Drontal: all about the drug and veterinarian recommendations

Healthy cats are recommended to undergo deworming once every 3 months for preventive purposes. Be sure to carry out treatment for helminths before vaccination, when a new pet arrives in the house, and before planned mating. In this article we will look at a frequently used drug for treatment - Drontal for cats, how to give it and what are the indications and contraindications for the use of the drug.

Brief characteristics of the drug Drontal for cats

Drontal was developed by (Bayer Animals Health GmbH, Germany). This is a combined anthelmintic drug, the activity of which is aimed at the destruction of round and tapeworms.

Drontal is a low-hazard substance; if the dosage regimen is followed, cats tolerate it well, without any problems associated with their breed and age. A drug:

• does not damage the embryo and does not cause miscarriages in early pregnancy (that is, it does not have an embryotoxic effect);
• does not cause allergic reactions (that is, does not have a sensitizing effect);
• does not cause gross malformations in the fetus (that is, it does not have a teratogenic effect).

Compound

Composition of Drontal:

• active ingredients: pyrantel embonate 230 mg;
• praziquantel 20 mg;

Pyrantel embonate is active against roundworms (nematodes), it destroys them by disrupting the permeability of cell membranes, which causes paralysis and death of the parasites, followed by removal from the digestive tract. It acts in the intestines, being absorbed from it only partially, and excreted mainly in excrement.

Praziquantel acts against tapeworms (cestodes). It is quickly absorbed from the intestines and distributed evenly throughout the body. Praziquantel blocks the transmission of impulses from the nervous system to the muscles of the parasites, thereby depriving them of mobility, and also disrupts the transport of glucose and the function of cellular organelles - microtubules, which causes a blockade of energy metabolism in the cells of the worms. Praziquantel is excreted in the urine.

Release form

Drontal is available in the form of white oval tablets with a score line in the middle. They are placed in foil blisters of 2 or 8 pieces. They are supplemented with instructions for use and placed in cardboard packaging.

One blister contains 2 tablets, and the third cell is technological

Advantages

The popularity and demand for Drontal is due to several factors. Here are the most important of them:

1. The medicine is available in tablets with a well-chosen form. A small oval tablet is easier for a cat to swallow than a round one.
2. Drontal can be given to both kittens and adult animals of any breed. Calculating the required dose is very simple.
3. The drug is excellent for use for preventive purposes. It can be safely given to your cat every three months.
4. This is a low-hazard substance that, if used correctly, does not harm your pet.

Indications for use of Drontal in cats

The drug is prescribed for:

• nematodes caused by: Toxocara cati - cat toxocara - a small roundworm reaching a length of 3-10 cm (females are larger) and living in the intestines of cats. The larvae undergo a complex development cycle with migration within the body, which can lead to the development of pneumonia, ascites, and fatty hepatosis. Massive Toxocara infestation can cause growth retardation and death of kittens;
• Toxascaris leonina - roundworm of predators. It reaches a length of 6–10 cm and lives in the intestines. Symptoms appear only with massive invasion, possible exhaustion, decreased hemoglobin, intestinal obstruction, impaired biliary excretion;
• Ancylostoma tubaeforme is the causative agent of hookworm disease in cats. Hookworms parasitize the small intestine and reach a size of 0.5–2 cm. When feeding, they damage the mucous membrane, causing small bleeding wounds. Hookworm infection is characterized by the appearance of blood in the stool, as well as the development of anemia;
• Ancylostoma braziliense - Brazilian hookworm, it is not found in Russia;

Helminthiasis very often occurs hidden. These symptoms appear with severe worm infestation:

• weight loss - the size of the abdomen may increase;
• unstable stool - constipation alternates with diarrhea;
• unstable appetite - periodically either increased or absent;
• thinning of the coat, dull fur, dandruff appears;
• blood in the stool;
• nausea, vomiting;
• cough, which is reflexive in nature and is caused by the advancement of adult helminths into the upper parts of the digestive system or is a consequence of direct damage to the lung tissue by migrating worm larvae;
• cramping abdominal pain;
• anemia (decreased hemoglobin) - manifested by pale gums, palpitations, shortness of breath, poor tolerance to physical activity;
• intestinal obstruction - against the background of pain, stool and gas retention appears, and later vomiting occurs. A rupture of the intestinal wall with the development of peritonitis is possible. This is an emergency;
• conjunctivitis is a consequence of an allergic restructuring of the immune system in response to the presence of helminths.

