Canephron for cats: dosage, instructions for use

What's in it?

This drug is exclusively of plant origin, therefore it is classified as herbal medicine. "Canephron" for cats in tablets includes extracts of centaury, lovage, rosemary leaf and povidone. These components are the active ingredients. The auxiliary ingredients are corn starch, lactose monohydrate and silicon dioxide.

The composition of liquid "Canephron" is somewhat different from the composition of the tablet form. Active ingredients also include centaury herb, lovage root and rosemary leaves. But water and ethyl alcohol are auxiliary. It is the latter component that causes disgust in cats and makes it difficult to take the drug in this form.

How does the drug work?

The instructions for Canephron for cats indicate its diuretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect on the pet’s genitourinary system. The drug also helps:

• cleansing of toxins;
• an increase in the amount of urine excreted per day;
• restoration of normal urine reaction (normally it is slightly acidic);
• reducing pain in the genitourinary system;
• suppression of infection propagation;
• prevent the appearance of stones in the urinary tract.

Storage conditions and shelf life of the drug

The drug is stored in the manufacturer's sealed packaging, in a dry place out of reach of children. Avoid exposing the medicine to sunlight. Storage temperature is room temperature, from 10 to 15 degrees.

The drug should not be used after the expiration date indicated on the package.

The shelf life for dragees is 4 years from the date of manufacture. For the solution – 2 years, after opening the bottle – 6 months.

For what diseases is it prescribed?

The instructions for using Canephron for cats state that this drug has been used in veterinary medicine relatively recently. Doctors prescribe it as a preventive measure or in complex therapy together with other drugs.

In the early stages, Canephron for cats is used to treat diseases such as:

• cystitis (inflammation of the bladder due to bacteria, fungi or viruses);
• pyelonephritis (a complication of cystitis when inflammation spreads to the kidneys);
• glomerulonephritis (chronic inflammation of the kidneys of a non-infectious nature, which can occur as a result of injury or hypothermia);
• urolithiasis (the appearance of rocky formations in the genitourinary system).

Description of the medicine

Gamavit for cats: dosage and instructions for use

The drops have a yellow-brown color in appearance and during long-term storage the drug may form a sediment. It has a characteristic aroma of medicinal herbs and alcohol. The bottle with liquid is equipped with a cap with a pipette, which makes it easy to collect the required number of drops.

Canephron tablets are available in a cardboard box of 60 pieces, that is, 3 plates of 20 tablets each. They are orange in color and externally small in size.

Release form of the medicine

Who is it contraindicated for?

Despite the fact that this medicine is of plant origin, it cannot be given to all animals. The instructions for use of Canephron for cats contain contraindications, including:

• peptic ulcers of the stomach and intestines;
• hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
• liver and kidney failure.

In some situations, taking the drug is allowed, but with special instructions. For example, when a cat is pregnant, the drug is prescribed taking into account the benefits and risks for the offspring. If the animal has swelling due to heart and kidney problems, then the use of fluid will be limited. In the presence of concomitant inflammatory processes, the drug is taken only as prescribed by a veterinarian. In case of impaired renal function, the medicine is used only in complex therapy.

You should also draw your attention to the fact that taking Canephron may reduce the cat’s concentration and reaction speed. Therefore, if your pet remains lethargic, inattentive and a little disoriented while taking the drug, then you should not think that the treatment is unsuccessful. In fact, all these symptoms are observed in your pet due to the ethyl alcohol contained in the medicine. Once you stop taking it, your cat's behavior will return to normal.

Limitations and side effects

It is strictly forbidden to prescribe the drug to cats if:

• stomach or duodenal ulcer (at the acute stage);
• liver failure;
• intolerance to the components of the drug, as well as fructose and lactose;
• deficiency of lactase and sucrase;
• excessive sensitivity to the components of the drug.

In case of individual hypersensitivity and intolerance to the drug or its components, allergic manifestations are possible. It is necessary to interrupt the reception and report them to the veterinarian.

Special instructions for treating cats:

• for heart disease - take Canephron only under the supervision of a veterinarian;
• pregnant and lactating women - only as directed by a doctor, taking into account an assessment of the risk and benefit for the animal;
• with kidney pathology - Canephron cannot be used in monotherapy, taken only under the supervision of a veterinarian;
• for diabetes mellitus - take a liquid dosage form of the drug;
• In case of head injuries and brain diseases, use caution and take under medical supervision.

The medication is usually well tolerated by cats. No side effects of Canephron have been identified.

Release form - drops

One of the forms of release of this drug is a liquid alcohol solution. It may seem that it is easier to give the drug to an animal in this form, but this is not so. Difficulties are caused by the pungent smell of alcohol, which causes disgust in the pet.

The dosage of Canephron drops for cats is 1-2 drops per 1 kg of weight. The cat needs to take this solution twice a day for a month.

