A few days before her euthanasia, my partner’s cat, Gables, underwent a routine wellness examination. During this visit, a cystocentesis was performed for the first time—a procedure in which a sterile needle is inserted through the abdominal wall into the bladder to collect urine, typically for diagnostic purposes such as detecting a urinary tract infection.

Following the procedure, Gables’s medical records noted internal bleeding potentially caused by the cystocentesis needle, indicating a possible hemorrhage. Afterward, she became lethargic and stopped eating or drinking. Despite these symptoms, the injury was not treated. Instead, the clinic administered Convenia (cefovecin sodium), a long-acting injectable antibiotic, due to her inability to tolerate oral medications.

Convenia remains active in a cat’s system for up to 14 days, and while convenient, it can pose serious risks—especially in medically fragile patients—because adverse effects cannot be reversed once administered. In Gables’s case, these risks appear to have been underestimated or overlooked. Several key precautions were not followed:

Common adverse reactions in cats include

• vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy—all of which were documented in Gables after the injection.
• Convenia is known to cause thrombocytopenia, a dangerous drop in platelets that increases the likelihood of bleeding—particularly concerning given the bleeding that followed the cystocentesis.
• The drug should be used cautiously, or at reduced doses, in patients with renal dysfunction. Gables had documented protein in her urine, suggesting kidney impairment, yet she was given a full dose.

Tragically, within days of receiving Convenia, Gables was euthanized after her owner observed bleeding from her nose. The chain of events leading to her decline raises serious concerns about the lack of adequate communication, oversight, and informed consent regarding the risks of Convenia.

Call to Action for Improved Veterinary Drug Transparency
We urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) to take action to ensure that:

Veterinary drug information sheets outlining risks, side effects, and monitoring protocols are made mandatory and must be provided to pet owners prior to administering any long-acting or high-risk medications, including but not limited to Convenia.

Veterinarians are required to review these risks with clients, particularly when administering medications to animals with known underlying health concerns.
Clear guidelines be enforced regarding dosage adjustments for animals with renal dysfunction, blood disorders, or other vulnerabilities.
This petition is addressed to:

Dr. Tracey Forfa, D.V.M.
Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
7500 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855

Veterinary drug safety should not be a matter of convenience. Pet owners deserve full access to information that allows for informed decision-making and appropriate monitoring. We believe greater transparency and accountability can prevent tragedies like Gables’s from recurring.

If your vet prescribes Convenia - please refer to this prescription page to ask questions and ensure that your vet is monitoring the drug.