Dogs (bitches).

Pregnant bitches: induction of abortion up to 45 days after mating.

Do not use in dogs with impaired hepatic or renal function, in diabetic animals or in dogs in poor health.

Do not use in dogs with either manifest or latent hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease) or in dogs with a genetic predisposition to hypoadrenocorticism.

Do not use in dogs with known hypersensitivity to aglepristone or the veterinary medicinal product excipient.

Rare cases of lack of efficacy (>0.01 % to < 0.1%) have been reported as part of the pharmacovigilance survey.

In bitches confirmed pregnant, a partial abortion was observed in 5% of cases in field trials. A thorough clinical examination is always recommended in order to confirm that the uterus content is fully evacuated. Ideally, the examination should be conducted using ultrasound. This examination should be performed 10 days after treatment and at least 30 days after mating.

In case of partial abortion or no abortion, repeat treatment may be recommended 10 days after treatment, between day 30 and day 45 after mating. Surgery should also be considered.

(i) Special precautions for use in animals

In the absence of available data, the veterinary medicinal product should be used with caution in dogs with chronic obstructive-airway disease and/or cardiovascular disease, particularly bacterial endocarditis.

Fatalities have been reported subsequent to off-label use in seriously ill bitches with uterine infections. A causal association is difficult to determine but is unlikely.

In up to 50 % of bitches, mating may not be followed by pregnancy. The possibility that a bitch may therefore be treated unnecessarily should be taken into account in evaluating the product risk-benefit ratio.

Bitches that remain pregnant despite treatment should be monitored, as viability of the puppies may be compromised.

Possible long-term effects of treatment have not been studied.

Owners should be advised to consult their veterinary surgeon if their dog shows the following signs after treatment with the veterinary medicinal product:

-purulent or haemorrhagic vaginal discharge

-prolonged vaginal discharge lasting over 3 weeks.

(ii) Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

Nor-steroids are used in humans to induce abortion. Accidental injection may be a particular hazard to women who are pregnant, intending to become pregnant or whose pregnancy status is unknown. Care should be taken by the veterinary surgeon when handling the product and the person restraining the dog to avoid accidental injection. Pregnant women should administer the product with caution. This is an oil-based product that may cause prolonged local reactions at the site of injection. In case of accidental injection, seek urgent medical advice and show the doctor this warning.

Women of child-bearing age should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product or wear disposable plastic gloves when administering the veterinary medicinal product.

In bitches treated after 20 days of gestation, abortion is accompanied by the physiological signs of parturition: fetal expulsion, vaginal discharge, reduced appetite, restlessness and mammary congestion. In field trials, 3.4 % of dogs suffered from uterine infections. After induced abortion with the veterinary medicinal product, an early return to oestrus is frequently observed (oestrus oestrus interval shortened by 1 to 3 months).

Side effects such as anorexia (25 %), excitation (23 %), depression (21 %), vomiting (2 %) and diarrhoea (13 %) have been reported from field trials.

In field trials, the administration of the veterinary medicinal product produced pain during and shortly after injection in 17 % of dogs and a local inflammatory reaction at the injection site in 23 % of dogs. The size and intensity of this reaction depended on the volume of the veterinary medicinal product which was administered. Oedema, skin thickening, local lymph-node enlargement and ulceration may occur. All local reactions are reversible and will usually disappear within 28 days after injection.

In field trials, administration of the veterinary medicinal product induced haematological/biochemical changes in 4.5 % of dogs. These changes were always transient and reversible. The modified haematological parameters were as follows: neutrophilia, neutropenia, thrombocytosis, haematocrit variation, lymphocytosis, lymphopenia.

The modified (elevated) biochemical parameters were as follows: urea, creatinine, chloride, potassium, sodium, ALT, ALP, AST.

In rare cases (frequency > 1/10000 and < 1/1000), a hypersensitivity reaction has been/can be observed.

Do not administer to pregnant bitches unless it is desirable to terminate the pregnancy.

In the absence of available data, a risk of drug interaction between aglepristone and ketoconazole, itraconazole and erythromycin may exist.

As aglepristone is an anti-glucocorticoid, it might reduce the effect of glucocorticoid treatment.

Possible interactions with other medicaments have not been studied.

Administer 10 mg per kg of bodyweight of aglepristone, equivalent to 0.33 ml of veterinary medicinal product per kg of bodyweight, twice, 24 hours apart.

Inject subcutaneously (only). Severe local reactions can be avoided if the veterinary medicinal product is administered into the scruff of the neck. A light massage of the injection site is recommended.

In large bitches, it is recommended that a maximum of 5 ml is injected at any one site.

This product does not contain an antimicrobial preservative. Swab the septum before removing each dose. Use a dry, sterile needle and syringe.

Following administration of the veterinary medicinal product to dogs, abortion (or resorption) occurs within 7 days.

The administration of 30 mg/kg, i.e. 3 times the recommended dose, in bitches showed no adverse effects, except local inflammatory reactions, related to the larger volumes injected.

Not applicable