Target species
Dogs, Cats.
Indications for use
Treatment of false pregnancy in bitches.
Suppression of lactation in bitches and queens.
Contraindications
Do not use in pregnant animals since the product may cause abortion.
Do not use with dopamine antagonists.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
Cabergoline may induce transient hypotension in treated animals. Do not use in animals currently being treated with hypotensive drugs. Do not use directly after surgery whilst the animal is still under the influence of anaesthetic agents.
Special warnings for each target species
Additional supportive treatments should involve restriction of water and carbohydrate intake and increased exercise.
Special precautions for use in animals
Caution is recommended in animals with significantly impaired liver function.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
Wash hands after use.
Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Wash off any splashes immediately.
Women of childbearing potential and breast-feeding women should not handle the product or should wear impervious gloves when administering the product.
If you know you are hypersensitive to cabergoline or any of the other ingredients in the product, you should avoid contact with the product.
Do not leave unattended filled syringes in the presence of children. In the event of accidental ingestion, particularly by a child, seek medical attention immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Adverse reactions
In very rare cases a transient hypotension may occur.
Possible adverse effects are:
- sleepiness
- anorexia
- vomiting
These adverse effects are usually of a moderate and transient nature. Vomiting usually only occurs after the first administration. In this case treatment should not be stopped, since the vomiting is unlikely to reoccur after the following administrations.
In very rare cases allergic reactions may occur, such as oedema, urticaria, dermatitis and pruritus.
In very rare cases neurological symptoms may occur, such as sleepiness, muscle tremor, ataxia, hyperactivity and convulsions.
The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:
- very common (more than 1 in 10 animals treated displaying adverse reaction(s))
- common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals treated)
- uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals treated)
- rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals treated)
- very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports).
Use during pregnancy and lactation
Cabergoline has the capacity to cause abortion in the later stages of pregnancy and should not be used in pregnant animals. Differential diagnosis between pregnancy and false pregnancy should be made correctly.
The product is indicated for the suppression of lactation: inhibition of prolactin secretion by cabergoline results in a rapid cessation of lactation and a reduction in the size of the mammary glands. The product should not be used in lactating animals unless suppression of lactation is required.
Interactions
Since cabergoline exerts its therapeutic effect by direct stimulation of dopamine receptors, the product should not be administered concurrently with drugs which have dopamine antagonist activity (such as phenothiazines, butyrophenones, metoclopramide), as these might reduce its prolactin inhibiting effects. See also Contraindications.
Since cabergoline may induce transient hypotension, the product should not be used in animals concurrently treated with hypotensive drugs. See also Contraindications and Adverse reactions.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
The product should be administered orally either directly into the mouth or by mixing with food.
The dosage is 0.1 ml/kg body weight (equivalent to 5 microgram/kg body weight of cabergoline) once daily for 4-6 consecutive days, depending on the severity of the clinical condition.
If the signs fail to resolve after a single course of treatment, or if they recur after the end of treatment, then the course of treatment may be repeated.
The weight of treated animal should be accurately determined before administration.
Overdose
The experimental data indicate that a single overdose with cabergoline might result in an increased likelihood of post-treatment vomiting, and possibly an increase in post-treatment hypotension.
General supportive measures should be undertaken to remove any unabsorbed drug and maintain blood pressure, if necessary. As an antidote, the parental administration of dopamine antagonist drugs such as metoclopramide might be considered.