When drawing up each dose from the vial, try to keep the vial and the syringe/needle as clean as possible to lower the risk of infection at the injection site. Clean and disinfect the stopper of the Adequan® vial before each use. Use only sterile needles and properly discard the needle after each use. Needles should only be used once.
Pain, swelling, or hematoma formation at the site of injection is possible with an overdose of Adequan®. An overdose can also cause low platelet counts which would increase blood clotting time. This may present as nose bleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding (which can cause bloody stool, dark coffee ground stool), or vomiting. Liver and kidney damage are also possible side effects of an overdose.
If you accidentally ingest or inject yourself with this medication, call your physician or the national Poison Control Center hotline at 800-222-1222.
If you forget to give a dose of Adequan®, give it when you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal dosing schedule. Do not give extra or double doses.
The use of Adequan® as a urinary bladder lining protector in cats with idiopathic cystitis is currently being prescribed extra-label or off-label by some veterinarians. This is called extra-label, or sometimes off-label use, because this use isn’t described on the drug label.
What is the Adequan dosage for dogs?
When used as a medication for dogs, Adequan is only available as an injectable formulation for intramuscular (i.e. in the muscle) use.
The dose of an Adequan injection for dogs will be based on a dog’s weight. Small breed dogs will receive a small volume injection while large breed dogs require a higher volume. For this reason, Adequan can sometimes be cost-prohibitive for large and giant breed dogs.
If Adequan is the medication of choice for your dog, your vet or vet nurse will administer an Adequan injection twice a week for up to four weeks for a maximum of eight injections. After that, your dog may have injections as needed for controlling signs of pain. The average maintenance schedule varies from once a week to once every four weeks.
How long does Adequan take to work?
Within 30 minutes of injection, Adequan will start working. It reaches all affected joints within a two-hour time span. The medication remains in your dog’s cartilage and synovial fluid for three days. Your vet or vet nurse will repeat the injections close together for the first eight injections to keep the PSGAG levels maintained in the joints for a longer period of time.
After the initial injection series, most dogs continue to experience good results while on a maintenance schedule. Keep an eye on your dog’s mobility and pain levels. This will help you determine how often he or she needs another Adequan injection.