Senvelgo for Cats: Overview, Dosage & Aspect Results

Senvelgo is the model title for the antidiabetic remedy, velagliflozin. On this article you’ll find out how Senvelgo works to deal with diabetes in cats, vital security info, and methods to determine if Senvelgo is the proper selection to your diabetic cat.

Senvelgo for Cats Overview

Medicine Sort:

Antidiabetic; sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor

Prescription Required?:

Sure

Frequent Names:

Velagliflozin

Accessible Dosages:

15mg/ml answer in 30ml bottles

About Senvelgo for Cats

Senvelgo is the model title for velagliflozin, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Well being. Senvelgo is an FDA-approved remedy for cats to deal with diabetes.

Velagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. SGLT2 is answerable for reabsorbing a majority of glucose that results in the urine. In untreated diabetics, glucose within the bloodstream (blood sugar) reaches a sure threshold earlier than it spills over into the urine.

In diabetics who’re both not handled or not nicely regulated, excessive blood sugar ranges result in extra sugar within the urine. The surplus sugar acts as a diuretic, attracting extra water and resulting in the extreme urination and thirst generally seen with diabetics.

SGLT2’s job is to maintain sugar within the bloodstream as a lot as potential by having the kidneys reabsorb glucose earlier than it results in urine. This is a vital perform in wholesome pets to assist preserve regular blood sugar ranges.

SGLT2 inhibitors stop this from taking place, permitting extra glucose to finish up within the urine. This results in blood sugar ranges being decrease.

Because the “sodium” a part of SGLT2 implies, these drugs additionally block sodium reabsorption, although the importance in cats is unknown.

For SGLT2 inhibitors for use safely and successfully, a cat have to be producing insulin. Generally of feline diabetes, cats have a kind just like kind II in individuals. Insulin is being produced by the pancreas, however the physique has developed resistance to its results. Whereas uncommon, it’s potential for a cat to have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, just like kind I in individuals. SGLT2 inhibitors can’t be utilized in these instances.

Senvelgo can’t be utilized in diabetic cats who’ve already been handled with insulin. Initiation of Senvelgo alongside insulin administration or in a cat going by means of withdrawal of insulin has been related to an elevated threat of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and euglycemic DKA.

Dosing Data for Cats

The next info shouldn’t be used to interchange a veterinary go to or alter your vet’s prescribing info. At all times seek the advice of with your personal vet earlier than beginning a drugs or adjusting a drugs dose to your cat.

Senvelgo oral answer is FDA-approved to be used in cats.

The FDA-approved dose is 1 mg/kg given by mouth as soon as every day. It needs to be given at roughly the identical time every day.

Whereas blood sugar monitoring is vital for protected use of an SGLT2 inhibitor, the dose of Senvelgo shouldn’t be adjusted primarily based on blood sugar ranges.

The oral answer is available in a focus of 15mg/ml.

Senvelgo comes with a dosing syringe that has increments primarily based on physique weight (not in milliliters). That is to simplify dosing at house. Give your cat the dose that correlates closest to their most up-to-date physique weight, utilizing the offered syringe.

However within the occasion you lose the dosing syringe that comes with Senvelgo, see the dosing chart under for approximate milliliter dosing volumes primarily based on a cat’s weight in kilos.

Find out how to Administer Senvelgo to Cats

Senvelgo is an oral liquid answer. Per the producer, it may be given both straight by mouth or it may be given straight on high of a small quantity of meals. The remedy could also be utilized on high of meals, however not combined in with it.

As a result of it’s given solely as soon as a day, a missed dose will be given as quickly as potential on the identical day.

If a cat vomits inside half-hour of taking the remedy, the dose could also be repeated.

In case your cat might be having surgical procedure or one other process the place withholding meals/fasting is required, the remedy needs to be quickly discontinued throughout that point. In the event you’re undecided if that is mandatory, all the time double verify along with your veterinary workplace.

Aspect Results of Senvelgo for Cats

The next are probably the most frequent uncomfortable side effects of Senvelgo and the proportion of cats affected in scientific research:

• Diarrhea/free stool (53% of cats)
• Weight reduction (44% of cats)
• Vomiting (37% of cats)

In 10%-20% of cats, the next uncomfortable side effects have been reported (in reducing frequency):

• Elevated thirst and urination
• Lowered or absent urge for food
• hypersalivation/extreme drooling
• Dehydration
• Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) on lab work

In 1%-10% of cats the next has been reported (in reducing frequency):

• Lethargy
• Elevated urge for food
• Urinary tract an infection
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or euglycemic DKA
• Elevated calcium ranges
• Inappropriate urination
• Ketones within the urine
• Loss of life
• Elevated liver values on blood work
• Elevated triglyceride ranges on blood work
• Elevated phosphorus ranges on blood work
• Elevated feline pancreatic lipase (fPL)
• Pancreatitis
• Elevated creatinine on blood work
• Hepatic lipidosis

Senvelgo needs to be used cautiously in cats with kidney illness. Evaluating kidney perform is a part of wanted monitoring previous to beginning this remedy and through its use. Nonetheless, Senvelgo has been used safely in cats with IRIS stage I and II continual kidney illness.

