WASHIINGTON, D.C., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new antibiotic drug for dogs that can treat wounds and abscesses common among canines.
The product, cefpodoxime proxetil, called "Simplicef" was developed by Pharmacia & Upjohn Co., of Kalamazoo, Mich., a division of Pfizer, Inc.
The drug, effective in the treatment of skin infections in dogs, was originally approved for human use, but the company decided to develop the product for dogs.
"This approval should provide significant help to veterinarians and dog owners," Dr. Lester M. Crawford, acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement. "It represents the progress that FDA and the animal medical community has made in helping to provide better medical treatment to our pets."
The film-coated tablet is given to the dog orally once a day and will available to veterinarians this fall.
