Product title
Vendor
£19.99 | £24.99
Product title
Vendor
£19.99 | £24.99
Product title
Vendor
£19.99 | £24.99
Product title
Vendor
£19.99 | £24.99
Immunosuppressant Tablets for Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases in Dogs and Cats
Product Description
Azathioprine 50mg Tablets are a prescription immunosuppressant used by veterinarians to treat serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in dogs and, with extreme caution, in cats. A purine analog, it converts in the body to active metabolites that shut down DNA and RNA synthesis in rapidly dividing immune cells, pulling the abnormal immune responses driving autoimmune disease under control. It is brought in alongside corticosteroids as a steroid-sparing agent, covering immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, immune-mediated skin diseases, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Ongoing blood count monitoring is mandatory throughout treatment.
Benefits
- Autoimmune Disease Management: Targets and suppresses abnormal immune cell activity behind immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and other autoimmune conditions in dogs.
- Steroid-Sparing Agent: Lets corticosteroid doses come down gradually in dogs on long-term steroid therapy, reducing the cumulative toll of prolonged steroid use.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Support: Brings chronic intestinal inflammation under control in dogs with IBD and colitis that have not responded adequately to diet or steroids alone.
- Immune-Mediated Skin Disease: Goes after autoimmune skin conditions including pemphigus foliaceus and lupus erythematosus in dogs under specialist veterinary supervision.
- Chronic Liver and Kidney Conditions: Used to manage certain immune-mediated hepatic and renal conditions in dogs where sustained immune suppression is part of the plan.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients
Azathioprine 50mg
How to Use
Azathioprine 50mg Tablets are a prescription-only medication. A valid veterinarian prescription is required to purchase this product.
Please follow your veterinarian's specific instructions for the dosage and administration of this medication for your pet.
Disclaimer: Dosage and administration of this medication must be determined by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any prescription medication for your pet.
Tucking this tablet into a soft pill pocket or pill wrap treat is a simple way to get your pet to take their daily dose.
Shop Pill Pockets for Dogs | Shop Pill Pockets for Cats
Additional Information
Precautions
- Classified as Hazardous Drug: Azathioprine is NIOSH-classified as a hazardous drug and requires disposable gloves for every handling, with no crushing or splitting without protection.
- Extreme Caution in Cats: Cats face a serious risk of fatal bone marrow suppression with azathioprine and should only receive it at very low doses under specialist supervision.
- Critical Allopurinol Interaction: Allopurinol blocks the breakdown of azathioprine's toxic metabolite, pushing it to dangerous levels and creating a potentially fatal interaction.
- Never Stop Abruptly: Tapering off gradually over several months under veterinary direction is essential, as sudden discontinuation can set off a dangerous autoimmune rebound.
- Avoid in Pregnancy and Breeding: Pregnant, lactating, or breeding animals should not receive this medication given its serious teratogenic and reproductive toxicity potential.
- Caution in Liver and Pancreatic Disease: Pets with liver or pancreatic disease need careful management, as azathioprine is processed by the liver and can make these conditions worse.
- Mandatory Blood Count Monitoring: Complete blood count and platelet monitoring every one to two weeks for the first three months, then monthly after that, is non-negotiable for safe use.
Possible Side Effects
- Bone Marrow Suppression: Falling white cell, red cell, and platelet counts are the most dangerous reaction and require regular monitoring.
- Gastrointestinal Upset: Vomiting, diarrhea, and reduced appetite are frequently seen and tend to ease when given with food.
- Liver Toxicity: Jaundice or abdominal pain pointing to hepatotoxicity or pancreatitis needs immediate veterinary assessment without delay.
- Increased Infection Risk: With immune suppression dialing back the body's defenses, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections become harder to fight off and may need additional treatment.
- Long-Term Cancer Risk: As with all immunosuppressants, very prolonged use carries a theoretical elevated risk of certain cancers over time.
Storage Information
- Controlled Room Temperature: These tablets should be best kept between 59°F and 77°F, inside a sealed container where heat and humidity cannot reach them.
- Protect From Light and Moisture: Direct sunlight and damp conditions can chip away at the tablet's potency, so a dry, shaded storage spot is the right choice.
- Out of Reach: Keep this medication in a secure, locked location where children and untreated animals in the home cannot get to it.
NOTE: For generic medications, the product image shown may not reflect the actual item received. Generic medications can vary in size, color, and shape between orders depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, your medication may arrive packaged in a HardyPaw Pharmacy vial.
Shipping & Return
We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.
For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.
Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What autoimmune conditions does azathioprine treat in dogs and cats?
Ans: Dogs are treated for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, IBD, colitis, pemphigus, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain kidney and liver diseases with it. Cats are a different story, with use confined to severe autoimmune skin conditions at much lower doses under specialist supervision.
Q2: Why is azathioprine considered a steroid-sparing agent in dogs?
Ans: Long-term corticosteroid use for autoimmune disease builds up a significant cumulative toll through muscle wasting, diabetes, and immune compromise. Bringing azathioprine into the plan lets the steroid dose come down gradually without losing control of the disease. The combination keeps the autoimmune condition in check while reducing how much steroid the dog is actually carrying.
Q3: Why is azathioprine used with extreme caution in cats?
Ans: Cats are far more sensitive to azathioprine's bone marrow effects than dogs, and many specialists use chlorambucil instead for that reason. When it is used in cats, the dose stays very low and blood counts need careful monitoring throughout.
Q4: Why must allopurinol never be given alongside azathioprine?
Ans: Once inside the body, azathioprine becomes 6-mercaptopurine, and allopurinol prevents that metabolite from clearing. The accumulation puts the bone marrow at fatal risk. A dog on allopurinol for urate stones or leishmaniasis should have that flagged to a veterinarian before azathioprine enters the picture.
Q5: What blood count monitoring schedule is required for dogs on azathioprine?
Ans: Complete blood counts run every one to two weeks for the first three months, then monthly once values are steady. Liver enzyme checks are part of the routine too. A concerning shift in either direction is reason to adjust the dose or reconsider the medication.