CLIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Updated: March 2020

Erythropoietin
■ Keep this leaflet safe, as you may need to refer to it again.
■ Please ask your vet or veterinary nurse if you have any further questions.
■ This medicine has been prescribed for your pet ONLY. Do not take it yourself or give it to another person
or any other animal; it may harm them even if their symptoms appear to be the same.

The medicine you have been given for your dog or cat is called erythropoietin. It may have a trade name such
as Eprex®, Binocrit® or NeoRecormon®, but often will just be called erythropoietin (or epoetin alfa or beta).
What is erythropoietin? getting low. If you do run out, contact What should I do if my pet is unwell
Erythropoietin is a synthetic form of a your own vet for further advice and while taking erythropoietin?
hormone usually produced by the kidneys restart the course as soon as possible. If your pet is unwell while receiving
that stimulates production of new red medication, you should not give any
blood cells (oxygen-carrying blood cells) What should I do if I miss a dose? further doses and should contact your vet
If a dose is missed, give the medication as as soon as possible for advice.
by the bone marrow. It is used in patients
soon as possible. However, it is best to skip
that have abnormally low levels of red the missed dose if it is almost time for your
blood cells, a condition referred to as What should I do if a person
pet’s next scheduled dose. DO NOT give accidentally injects themselves with this
‘anaemia’. a double dose to make up for the missed drug?
Why has my pet been prescribed dose and do not exceed the total stated If a person accidentally takes your pet’s
erythropoietin? dose in any one 24-hour period. medication, the person should be taken to
Erythropoietin is used in veterinary patients What should I do if my pet is the local hospital immediately. Take this
to treat certain types of anaemia. Anaemia accidentally given too many doses? leaflet and any remaining drug plus the
can have many different causes, such as Contact your vet immediately if your pet container (even if it is empty) with you.
kidney failure, cancer or viral infections. receives an overdose of erythropoietin. Whom do I contact if I want to know
How should I store erythropoietin? Can my pet have erythropoietin if I am more?
This medicine should be stored in a already giving them other drugs? If you have any questions about this drug,
refrigerator. For safety, all medicines Tell your vet if you are giving your pet or concerns about your pet’s health,
should be kept out of the reach and sight any other medications, even if you think contact your own vet. They will know your
of children. they already know. This includes herbal or pet’s medical history and will know about
off-the-shelf remedies from a pet shop or erythropoietin.
How do I give erythropoietin to my pet?
Erythropoietin has to be given by injection pharmacy.
subcutaneously (under the skin). Your vet What are the possible side effects of
or veterinary nurse will show you how to erythropoietin for my pet?
do this. Rarely, erythropoietin can cause an allergic
How long will my pet need to take reaction that results in a skin rash at the
erythropoietin? injection site, fever, mouth and nose ulcers,
Your vet will advise you on the length of and joint pain (without any joint swelling).
time for which you will need to give this In people, erythropoietin can also cause
medicine. This may vary between patients. hypertension (high blood pressure),
Regular blood tests will be required to vomiting and diarrhoea. If your pet shows
monitor the response of your pet to any unusual symptoms whilst taking this
treatment. Injections will be needed less medication, please contact your vet.
often as levels of red blood cells come Between 20 and 70% of dogs and
back up to normal. Even if treatment is cats receiving erythropoietin may stop
successful, ongoing injections may still be responding to treatment from around 4
required for maintenance. weeks after it is started. This is because
the immune systems of these patients
What should I do if I run out of produce antibodies capable of inactivating
erythropoietin? the drug and worsening the anaemia. If
Try not to run out. Make sure you order this situation develops, the erythropoietin
more from your vet if your supply is will have to be withdrawn by your vet.

The Prescribing Cascade

This medicine is authorized for use in human patients and is used by vets under the ‘prescribing cascade’. The medicine is not authorized by the Veterinary Medicines
Directorate (VMD), an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), for use in dogs/cats/pets. Your vet can explain the
‘prescribing cascade’ in further detail to you and also explain why they are prescribing this drug for your pet. You will be asked to sign a consent form stating that you
understand the reasons that the drug is being prescribed and its possible complications, before the treatment is issued.
© British Small Animal Veterinary Association 2020. While the editors and the BSAVA have made every effort in preparing this information leaflet, the contents and any
statements are made in good faith purely for general guidance and cannot be regarded as substitute for professional advice. The publishers, contributors and the BSAVA
do not take responsibility for the information provided on this leaflet and hence do not accept any liability for loss or expense incurred (by you or persons that you
disseminate the materials to) as a result of relying on content in this leaflet. To this end, you are advised to consult your vet and seek their professional advice before
taking any steps set out in this leaflet. If you are a vet, you must not rely on the contents in this leaflet without independently verifying the correctness and veracity of the
contents. BSAVA is not responsible for any alterations made to this document from the version supplied.