Most Critical Aspect Results of Senvelgo for Cats

Urine check strips like these to be used at house can be utilized to observe for ketones. Occasional hint ketones could also be regular, however constant findings of upper ranges could point out critical uncomfortable side effects and warrant an pressing go to to the vet. Yaya / Shutterstock.com

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is probably the most critical aspect impact threat of utilizing an SGLT2 inhibitor like Senvelgo. A selected type of DKA referred to as euglycemic DKA will be seen with use of those drugs in cats.

When the physique can’t make the most of blood sugar (which is the principle complication from diabetes), a critical situation referred to as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may result. The breakdown of fundamental sugars and carbohydrates in meals leads to glucose. Glucose is required for fueling the physique for all of its every day capabilities. When glucose can’t be used correctly by the physique, the physique will begin to break down fats as an power supply as a substitute.

A byproduct of breaking down fats is a ketone. Ketones are okay for brief durations when wanted. However extreme build-up results in the physique’s chemical state shifting from impartial to extra acidic. That is referred to as acidosis. Acidosis causes extreme sickness.

On the whole, DKA is probably the most critical complication of diabetes going undiagnosed or untreated, or not being handled successfully.

DKA can be a critical potential aspect impact with use of any SGLT2 inhibitor like Senvelgo. SGLT2 inhibitors don’t really help with glucose use by the physique. They as a substitute solely hold blood sugar decrease by flushing it out within the urine.

To make issues extra difficult, a particular type of DKA referred to as euglycemic DKA will be seen with SGLT2 use. Generally of DKA, the blood sugar might be very excessive. A really excessive blood sugar mixed with different indicators of sickness can clue a veterinarian into DKA being a priority.

However with SGLT2 inhibitors, the blood sugar may very well be regular (euglycemic) as a result of extra glucose is being pushed into the urine by the remedy. This may make diagnosing DKA more difficult.

Euglycemic ketoacidosis might happen in a cat on an SGLT2 inhibitor at any time. It’s crucial to carefully monitor for indicators of concern at house. Indicators of DKA can embody:

• Lowered or absent urge for food
• Vomiting
• Lethargy/weak spot

Even when your cat shouldn’t be displaying indicators of sickness, it’s vital to commonly monitor urine and blood serum ketone ranges a pair occasions when first beginning Senvelgo, and once more each 3-6 months. For full suggestions, see the next part on monitoring.

Ketones detected within the urine above uncommon hint ranges could immediate rapid discontinuation of Senvelgo. Equally, seeing a blood serum ketone (BHB) stage better than 25 mg/dl prompts discontinuing the remedy and immediate initiation of insulin remedy.

Precautions

Whereas some may even see treating diabetes with oral remedy as simpler than insulin injections, it’s vital to grasp that drugs like Senvelgo should not true replacements for insulin remedy. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com

SGLT2 inhibitors like Senvelgo could include much less “work” at house in comparison with giving insulin injections.

However it‘s vital to grasp there are core variations between SGLT2 inhibitors and insulin remedy. You shouldn’t consider Senvelgo as an “simpler alternative” for insulin.

When treating a diabetic cat with insulin, the aim is basically to copy the physique’s regular course of of manufacturing insulin to hold glucose into cells the place it may be used. As mentioned above with euglycemic DKA, SGLT2 inhibitors don’t really carry out the identical perform.

Cats being handled with insulin might be able to go into diabetic remission. That is the place the physique returns to having the ability to regulate blood sugar by itself with out the necessity for insulin injections. Roughly 50% of cats on insulin remedy could go into remission. That is greatest achieved inside 6 months of prognosis. Diabetes could recur, however greater than half of cats that go into remission will stay in remission.

Cats on SGLT2 inhibitors won’t have the chance to enter remission. That is vital to bear in mind when contemplating what method to take along with your kitty if diabetes is newly identified.