Drontal is a combination anthelmintic drug

Directions for use and dosage

Drontal is used for therapeutic purposes upon detection of infestation with round or tapeworms, as well as for prevention. The manufacturer recommends using the drug once; no preliminary preparation in the form of fasting or giving a laxative is required.

Drontal is dosed depending on the pet’s body weight: for every 4 kg - 1 tablet (5 mg of praziquantel, 57.5 mg of pyrantel embonate for each kg of the cat’s weight). The tablet is divided exclusively along the dividing groove. Other methods of dividing the drug should not be allowed, since they will not be able to ensure its accurate dosage.

Divide the Drontal tablet only along the dividing groove

For therapeutic purposes, Drontal is prescribed after a diagnosis of a certain helminthiasis has been established; for the purpose of prevention, the drug is taken once every 3 months. If one or more doses of the drug are missed in the preventive regimen, the manufacturer recommends resuming its use as soon as possible without changing the dose or regimen.

Table: dosage of Drontal depending on the weight of an adult pet:

The weight of the cat is rounded to whole numbers, guided by the rules of arithmetic. For example, a pet weighing 2.3 kg is given half a tablet, and a pet weighing 2.8 kg is given one tablet.

For kittens

The use of Drontal in kittens is permissible if two conditions are met:

• the kitten reaches 3 weeks of age;
• The pet's body weight is at least 1 kg.

Dosage and regimen are similar to recommendations for adult pets.

Drontal can be given to kittens that have reached the age of 3 weeks and a body weight of 1 kg

Can it be used?

The drug is intended for the treatment of domestic cats against worm-like parasites that can live in the intestinal area (for example, roundworms, tapeworms, echinococci, etc.). Doctors recommend using the product to prevent the occurrence of parasites.

The drug is sold in the form of tablets that are given orally to the animal. The medicine is not sold in any other form, but for ease of use it can be diluted in distilled water.

Regular drug and “Plus” for dogs

produces 2 varieties of this drug, which have differences in composition and packaging. Regular Drontal is intended for the treatment of cats and has 2 main active ingredients: praziquantel and pyrantel.

A third substance has been added to the Plus drug - febantel, this drug is intended for the treatment of dogs of different breeds. This medication should not be given to cats, because The dosage of the components is designed for other animals.

Contraindications and side effects

Pregnancy is a contraindication to the use of Drontal. There are no side effects or complications observed when the dosage regimen is followed. Some animals may develop hypersensitivity to the drug, which manifests itself:

• drooling;
• diarrhea;
• vomiting.

Usually these symptoms are fleeting and do not require drug therapy.

Symptoms associated with an overdose of Drontal have not been established. To avoid drug-drug interactions, the manufacturer does not recommend using the drug together with medications containing piperazine, as this will reduce its effectiveness.

Video: review of the drug Drontal from the manufacturer

How to properly store tablets

The medicinal product requires compliance with recommendations regarding storage conditions. should be completely excluded. Highly located shelves that are not exposed to direct sunlight are best for storage.

The temperature in the room where the tablets are stored should not exceed 25 degrees and reach negative temperatures. When properly stored, the drug can retain its pharmacological properties for 5 years.

Table: review of analogues of the drug Drontal for cats

Photo gallery: analogues of the drug Drontal

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Storage conditions

Proper storage of the drug guarantees its effective action. The tablets are placed in a dark place out of reach of children and away from animals. The maximum shelf life is 5 years, at a temperature of 25 degrees. After the prescribed time has passed, the tablets cannot be taken.

Drontal anti-worm tablets for cats. Video review from the manufacturer

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