Drontal for cats. Veterinarian advice on deworming

Drontal: composition, release form, storage conditions

Drontal for cats is available in tablets, each of which is designed for 4 kg of cat weight. Manufacturer: German company BAYER Animal Care. One tablet contains:

• pyrantel embonate – 230 mg,
• praziquantel - 20 mg,
• auxiliary components.

The drug is stored under normal conditions: in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight at temperatures up to 25 °C.

Drontal has a long shelf life of five years, so when purchasing, look at the manufacturing date. It is not advisable to buy a drug that was produced 4–4 and a half years ago. There is a risk that the tablets were stored improperly - for example, they were exposed to heat. Buy the most “fresh” drug possible.

Brief instructions for storage and dosage are provided on the back of the Drontal package.

Prices for Drontal

Another advantage of Drontal for cats that we forgot to mention is its availability. Drontal is equally easy to buy in Russia and Ukraine. Moreover, very often the drug is sold not only in whole blisters, but also in one tablet.

In Ukraine, 1 tablet costs 70 hryvnia, and in Russia – 140 rubles (buy on Zoopassage).

Analogues of the drug

• Cestal cat,
• Profender,
• Febtal,
• Prazicide,
• Polyverkan.

Indications for use

Drontal is prescribed to cats for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for nematodes (toxocariasis, toxascariasis, hookworm) and cestodoses (tenidosis, dipylidiasis, echinococcosis, mesocestoidosis).

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As follows from the instructions, Drontal is used for the treatment and prevention of common helminthiases in cats:

• roundworms (nematodes), among which are dangerous for cats: different types of roundworms,
• toxocara,
• hookworms, etc.;

Drontal does not protect against fluke worms (trematodes), since it contains praziquantel in a low dose. Trematodes include Opisthorchis felineus, which causes opisthorchiasis. This is a very common disease that animals contract by eating raw or poorly cooked river fish. If your cat eats a raw diet or has access to natural bodies of water, it is worth considering additional prevention of opisthorchiasis.

To solve this problem, I recommend periodically (no more than once a year) using praziquantel in a higher dose, then it is active against trematodes, among other things. For example, the drugs Milbemax or Milprazone.

How it works

Praziquantel in the bodies of parasites depolarizes neuromuscular ganglia and destabilizes glucose transport. Another active Drontal compound, pyrantel embonate, enhances the permeability of cell membranes. The combined action of the two substances leads to immobilization and death of helminths. Under the influence of pyrantel, the bodies of dead worms are relatively quickly removed from the cat’s digestive tract.

Praziquantel is absorbed in the small intestine and enters the bloodstream, where the compound is then chemically converted in the liver. The breakdown products of this compound are excreted through the kidneys in the urine. Pyrantel is only partially absorbed by the intestinal epithelium. Remains of the medicinal component are excreted from the cat’s body in feces.

In order not to reduce the effectiveness of the active substances of Drontal, the drug should not be combined with medications containing piperazine.

Possible side effects and contraindications

In terms of the degree of impact on the body, Drontal is classified as a low-hazard substance (hazard class 4 according to GOST 12.1.007–76). Well tolerated by cats of different breeds and ages. A contraindication to the use of Drontal tablets is the cat’s individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug (including a history of it).

As a rule, there are no side effects or complications when using Drontal in accordance with these instructions.

Read also:  Types of Ram rabbits, maintenance tips, owners’ opinions

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The active ingredients of Drontal - pyrantel and praziquantel - are well tolerated and usually do not give any individual reactions, even with a slight overdose. In rare cases, drooling, diarrhea or vomiting are noted, which pass quickly and, according to the instructions, do not require treatment.

Several years ago, there were many fakes of Drontal on the market. The use of the “scorched” drug caused symptoms of poisoning similar to those indicated above. Nowadays there are much fewer such cases, but they do happen. If your pet develops side effects, the medication may not be genuine. When purchasing an anthelmintic, carefully study the packaging. It must correspond to that declared by the manufacturer, and the batch serial number must be present. For a genuine drug, the blister will have all the necessary symbols and drawings on the back side.

