Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched a once-a-day, malt-flavored oral antibiotic for cats and small dogs. The product, Orbax (orbifloxacin) Oral Suspension, is designed to make it easier and more convenient for pet owners to administer the medicine to their dog or cat. “We are constantly seeking ways to keep pets healthy, safe and happy and make the job easier for their care providers,” said Steve Shell, head of the Companion Animal Business Unit. “Orbax Oral Suspension’s innovative technology in both formulation and dispensing can make all the difference in supporting recovery from serious infection.” The product, as the company described it, features a patented, taste-masking ion exchange agent that enables the orbifloxacin to pass by an animal’s taste buds undetected and then be released in the low pH environment of the stomach. The malt-flavored oral suspension is readily accepted by 95 percent of cats and 96 percent of dogs, according to Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. The product, which does not require refrigeration, also features a ready-to-use “press-in” dispensing system to ensure accurate, “neat” dosing, according to the company. The medication can be detected throughout the body within a few hours after administration. Orbax Oral Suspension has rapid, broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, according to the company. The product is indicated for skin infections (wound and abscesses) in cats and skin, soft tissue and urinary tract infections (cystitis) in dogs. The company noted that Orbax Oral Suspension is in the quinolone family of antibiotics, which have been shown to cause arthropathy (joint disease) in immature animals. In animals with known or suspected CNS disorders, quinolones have been associated with CNS stimulation, which may lead to convulsive seizures. The use of fluoroquniolones in cats has been reported to adversely affect the retina and should be used with caution in cats, according to the company. Veterinarians can contact Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Technical Services at 800-224-5318 for more details. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc. of Whitehouse Station, N.J. <HOME>
