still believes that an injection is the best solution to the problem.
3. Then a good doctor examines the cat and, having detected signs of estrus, explains that it is a contraindication to the administration of the drug and talks about the correct regimen. But the owner still insists on the injection.
4. Then a good doctor gives this injection. Why? Yes, because in case of refusal, the stubborn owner will go to another clinic, where there may not be a very good doctor.

A not very good doctor will give the injection right away.

Depo-Provera Unlike veterinary Covinan, Depo-Provera is a medical drug, one of the first synthetic progesterone hormones, developed to prevent conception in women (and also as a treatment for certain gynecological and oncological diseases). The active ingredient is medroxyprogesterone. It comes in the form of a suspension or tablets.

Due to its ability to suppress ovulation, Depo-Provera is used as a long-acting contraceptive.

The drug has restrictions on use and a wide range of side effects, including reactions from various organs (in women). For cats, estrus is still a contraindication. The same negative consequences are also possible.

Depo-Provera is preferred by veterinarians at clubs and nurseries, and breeders of purebred cats.

Who can and needs it?

It is advisable to use hormonal drugs to interrupt estrus in breeding animals, cats that have contraindications to anesthesia and surgery in general (for example, with heart disease, kidney disease, etc.). Contraceptives are also given to cats whose estrus unexpectedly resumes after castration (more on this here).

Cats in breeding

Perhaps, this category of animals really needs long-acting contraceptives. The mating and resting schedule between them implies the presence of empty heats, and hormonal drugs such as Covinan or Depo-Provera (or its analogues) help to survive them with the least damage.

Here's how a veterinarian who works with cat nurseries talks about it (watched on the forum of the Vetmedical portal): If the animal is a breeding animal, used for breeding, but has violent, debilitating estrus, the use of hormones in adequate doses and at adequate times is justified. True, such cats are not removed from breeding at an advanced age. Well, there are no options for the operating table.

So, what happens as a result of the injection:

The administration of the drug stops the development of estrus in the cat and removes all its negative manifestations. And everyone will be happy!

Or the cat still ends up on the operating table, only under much worse circumstances. Or treatment of the endocrine system will be required.

Are there always negative consequences after using hormonal contraceptives?

No. This is roulette.

Some cats “sit” on pills and injections all their lives, and no matter what (at least it seems so, since there are no visible changes).

For others, it “shoots” right away. Or after some time (perhaps after a year). If we get lucky.

Gag: Do you know how many owners come to the clinic demanding that their cat be given a hormonal injection? - A lot of. Do you know how many of them do it the way it should be done? - Units. Almost all injections are given “when the need arises,” that is, during sexual heat.

Dear cat owners! If you do not plan to have kittens, sterilize your pet right away. This will make life a lot easier for both him and you. But if you have already decided to fight the reproductive instinct with the help of hormones, then please do it correctly! After all, there is no one else to take care of your cat except you.

PS Is it possible to give a cat such an injection, so that she doesn’t ask the cat? - from visiting a veterinary clinic

Yes, you can. But first of all, be careful. Secondly, is it necessary?

( 43 ratings, average: 4.07 out of 5)

What medications are there?

Note that during the period of estrus, the cat’s behavior sometimes changes beyond recognition. Due to hormonal storms, the animal becomes aggressive and overly excitable. If the owner decides not to breed the cat, then the question arises about choosing suitable antisex drugs. Similar medications for cats can be of two types:

• on a hormonal basis;
• with a calming effect.

Hormonal medications can:

• reduce the active phase of estrus;
• completely interrupt the heat;
• delay the onset of active;
• extrusion phases.

In addition to influencing the behavior of an animal during estrus, hormonal drops are sometimes used as a remedy against unwanted pregnancy.

Drops

Note that giving drops from walking to a cat is much more convenient: the liquid product can be easily added to food: there is more fuss with tablets. Next, we will consider which drops are suitable for influencing a cat during estrus.

Stop-Intimate

These drops are hormonal in nature and have an effect due to the megasterol acetate contained in the composition. The product is aimed at reducing the cat’s excitability and correcting its behavior during the period of extrusion. It is not recommended to use the product for the following animal diseases:

• diabetes mellitus;
• genitourinary problems;
• tumors.