BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

In an effort to understanding reasoning behind the choice to use cefovecin to treat cats vs an appropriate narrow-spectrum antibiotic, researchers surveyed cat owners and veterinarians. The results and analysis were published in a paper entitled, Divergent Veterinarian and Cat Owner Perspective are a Barrier to Reducing the Use of Cefovecin in Cats, which was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). 

Compared to cefovecin, oral antimicrobials are often more appropriate in their narrower spectrum and duration of treatment. Many times these antibiotics are also significantly less expensive to the pet owner. Cefovecin however, is viewed as more convenient to administer since it only requires one injection by the veterinary staff.  

Typically a urinary tract infection requires five days of oral antibiotics compared to cefovecin which persists for up to two months at subtherapeutic levels, increasing the chances for development of antibiotic resistant organisms. 

While it can be a struggle to administer oral medications to cats, the survey revealed that veterinarians believe that cat owners suffer more difficulty than reality. The survey revealed that 31% of cat owners had at least one cat in which pill administration was a struggle and 9% reported oral medication was impossible in their cat. When asked about liquid medications, 20% reported having a difficult time and 5% said it was impossible.  When veterinarians were asked about cat owners medicating their pets, they estimated 60 % would find it difficulty and 20% would find it impossible.  This discrepancy in views could influence the veterinarian’s choice to recommend cefovecin. 

However, the study showed that when cat owners did have difficulty administering medication to their cats, only about 65% of them would talk to their veterinary staff to get tips for medicating. This opens an area of opportunity for veterinarians to proactively address medication tips and tricks and what to do if the pet owner can not get the medication into the cat. The survey also revealed that if cat owners were educated about the risk of antibiotic resistance with cefovecin compared to an oral antibiotic, they were more willing to try the oral antibiotic. 

Another paper entitled, Pathways to Sustainable Antimicrobial Use in Cats, also published in JAVMA, discussed clients concerns with cost and the likelihood of declining culture and susceptibility testing. The authors of this paper suggested that lowering the cost of testing would make clients more likely to approve testing so the proper antibiotic could be selected for their pet’s condition.