The label says, word for word:
CONVENIA is indicated for the treatment of skin infections (secondary superficial pyoderma, abscesses, and wounds) in dogs caused by susceptible strains of Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus canis (Group G). CONVENIA is indicated for the treatment of skin infections (wounds and abscesses) in cats caused by susceptible strains of Pasteurella multocida.
CONVENIA is contraindicated in dogs and cats with known allergy to cefovecin or to β-lactam (penicillins and cephalosporins) group antimicrobials. Anaphylaxis has been reported with the use of this product in foreign market experience. If an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis occurs, CONVENIA should not be administered again and appropriate therapy should be instituted.
Not for use in humans. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure.
For subcutaneous use in dogs and cats only.
The safe use of CONVENIA in dogs or cats less than 4 months of age (see Animal Safety) and in breeding or lactating animals has not been determined.
Adverse reactions may require prolonged treatment due to the prolonged systemic drug clearance (65 days).
Concurrent use of these or other drugs that have a high degree of protein-binding (e.g. NSAIDs, propofol, cardiac, anticonvulsant, and behavioral medications) may compete with cefovecin binding and cause adverse reactions.
Every approved medicine has a field study behind it, and the label prints what happened:
A total of 320 dogs, ranging in age from 8 weeks to 19 years, were included in a field study safety analysis. Number of Dogs with Adverse Reactions Reported During the Field Study with CONVENIA (CONVENIA n=157 vs Active Control n=163): Lethargy 2 vs 7; Anorexia/Decreased Appetite 5 vs 8; Vomiting 6 vs 12; Diarrhea 6 vs 7.
A long-acting injectable antibiotic given by the veterinarian; the label's adverse-reaction tables report counts of animals, not percentages. The label stresses that the drug stays in the body a long time: "Animals experiencing an adverse reaction may need to be monitored for this duration." (referring to the approximately 65-day elimination period described in Precautions).
The emergency page sorts the signs by how long you have, and the symptom checker asks what you are seeing. Reactions to a medicine can also be reported to the FDA yourself: how to report a problem.
These answers come from the approved label on DailyMed, read on 2 October 2026. Where the label does not say, the answer says so, and the vet or the pharmacist is the one to ask.
The approved use is quoted at the top of this page. It is an antibiotic injection for skin infections caused by the bacteria the label names: wounds and abscesses in dogs and in cats, and in dogs also a surface skin infection that the label calls secondary superficial pyoderma.
The label gives no time for when the skin should look better. It says the drug is absorbed rapidly and completely, and that it reaches its highest level in the blood about 6 hours after the injection in dogs and about 2 hours after it in cats. It tells the vet to look at the case again if there is no improvement within 3 to 4 days. One injection keeps the drug at a working level for 7 or 14 days in dogs, depending on which bacteria are being treated, and for about 7 days in cats.
You do not give it yourself. It is an injection under the skin that is given at the clinic, and the instructions on the label are written for the vet. For dogs the label allows a second injection if the infection has not fully responded, and no more than two injections in all. For cats it describes a single, one-time injection.
There is no dose to give at home, so the label says nothing about a missed one. If the vet planned a second injection for your dog and you cannot make the visit, call the clinic.
The studies and the warnings are quoted above. The label has no line telling owners when to call the vet. It tells the vet that an animal that has had an allergic reaction to Convenia should not be given it again. It also says the drug leaves the body slowly, with about 65 days needed to clear 97% of a dose, and that an animal that has a reaction may need to be watched for that long. If your pet seems unwell after the injection, call the vet.
The storage rules on the label are for the vial, which the clinic keeps. It stays in its original carton in a refrigerator at 36° to 46°F, it is protected from light, and it is used up within 56 days of being mixed.
There should be no leftovers of this medicine at home: the injection is given at the clinic, and the label has the unused part of the vial go back into the refrigerator after each use. For the other medicines in the house, the FDA's advice is as follows. The FDA says the best way to get rid of most unused or expired medicines is a take-back option: a drug take-back location, which can be at a pharmacy or a police station, or a prepaid mail-back envelope. If you cannot use one and the medicine is not on the FDA's flush list, the FDA says to mix it, uncrushed, with something unappealing such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds and to seal the mixture in a plastic bag before throwing it away. Flushing is only for medicines on that list, such as opioids. Do not give leftovers to another pet.
Write the dose, the times and the stop date here, then print this page for the fridge.
Dose and times: _____________________________________________
Stop date: _____________________________________________