The blister must contain complete data - logo, composition, dosage, batch number, date of manufacture and expiration date of the drug. Information may be in Russian or English

Additional information about parasites

Drontal tablets (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate) kill tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis), hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) and large roundworms (Toxocara cati) in kittens and adult cats.

The presence of tapeworms is indicated by the presence of segments of the parasites in the cat's feces. The segments of tapeworms are white, white-pink, yellowish in color, similar in size and shape to rice grains. Quite often the particles are found in fresh feces. Particles can also be found on the fur near the cat’s anus or in the pet’s bedding. Cats become infected with tapeworms after eating fleas, small animals infected with parasites.

Nematodes are small white or reddish-brown worms less than 3 cm long that live in the intestines and feed on blood . Cats become infected with nematodes by ingesting eggs while grooming themselves. Cats infected with nematodes usually have poor health :

• dull coat;
• low body weight;
• diarrhea (with blood).

Roundworms are yellow-white threads 5-18 cm long (similar in size and color to spaghetti) that can be observed in a cat's vomit or feces. Animals become infected with large roundworms by ingesting worm eggs, while grooming themselves, or by eating mice infected with parasite eggs.

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Eggs of roundworms and nematodes are detected in stool only by microscopic examination. The presence of worm eggs in the feces confirms their presence in the cat’s body.

Contact your veterinarian for a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment for internal parasites.

Roundworms and nematodes can be observed in a cat's stool for up to 48 hours after deworming the cat with tablets. Most tapeworms are digested and are not found in feces after treatment.

Interaction with other drugs

The manufacturer does not recommend using Drontal with other anthelmintics containing piperazine.

If possible, anthelmintic drugs should not be combined with anything at all; only healthy animals should be treated. If your pet is sick and does not have a pronounced helminthic infestation, it is better to postpone treatment until he recovers. The exception is chronic diseases. In case of kidney or liver failure, the animal should be given deworming tablets as prescribed by a doctor.

Instructions for use of Drontal

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Before feeding the drug, no special fasting diet or laxatives are required. Drontal tablets are given to the cat in the morning with a small amount of food. To do this, the capsule is placed in a piece of sausage or meat. If the pet refuses to swallow such a “treat,” then it is recommended to use an introducer (pill dispenser). The medicine is placed on the root of the tongue so that the cat cannot spit out the capsule.

Drontal can also be given in another way. To do this, the tablet is crushed into powder and dissolved in a small volume of water. Then draw the suspension into a syringe and squeeze the liquid onto the root of the tongue.

For preventive purposes, Drontal is given to the pet once a quarter.

Analogues of the drug

There are many anthelmintics for cats. Most often they are produced in the form of tablets, but there are also suspensions, gels, and drops on the withers. Preparations in the form of tablets have more advantages than drops on the withers, since the active substance enters directly into the intestines, where most of the worms are located. Suspensions are mainly used for small kittens.

In order not to get confused in choosing tablets, you need to know that they all contain the same substances. Each manufacturer just combines them in different ways.

• Pyrantel embonate, or pamoate, is the most common and safest remedy against roundworms. It is almost completely excreted from the intestines unchanged, without entering the blood.
• Praziquantel is the only common drug against tapeworms and, in high doses, flukes. It is actively absorbed into the blood, biotransformed in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, it is used with caution in case of renal and liver failure and during the reproductive period.
• Fenbendazole - acts on round helminths, penetrates poorly into the blood and is mainly excreted in the feces, like pyrantel. In combination, these two substances enhance each other. Fenbendazole is used for infection with protozoa (giardia, coccidia).
• Milbemycin oxime is active against intestinal nematodes, as well as dirofilaria larvae, which makes it indispensable for the prevention of dirofilariasis. Well absorbed into the blood.
• Febantel is converted in the body to fenbendazole.

Manufacturers of drugs with similar compositions give conflicting recommendations regarding restrictions on use, and sometimes they completely skip this point in the instructions. Therefore, it is better to rely on information about the active ingredients. Pyrantel is safe during the reproductive period, fenbendazole is almost the same, and praziquantel is potentially dangerous. Therefore, in such cases, it is better to use monopreparations containing one active ingredient for treatment.