Monitoring a Cat on Senvelgo

The next monitoring parameters are really helpful previous to beginning a cat on Senvelgo:

• Affected person historical past and bodily examination (these ought to embody exercise stage, urge for food, meals/water consumption, and physique weight)
• Full blood depend (CBC)
• Serum chemistry to judge liver and kidney perform, ldl cholesterol and triglyceride ranges, and electrolytes (together with calcium)
• Fructosamine (representing common blood glucose ranges over the last few weeks)
• Feline pancreatic lipase (fPL) to display for pancreatitis (an ultrasound can also be wanted)
• Urinalysis to display for urinary tract an infection and the presence of ketones)
• Blood or serum ketones (beta-hydroxybutyrate or BHB)

Inside the first 2 to three days of beginning Senvelgo, the next needs to be evaluated:

• Urine ketones
• Blood serum ketones (BHB)

At about 1 week after beginning Senvelgo, the next needs to be evaluated:

• Glycemic management with both an 8 hour blood glucose curve and/or a serum fructosamine
• Exercise stage, urge for food, meals and water urge for food
• Hydration standing
• Physique weight
• Urine ketones
• Blood/serum ketones (BHB)

On the 4th week after beginning Senvelgo, the next needs to be evaluated:

• Blood glucose management with an 8 hour blood glucose curve and/or fructosamine stage
• Bodily examination
• Physique weight

The next needs to be evaluated routinely throughout therapy with Senvelgo (roughly each 3-6 months):

• Exercise stage
• Physique weight
• Urge for food/meals and water consumption
• Urine output
• Hydration standing
• Lab work to verify liver perform, kidney perform, ldl cholesterol, triglycerides, and electrolytes (together with calcium)
• A blood glucose curve and/or a serum fructosamine
• Urinalysis to observe for urine ketones and urinary tract an infection

As a result of Senvelgo’s technique of motion is to extend urine glucose output, monitoring utilizing urine glucose on a urine dipstick is of restricted worth.

Overdose and Emergencies

For probably the most half, overdoses or acute toxicity with Senvelgo will result in extensions of the commonest uncomfortable side effects. These embody vomiting and diarrhea.

However these is also seen with a cat experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or euglycemic DKA. Any indicators of digestive upset, decreased urge for food, or issues for an overdose of Senvelgo ought to immediate you to right away contact a number of of the next for additional recommendation:

• Your veterinarian
• ASPCA Animal Poison Management Middle (1-888-426-4435)
• Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661)

Potential Drug Interactions With Senvelgo

Senvelgo remains to be a comparatively new remedy on the time of this text’s publication. All remedy interactions with Senvelgo should not recognized. The next record represents interactions which have both been reported or are theoretically potential.

Except particularly indicated, this record doesn’t imply the next drugs can’t be used with Senvelgo. Weigh the potential dangers and advantages. Make sure that to debate all drugs your cat is receiving along with your vet.

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (enalapril, benazepril): could improve low blood sugar results. Might improve threat for low blood strain and acute kidney harm, particularly in dehydrated cats.
• Antihypertensive brokers (amlodipine, telmisartan): could improve threat for low blood strain and acute kidney harm, particularly in dehydrated cats.
• Beta blockers (atenolol, propranolol): could improve low blood sugar results. Might improve threat for low blood strain and acute kidney harm, particularly in dehydrated cats.
• Corticosteroids (prednisolone): could lower the blood sugar impact decreasing of Senvelgo
• Diuretics (furosemide/Lasix): added low blood strain and diuretic results could happen.
• Estrogens: could lower the blood sugar decreasing impact of Senvelgo
• Fluoroquinolones (marbofloxacin, pradofloxacin): could improve the blood sugar decreasing impact
• Insulin: critical antagonistic results usually tend to happen in cats beforehand handled with, or presently receiving, insulin injections. Senvelgo shouldn’t be utilized in cats who’ve beforehand acquired insulin injections or are presently on insulin remedy.
• NSAIDs (robenacoxib, meloxicam): Acute kidney harm threat is elevated in people experiencing dehydration whereas taking an SGLT2 inhibitor
• Progestogens: could lower the blood sugar decreasing impact
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (fluoxetine): could improve the blood sugar decreasing impact.
• Sulfonylureas (glipizide): further blood sugar decreasing results could happen. Use of glipizide with SGLT2 inhibitors has not been evaluated in cats.

Find out how to Retailer Senvelgo

Based on the producer, Senvelgo will be saved at or under 77 levels F (25 levels C). The answer will nonetheless stay steady with temporary excursions as much as 104 levels F (40 levels C).

Senvelgo needs to be used inside 6 months of opening the bottle.

Drug Dosing Disclaimer: We’re solely in a position to present doses for drugs which are FDA authorized to be used in cats and solely because the label tips dictate. For drugs which are used off-label we are able to solely present tips and security info to be used. Protected and acceptable dosing for off-label drugs can solely be decided by a main care veterinarian.

We encourage you to work along with your veterinarian to find out if a selected remedy is suitable to your cat. Altering or adjusting a dose to your cat by yourself with out consulting with a veterinarian can carry threat. We don’t encourage use of medicines prescribed for human use in pets with out first consulting with a main care veterinarian.