Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan loading dose

[Dan & Alley]

Alley started on Adequan today and I'm wondering about the dosing and shot frequency specified by the vet.

Alley weighs 16.5 pounds and her Adequan vial is 100 mg/mL. The vet specified 0.15 mL (15 mg) once per week for 4 weeks, then 0.15 mL (15 mg) once per month thereafter.

The dosing information I can find online suggests she should load at her weight x 2 mg (33 mg rounded up to 35 mg) every 4 days for 8 doses, then maintain 35 mg once per month. This is obviously a lot more adequan per injection and a lot more injections during the first month loading period than the vet specified.

Has the vet gone overly conservative with the dosage and shot frequency during loading and maintenance?

 

[Larry and Kitties]

This
http://www.petplace.com/article/dru...iption/polysulfated-glycosaminoglycan-adequan
includes
For cats, the dose is 0.5 mg to 2.5 mg per pound (1 to 5 mg/kg) in the muscle every 4 days for six doses.
Other protocols include using PSGAG at 2.5 mg per pound twice a eek for 4 weeks then weekly for 4 weeks then monthly.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

@Phoebes recently started Adequan too. Maybe she can chime in. I know she had a post about the dosing as well, in addition to Larry and Kitties info

 

[Phoebes (GA)]

@Phoebes recently started Adequan too. Maybe she can chime in. I know she had a post about the dosing as well, in addition to Larry and Kitties info

Phoebe weighs about 12 pounds our dose is .25 cc 2x a week for 4 weeks, then once a week for 4 weeks. Today she gets her 6th dose, not much improvement yet. But crossing everything. Good luck with your baby. Your vet is being conservative. I think the in tial dosing is important to build up the meds in system. If not I was told you have to start the until dose all over. The maintenance dose is once a month. That's my kitties experience.

 

[Phoebes (GA)]

This
http://www.petplace.com/article/dru...iption/polysulfated-glycosaminoglycan-adequan
includes
For cats, the dose is 0.5 mg to 2.5 mg per pound (1 to 5 mg/kg) in the muscle every 4 days for six doses.
Other protocols include using PSGAG at 2.5 mg per pound twice a eek for 4 weeks then weekly for 4 weeks then monthly.

I do it sub q. Not intramuscular. She is too thin.

 

[Dan & Alley]

Thanks all. Looking at @Phoebes dosing, it gives me more confidence in going with 0.35 mL every four days for 8 doses then 0.35 mL monthly. If I can get Alley down to 15 pounds, then I'll drop the maintenance dose to 0.30 mL. Alley is plenty beefy enough for an intramuscular injection, but Alley's vet and every vet who's weighed in online is fine with SQ, so I'm going SQ. I don't have enough patience with what looks like an overly conservative loading/maintenance dose.

I've heard that some dogs/cats respond more quickly than others. I gave Alley her injection around noon Saturday, and saw her jump up without using her paws to pull herself up by evening. She's been jumping up directly all day today. I've not seen that in a long time.

 

[Phoebes (GA)]

Thanks all. Looking at @Phoebes dosing, it gives me more confidence in going with 0.35 mL every four days for 8 doses then 0.35 mL monthly. If I can get Alley down to 15 pounds, then I'll drop the maintenance dose to 0.30 mL. Alley is plenty beefy enough for an intramuscular injection, but Alley's vet and every vet who's weighed in online is fine with SQ, so I'm going SQ. I don't have enough patience with what looks like an overly conservative loading/maintenance dose.

I've heard that some dogs/cats respond more quickly than others. I gave Alley her injection around noon Saturday, and saw her jump up without using her paws to pull herself up by evening. She's been jumping up directly all day today. I've not seen that in a long time.

So glad she seems to respond. Every cat is different. I thought the first day I gave it she was doing better. They say the intramuscular is faster acting but not enough for the fight if you have one. I just didn't need to do more to her. Good luck with this, I hope your furbaby is running and bouncing like a youngin soon.

 

[Dan & Alley]

Thanks again, Phoebes. I've said it a few times over on Lantus/Levemir that my greatest hope and fear is that Alley will make it to 20. She's a handful.

 

[Phoebes (GA)]

Thanks again, Phoebes. I've said it a few times over on Lantus/Levemir that my greatest hope and fear is that Alley will make it to 20. She's a handful.

I do see a little 'tude in that pic