The solution must be diluted with a small amount of water. It is better to give it to an animal from a syringe without a needle. You also need to be careful that the alcohol solution does not get on your pet’s mucous membranes, such as the eyes. The concentrated drug can harm the cat.

Dosage for cats

Canephron, alcohol solution. Dose for cats: 1-2 drops per 1 kg of animal weight, in the mouth 1-3 times a day.

The drug must be mixed with a small amount of water. Before use, the solution in the bottle should be shaken thoroughly. The product contains alcohol, so after mixing with water, the solution should be left open for a while to ventilate. How to give liquid medications to a cat?

Canephron, pills. Dose for cats: 1/8-1/4 tablets, by mouth 1-3 times a day. How to give pills to a cat?

Tablets "Canephron"

If your veterinarian prescribed the drug to your pet in tablet form, the application process will be slightly different. The tablet product also has a pronounced smell of alcohol, so be prepared for the fact that your ward will not want to drink the tablets either.

The dosage of Canephron tablets for cats also depends on the age of the animal. For young cats this is a quarter of one tablet, and for adult large cats it is half of one tablet. The duration of the course is also 3-4 weeks when taking tablets twice a day.

A tablet of the drug is placed on the root of the animal’s tongue and allowed to swallow. After which the cat must be given plenty of water to drink.

Do not forget that self-medication is contraindicated not only for people, but also for animals. Only a veterinarian can prescribe the optimal dosage of Canephron for cats, and then only after tests and examination of your pet. Therefore, you should not rely on luck and treat your little family members yourself.

How to use the tablets

If you use Canephron tablets to treat a cat, then the dosage is 1/4-1/2 tablets, depending on the size of the animal. For small pets, a quarter of a tablet will be enough, but for large animals (more than 5 kg) the dose should be increased to half. Your doctor should calculate the exact dose.

Since the tablets have a specific aroma of medicinal herbs, cats categorically refuse to eat them voluntarily. Most likely, it won’t even be possible to mix it into food, although there are no such restrictions. The pet will smell the smell and refuse the treat. In this regard, it is best to give Canephron tablets to a cat as follows:

1. Divide the pills into the required number of parts depending on the dosage.
2. Take your pet in your arms. To prevent scratching, wrap it in a blanket or old large towel.
3. Lay your stomach up or tilt your head back, and then place the tablet on the root of your tongue.
4. Stroke the neck or blow into the nose to trigger the swallowing reflex. To make the tablet slide inside easier, you can hide it in a small piece of butter.
5. Give your cat clean water from a syringe without a needle or a rubber bulb with a soft tip. If you do not allow the animal to take the pill, the bitter taste may cause foam at the mouth and increased salivation.

Side effect of the drug

Like any medicine, the use of Canephron for cats is fraught with various side effects. Among them, the most common are:

• allergic reaction (manifests individually);
• nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea and other intestinal disorders;
• nervous system disorders.

If you observe any symptom that was not there before, or your pet’s behavior has changed for the worse, you should immediately stop taking the drug and consult a veterinarian. He will be able to determine whether these symptoms are actually caused by the medication and prescribe other drug therapy.

What are the contraindications?

The medication is contraindicated in such pathological processes as:

• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• liver diseases;
• individual reaction to taking the drug.

The medicine is not prescribed for heart or vascular disease. If your pet has an allergic reaction to taking the drug, you should seek help from a veterinarian. The medication is given to a pregnant cat with extreme caution.

During a crisis, Canephron is not prescribed to a pet suffering from chronic renal failure, since liver function is impaired in some animals. The cat may feel unwell, so it is difficult to visually determine whether the liver has been damaged during treatment. Lovage and rosemary irritate liver tissue.

"Canephron" for chronic renal failure in cats

CKD stands for "chronic kidney failure." Older cats are susceptible to this disease. It is characterized by irreversible deterioration of the kidney tissue. Among cats over 15 years old, this disease is observed in every second animal. You can understand that your pet has chronic renal failure if you pay attention to the presence of symptoms such as:

• bad breath;
• stomatitis;
• sores on the tip of the tongue;
• pale color of mucous membranes.

Associated symptoms may also include intestinal disorders, vomiting, and disorders of the nervous system and behavior. Due to the fact that phosphorus excretion from the cat's body is impaired, renal hyperparathyroidism can develop. This is a disease with a predominance of severe urolithiasis, with frequent attacks of renal colic, and the development of renal failure.

Since renal failure in this case has a chronic course, Canephron is prescribed here as maintenance therapy to reduce the effect of various factors on the kidneys. If the urea content is high, Hofitol is prescribed together with Canephron. The dose of Canephron for cats in this case is half a tablet, and the dose of Hofitol is a quarter of a tablet. These drugs are used twice a day. The duration of the course is determined by the veterinarian, taking into account the general condition of the cat.

