Solensia For Cats -- Updates, Please

[Rackonteur]

I know we’ve discussed Solensia here before; today I’m just wondering how your cats are currently getting it. My cat and I have just returned from our vet clinic for her monthly Solensia injection. We have been doing this every month for about a year and a half.

The trip is getting harder and harder every month. We take the bus, which is pleasant but it is getting harder for me to get up and down the bus steps and get cat on and off. It is also expensive. Right now I am paying $85 every month for the trip and shot.

This morning I asked the vet again when Solensia will be released to cat owners so we can give it at home. I was told again that they don’t know. I then called Zoetis, the manufacturer, and was told it is up to the vet.
I then called the AVMA to get the actual facts.
They referred me to the manufacturer.

I love our vet and trust them.
But what I want to know is, Does your vet let you give the shot at home?
Just wondering if any vets do. I am not asking for vet names, just do ANY vets let the shot be given at home?

[OzarksRider]

I think you may be getting misinformation from your vet (not deliberate, just uninformed). Solensia requires a prescription, but I don’t think there’s any federal requirement that a vet has to administer the shot. In my state (Missouri) the only medication that has to be given by a vet is rabies vaccination, and even that is not absolute. Owners can give rabies shots but if the animal is subsequently exposed to rabies the vaccination would not be recognized as valid. Other than that, owners can get shots from the vet to be given at home, but not all vets do this. It just depends on the practice.

Sometimes there may be good reasons for having the shot administered at the vet clinic–for example, if there’s a significant chance of an adverse reaction. But I think more often the motive is money. The clinic makes more money if they administer the shot.

@Rackonteur, I think Zoetis gave you the correct answer that it’s up to the vet. Maybe you should tell your vet that you talked to the manufacturer and you were told that the vet has the option of letting you give the shot. Tell them that the monthly trips to the vet are hard on both you and your cat, and ask specifically if there are any state laws or regulations that prevent you from giving the shot.

[Rackonteur]

Thank you.
The thought of getting out sometimes, going somewhere, seeing someone besides the other people who live here, is nice. The reality is often not. I like my vet and the staff there. I like the bus drivers. But my body is ready to quit doing it.

[Alterwho]

I just have to say I’m impressed that you take your cat on the bus!

I have a hard enough time taking mine anywhere in the car. Mine are all ex ferals and tend to yowl and urinate when travelling. I don’t think that would go over too well on public transportation

[QuestionMark]

Is your vet aware of what a physical and financial toll it is taking on you to make this trip each month? If not, maybe they’d be more apt to consider the other options if they did know.

[tmmktoby]

My vet allows me to do the Solensia injections at home as my cat is so scared of the car ride and vet visit. They allow me to pick up the injection only one month at a time though. I still have to make the trip every month, I just don’t have to bring Pandora with.

[beowulf]

Several of my friends are/were able to administer it at home, and since it is sub-q, it is very simple to do. My vet gave me that spiel too, and while it may not be an outright lie, it’s misinformation. It is entirely up to your vet. See if you can push back - point out that it is an additional financial burden and stress burden on your cat. Just pointing out you have to take your poor cat on public transit (you too!) should be enough for your vet to reconsider.

My cat on Solensia reacted poorly to the last shot, so I will be discontinuing it - but I felt negatively towards my vet that they would make us go through the stress and additional cost of bringing her to the vet instead of doing it quietly at home. My cat must be on Gabapentin for a clinical exam or you are not touching her – it really made sense in my situation to be able to do it at home. Btw, they charge $195 for each Solensia visit - includes fee for the ‘exam’ and the tech fee.

[Rackonteur]

$195!???! Good grief.

I just don’t understand the vet’s attitude about Solensia. Before we had it I used to give Velvet sub cu injections of Adequan with no problem. I get that Solensia has to be refrigerated but so does Gabapentin and I do that.

The Adequan did not, but before we switched vets our former one said Adequan must not only be kept refrigerated at home but must be ordered online and kept cold throughout the shipping process and could easily be compromised and it all seemed so complicated it was one reason I switched vets. Our current vet could fill the Adequan script in-house.

Sometimes I wish we could move back to a city, where there is more choice of medical providers. But also more bad crap …

[chestnutmarebeware]

@Rackonteur

so does Gabapentin

Not anymore—I get my cat’s liquid gabapentin compounded at my local pharmacy and it used to come with a scary label about keeping it in the fridge.

Then one day I picked up the new bottle and it was in the bins with the regular human meds, so I asked if it was spoiled due to being stored at room temps. The pharmacist said it no longer has to be kept cold, although I still do because I think the taste is a little better for my cat.

[Rackonteur]

hmm. Thank you for posting that.

I can’t get any of my cat’s prescriptions from any local pharmacies, even the compounding ones, because, my vet says, some pharmacies aren’t particular enough about the ingredients they put in, some of which may be harmful to cats. Their systems are so different from our human ones.

[Alterwho]

@Rackonteur

hmm. Thank you for posting that.

I can’t get any of my cat’s prescriptions from any local pharmacies, even the compounding ones, because, my vet says, some pharmacies aren’t particular enough about the ingredients they put in, some of which may be harmful to cats. Their systems are so different from our human ones.

Chewy has compounded gabapentin

[thatmoody]

Heck, the injections I give myself for migraines have to be refrigerated. It’s true that it can be difficult to ensure compliance at home but surely if a vet knows you well enough to know you can follow instructions, it should be possible. I give my dog his adequan shots. I think my vet did want to give the first couple of solensia injections in-office to monitor for reactions, but I’m hoping that after that I can give them at home. I have 2 cats on it currently so it would be a lot easier.