Virbac Animal Health of Fort Worth, Texas, launched the first chewable cephalexin tablet designed exclusively for dogs, the company reported Tuesday. The FDA-approved drug, called Rilexine, is indicated for the treatment of secondary superficial bacterial pyoderma in dogs caused by susceptible strains of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Previously, veterinarians often relied on the generic human form of cephalexin to treat dogs, but Rilexine is the first drug of its kind approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration for the veterinary market, Virbac reported. The new drug should overcome some of the drawbacks of prescribing human cephalexin off-label, including a bitter, metallic taste and strong odor, a lack of veterinary-specific guidelines and the inability to tailor doses, Virbac noted. Pyoderma is one of the most common diseases seen in dogs, and secondary superficial bacterial pyoderma is the most common form of pyoderma, according to Virbac. Rilexine is available in 150 mg, 300 mg and 600 mg scored doses. The drug should not be prescribed to dogs that have a known allergy to cephalexin or the B-lactam group of antibiotics. <HOME>