For adult animals, on the contrary, it is important to use a complex drug that will provide protection against all types of helminths. But for cats that eat raw river fish, the dose of praziquantel needs to be increased further.

Table: comparison of anthelmintic drugs for cats

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

Owner reviews

We buy DRONTAL, the weight is already written on each cell. 4 kg, just right for our two-year-old purr, who weighs exactly 4 kg. The drug is very easy to use. It is given with something tasty or familiar food (minced meat, wet food).

tanyusik

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We didn’t have any problems with worms with this drug, although in the spring and summer cats go to the dacha and roam freely there, respectively, and rummage in the sand, and eat different grass, and communicate with neighboring cats - which can contribute to infection. There were no adverse reactions to taking Drontal. The second cat I had was found and she moved in with a full “bouquet” of all the delights of homeless life, including worms - Drontal cured her in two doses. The only relative disadvantage is that it is not so easy to force a pet to take a pill, but this generally applies to any tablet medications.

Olya2309

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Drontal. Now this word will be associated in me with the horror of the night I experienced. I gave the tablet to a 1.5 year old cat. Before this, they dewormed with another cheap drug, there were no problems. But after reading positive reviews I decided to try Drontal. An hour later, the cat began to fall on its side and squint when walking. When we decided to attract his attention with the standard “kys-kys,” he opened his eyes and I screamed. There were no eyes, but only white spots, like in a horror movie... As it turned out later, the third eyelid closed the eyes. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart. It was late, and while we were looking for a 24-hour veterinarian in our city, it took another two hours to get there. The veterinarian immediately gave three injections, put on a drip and said that if they had not brought him, the cat might not have woken up from pulmonary edema. He prescribed medicine for intoxication and ordered me not to feed him for a day. Thank God, the cat felt fine in the morning.

Yulia Nesterova

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Without a doubt, I recommend Drontal for your animal! It is tolerated by the animal’s body as well as possible and has a wide spectrum of action. The only drawback I can note is the large size of the tablet, which makes it difficult to feed it to the cat. From our experience, I can firmly and confidently say that giving a tablet mixed with food is a waste of money! Because the tablet flies back out along with all the contents of the stomach. Twice I masked Drontal in wet food, once in bread pulp. Once I passed with food, but there was vomiting. But the second time the cat vomited. The tablet had to be washed off and given again (and this procedure is stressful for both the cat and quite nervous for the owner).

Avdeeva

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Results of studies of the drug

Drontal is an effective remedy. 93 cats with naturally acquired parasitic diseases underwent two in-depth and detailed laboratory studies to use and determine the effectiveness of Drontal tablets. 85 cats varying in weight, size, age, and breed participated in clinical studies conducted by six veterinary centers in different cities in the United States. The results showed that 98% of cats were completely free of parasites within a week after treatment. These tests have proven that Drontal is a safe and effective means of killing various types of parasites if used as directed.

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The instructions for Drontal for cats are extremely simple and clear. Using Drontal is a safe way to get rid of helminths. Cats treated with a 10-fold dose of the drug showed signs of vomiting and drooling without other adverse signs during the study. 83 of 85 animals given the recommended doses of Drontal Plus for cats in a clinical study showed no side effects. Transient loss of appetite was reported in one cat, and a second cat had transient loose stools.

Prevention methods

Steps must be taken to prevent the cat from becoming infected with helminths, otherwise repeated treatment with Drontal will be required.

Tapeworms, transmitted by fleas, are likely to reoccur unless measures are taken to control external parasites. During the procedure for controlling the number of fleas, you should apply :

• treating the cat's environment with insecticides (for example, bedding and play area);
• treating the cat with solutions, powders, sprays and other active agents.

The presence of roundworms and hookworms in cats can be controlled by maintaining an environment free of parasite eggs and larvae. Feces and soiled litter should be removed every day to prevent eggs from accumulating in the environment.

Parasites such as tapeworms and large roundworms are transmitted to the cat after it eats infected small mammals. By controlling such habits of the cat, that is, catching and eating mice, it will prevent infection by parasites.

Cats that live in constant contact with parasitic infections should undergo a repeat test for the presence of helminths 3 weeks after the initial use of Drontal.