Also, for chronic renal failure in cats, in addition to drug treatment, diet and vitamin intake, rest and absence of stressful situations are recommended. Therefore, long trips should be postponed until you finish taking the medications.

Reviews from veterinarians about Canephron for cats

Since this drug is used in veterinary medicine, it means that experts have a good opinion of it. Some doctors believe that Canephron, in addition to all the advantages described above, increases the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. For prevention, it should be given in courses, several times a year.

If your cat has been prescribed a bunch of medications, and you are already tired of stuffing the animal with all these pills, then some veterinarians recommend replacing all herbal tablets and capsules with Canephron. They believe that it is enough to give one tablet of Canephron a day, rather than try to give the poor cat a lot of other herbal medicine.

Also, veterinarians strongly recommend providing the animal with plenty of fluids during any drug therapy. This is the key to the correct action of any medication.

Reviews from owners about Canephron

Many consumers of this drug rely on the opinion of specialists. Like, if the vet prescribed it, it means it’s not harmful. But really, we cannot be smarter than a qualified veterinarian. Therefore, there is some truth in this.

Reviews about Canephron for cats on most forums are positive. Many owners even exchange experiences on how best to give this very medicine to a cat, since, as we have already mentioned, both the liquid solution and the tablet form have a distinct, specific smell of alcohol.

For example, some advise waiting until the alcohol vapor (when using drops) evaporates before giving the medicine. Others recommend mixing the drops, one teaspoon of water and one tablespoon of canned food. They claim that in this case, part of the alcohol vapor evaporates, and the rest mixes with the food and does not cause discomfort to the cat.

There are other methods that have been tested by people. For example, give your cat medicine when she sleeps. Some authors of such advice claim that the cat does not even open its eyes during such manipulations. However, whether this will actually be the case depends only on your pet.

For very advanced owners, they came up with special tools to make it convenient to give pills to animals. Such instruments are similar to syringes. Their tips are made of two rubber bands; a tablet is inserted between them, which is then pushed down the cat’s throat. This device will help avoid bites from a frightened animal.

Owner reviews

Oksana, owner of a Scottish Straight cat:

“We were prescribed Canephron in combination with other medications for urolithiasis, which developed against the background of pyelonephritis. We take the pills for 3 weeks. There are no relapses of the disease yet. The cat tolerates the medication well. In general, I’m not worried, it contains only natural herbal ingredients.”

Ksenia, owner of a 6-year-old cat:

“I noticed that the cat often runs to the litter box, but only comes out a couple of drops at a time. We went to the hospital and were diagnosed with cystitis. One of the drugs for treatment was Canephron. I didn’t have to buy the medicine, it was left over from my treatment (I have bad kidneys). Getting the drops into the cat proved to be a difficult task. Mixed with milk, added to canned food - no results. I had to force it into my mouth. But our torment was justified, after 5 days the cat began to go to the toilet normally, but we completed the course completely (3 weeks).”

Cost and analogues

Many people classify Canephron for cats as an expensive drug. In fact, it only depends on your financial capabilities. Practice shows that it is better to undergo one course of treatment with the drug prescribed by the doctor, even if it is expensive, than to replace it with a thousand ineffective cheaper analogues. However, this is purely a matter for each owner.

"Canephron" in tablets will cost around 400-450 rubles. But the drug in the form of a solution will cost a little less - 350-400 rubles.

You can replace the drug, for example, if your pet is intolerant of any components with the following medications:

• "Renel";
• "Gentos"
• "Uriflorin";
• "Bioprost";
• "Speman";
• "Urolesan";
• "Tribestan";
• "Vitaprost";
• "Cyston".

Prevention of urinary system diseases in cats

Diseases of this group in cats are quite heterogeneous, and, accordingly, their prevention will also vary.

To prevent cystitis in cats, for example, you should not change the location of the tray. Your cat should always have free access to drinking water. If you have more than one cat, then each one should have a personal tray. Even if your pet relieves itself outside, there should still be a litter box indoors.

Prevention of urolithiasis involves proper nutrition of the cat. To do this, you need to avoid feeding your cat food rich in salts. This includes fish, milk, seafood, mineral supplements, etc. Vitamins must be present in the diet. It is better not to give hard drinking water to your cat.

It is also necessary to reduce the animal's consumption of dry food. However, this only applies to cheap foods such as Kitekat, Darling, Whiskas, Katinka, Friskies, etc. Expensive foods, on the contrary, are balanced products that can prevent the appearance of urolithiasis in cats.

You should also remember that timely diagnosis is the key to the long life and health of your ward. Therefore, visit the veterinarian at least once every six months in order to identify the disease in time and begin its treatment in the early stages.