(For veterinary information only)
WARNING
The size of the tablet/medication is NOT an indication of a proper dose. Never administer any drug without your veterinarian's input. Serious side effects or death can occur if you use drugs on your pet without your veterinarian's advice.
It is our policy not to give dosing information over the internet.
Brand Name: Senvelgo®
Available in a 15mg/ml oral solution (liquid).
Background
A healthy pancreas produces insulin to control blood glucose (sugar) levels. However, issues such as obesity, long-term steroid use, aging, and other health problems can compromise the pancreas's ability to do its job.
Velagliflozin is an oral medication that may help control blood glucose in otherwise healthy diabetic cats before insulin must be started. It is also important to manage your cat’s diet and activity levels.
How This Medication Works
Velagliflozin blocks a protein (SGLT2) in the kidneys that reabsorbs glucose. In diabetic cats, this is a major contributor to the disease. Velaglifozin helps flush excess glucose out through urine, lowering blood sugar levels. However, it doesn’t usually cause low blood sugar on its own because another protein (SGLT1) still allows some glucose reabsorption.
Monitoring
The First Seven Days of Treatment
If your cat is not eating or drinking or seems lethargic after starting velagliflozin, see your veterinarian right away.
Blood and urine should be monitored before beginning velagliflozin. Once the drug is started, intermittent monitoring should be performed to ensure it is working safely for your cat.
- Your veterinarian may also recommend scheduling:
- periodic physical exams,
- a blood glucose curve (blood tests are repeated over several hours in the clinic),
- fructosamine values (a protein made when glucose is processed in the body that can help measure diabetic control),
- weight checks.
- Your daily assessment of your cat is also very important.
- Your cat will be screened for ketonuria (ketones present in the urine), which can be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. Ketones make the blood too acidic.
- Your veterinarian will also recommend monitoring your cat’s blood glucose levels and hydration, along with other bloodwork.
- Your cat might lose some weight when starting velagliflozin, but appetite and weight gain should improve within a week. If not, your veterinarian may suggest stopping the medication and exploring other treatments.
- Velagliflozin can mildly increase some kidney and electrolyte blood work values when first started, but this should stabilize.
First Two Weeks of Treatment
- During this time, your veterinarian may again recommend lab work as needed (blood and urine).
These tests are important to help your veterinarian guide your cat’s treatment plan to ensure a continued good response.
One Month Benchmark
If your cat’s blood sugar is not controlled after four weeks of treatment, velagliflozin should be discontinued, and insulin may be recommended.
If your cat’s blood sugar is controlled after four weeks of treatment, ongoing monitoring is still recommended. Your veterinarian will let you know how often rechecks are needed, and the frequency of these rechecks may change over time, depending on your cat's response.
Side Effects
- Cats commonly experience loose stools or diarrhea, which often resolves without treatment.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most serious potential side effect and is most likely to happen in cats that don’t have appropriate pancreatic function to produce any insulin of their own.
Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when cats don’t eat enough calories, causing the liver to break down fat for energy. Velagliflozin can dangerously lower blood glucose, especially in cats not eating or if they are on insulin. Severe hypoglycemia (very low blood glucose) can be fatal.
Interactions
- Velagliflozin should not be given to diabetic cats that have been on insulin in the past or are insulin-dependent (needing insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal).
- The use of medications that increase urine output (diuretics, such as furosemide) alongside velagliflozin has not been evaluated at this time.
Cautions
Safety for nursing and pregnant cats is currently unknown.
Velagliflozin should NOT be used in cats with:
- Anorexia (not eating), dehydration, lethargy, or suspected diabetic ketoacidosis when diagnosed with diabetes, as there may be other conditions present
- Abnormal ketone urine levels
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) signs or confirmed pancreatitis
- Chronic diarrhea or diarrhea that doesn’t respond to medications
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome (significant fat and muscle loss)
- Abnormal kidney values (BUN and creatinine)
Storage
- Velagliflozin bottles should be used within six months after opening.
- Store at or below temperatures of 77°F (25°C).
- Keep in a secure place out of reach of children and pets.