In case of re-infection with tapeworms, nematodes or large roundworms, treatment with Drontal tablets can be applied again.

When should Drontal not be used?

The manufacturer declares the following animal conditions as contraindications:

• young age (under twenty-one days);
• pregnancy in the first three weeks;
• lactation period;
• period of illness or weakness after injury.

Is it possible to worm a nursing cat?

Security measures

When interacting with the drug Drontal, it is necessary to comply with the usual hygiene rules and safety standards defined for working with medications. While working with the medicine, eating or drinking water, as well as smoking, is not allowed. After interaction, it is recommended to wash your hands with hot water and soap. If the medication comes into contact with the skin or mucous membrane of the eyes, rinse the contact surface under running water.

People with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug Drontal are advised to exclude the possibility of direct contact with the medication. If an allergy occurs or a substance enters the body unintentionally, you should seek help from a doctor, taking with you the instructions for using the medicine.

Shelf life and storage

How long does the medicine last? The drug can be stored in a home medicine cabinet for up to five years from the date of manufacture by the manufacturer. During storage, standard conditions for keeping medications should be observed: inside a closed box, out of sunlight, out of contact with food, out of reach of children or animals. Temperature range: from 0 - 25°C.

When purchasing a medicine, you must check the suitability of the drug. It is not recommended to purchase medications from a retail network whose expiration date will expire in a few months, since the drug may have been stored in improper conditions during long-term storage. After the expiration date has expired, the drug loses its beneficial properties and the medication must be disposed of.

When and how to use Drontal?

The use of the drug is indicated in situations where the animal is already infected with parasites (they are visible visually or the infestation is confirmed by tests), as well as for preventive use. Let us remind you that all pets, without exception, must receive a wide-spectrum deworming medication every quarter. This applies even to cats that never go outside, since people bring parasites or their larvae on shoes and any other objects; they can be on unwashed hands or food.

Drontal is used to combat the following parasitic diseases: toxocariasis, unicinariasis, taeniasis, hookworm infection, dipylidiasis. Simply put, the tablets effectively remove from the body and destroy the most common types of worms in everyday life, which affect both cats and humans.

The most common parasite in cats is round toxocara.

Table. What helminths is Drontal effective against?

This is what different parasites look like

Accordingly, Drontal is used in two cases: if infection has already been detected or for prevention (once every four months). Before using the drug, the cat is weighed to determine the appropriate dosage.

"Drontal" is a remedy trusted by many veterinarians, and in 2013 this drug was recognized in Russia as the best preventive and therapeutic anthelmintic medicine. Numerous studies and test results on infected cats “before” and “after” show that Drontal perfectly treats mixed helminthiases and successfully copes with helminthic infestations in animals.

Video - How to tell if your cat has worms?

How to get a cat to take medicine

Drontal does not have a pleasant taste, so the animal will not take the medication of its own free will. To find an individual approach to your pet and force the cat to take the medicine, veterinarians recommend using one of the following methods:

• Grind the tablet into powder, then mix it with water and pour it into the cat’s mouth. It should be borne in mind that the substance does not dissolve in water, so the mixture should be given immediately after preparation, otherwise the medicine will precipitate. You can draw the liquid into a syringe without a needle and gradually squeeze it into the animal’s mouth. This method is convenient for small kittens, since a large and strong cat is difficult to keep in a motionless position while taking the medicine.
• Mix the medication with food. In order for the cat not to refuse food, the pet must be hungry.
• Make the cat swallow a pill. It is recommended to place the cat on a horizontal hard surface in a sitting or lying position. For physically active or shy animals, it is recommended to wrap a blanket tightly or wear a special retaining bag. With one hand you need to hold the cat, maintaining the chosen position, and with the other palm, firmly grasp the back of the head and throw the pet’s head back with its mouth up. The second person should pull the cat's chin down. In this position, the animal’s mouth will involuntarily open, and the tablet can be inserted there. While continuing to hold the cat in this position, you need to stroke the pet on the neck, causing a swallowing reflex. If the tablet goes deep enough, the cat will quickly swallow the medicine. Do not push the tablet with your fingers - a frightened pet may bite strongly. You can use tweezers or a special device offered by veterinary pharmacies.