Doses and method of administration
Drontal is administered orally to cats individually, once in the morning feeding with a small amount of food (in a piece of sausage, meat, with minced meat). If an animal refuses to feed with the drug, or in kittens, Drontal is forcibly administered to the root of the tongue or in the form of an aqueous suspension using a syringe and catheter. The drug is given in a dose of 1 tablet per 4 kg of animal weight, which corresponds to 5 mg of praziquantel and 57.5 mg of pyrantel embonate per 1 kg of animal weight. A preliminary starvation diet and the use of laxatives before deworming are not required. For preventive purposes, deworming of cats is carried out quarterly, as well as before vaccination and mating.
Contraindications and side effects
Under no circumstances should tablets be given to small kittens under 21 days of age.
The use of Drontal for deworming pregnant animals in the first 3 weeks of pregnancy is contraindicated.
As a rule, no side effects are observed even with severe overdose. Vomiting and foam from the mouth may occur in case of individual intolerance to the active components of the drug. However, there is no need to worry. Even these symptoms will go away on their own after a short period of time. No veterinarian intervention required!
Pharmacological properties
The active components of drontal praziquantel and pyrantel embonate exhibit synergistic action and have a detrimental effect against round and tapeworms, including Toxocara cati (mystax), Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Ancylostoma braziliense, Uncinaria stenocephala, Echinococcus multilocularis, Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Mesocestoides spp., parasitic in cats. The mechanism of action of praziquantel is the depolarization of neuromuscular ganglion blockers, disruption of glucose transport and microtubular function in cestodes, which leads to disruption of muscle innervation, paralysis and death of the parasite. Praziquantel is quickly absorbed in the intestine and distributed in internal organs and tissues, and is excreted from the body in the urine, mainly in a metabolized form. Pyrantel embonate has a pronounced nematocidal effect, causing an increase in the permeability of cell membranes, irreversible paralysis and muscle contracture in nematodes, which leads to death and release of parasites from the gastrointestinal tract. Pyrantel embonate is partially absorbed in the intestine, quickly metabolized and excreted from the body mainly in feces. 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); in recommended doses it does not have embryotoxic, teratogenic or sensitizing effects. Well tolerated by cats of different breeds and ages.
Indications for use
Drontal is prescribed by a veterinarian for the treatment of cats. Prescribed under the following circumstances:
- Two types of worms were found in the animal’s body: nematodes and cestodes;
- for preventive worming;
- before vaccinations;
- before the planned mating;
- when a new unwormed pet appears in the house.
Prevention against intestinal parasites is necessary not only for walking cats, but also for animals that do not go outside. You can become infected with worms through the owner's shoes, door mats, or by eating meat and fish products without heat treatment.
Comparison of anthelmintic drugs for cats table
| Name | Main active ingredient | Recommended dose | Contraindications | Cost of one tablet (rubles) |
| Cestal | Pyrantel embonate 230 mg, praziquantel 50 mg | Depending on the weight: up to kg – ¼ tablet, up to 2 kg – half a tablet, 2-4 kg – 1 pc., over 4 kg – 2 pcs. | Last trimester of pregnancy, babies under 21 days of age. | From 100 to 200 |
| Pratel | Pyrantel embonate 144 mg, praziquantel 50 mg | If the weight is less than 2 kg, then ¼ tablet, if from 2 to 5 kg - half a tablet. | Last trimester of pregnancy, babies up to six months. | 40-50 |
| Kanikquantel | Praziquantel 50 mg, fenbendazole 500 mg. | For 5 kg – half a tablet | The pet is up to 3 months old, the last trimester of gestation of kittens. | 75-90 |
| Febtal | Fenbendazole 150 mg. | Three kg. – 1 tab. | Babies up to 3 weeks of age. | 8-12 |
| Milbemax | Praziquantel Milbemecin oxime | For kittens and adults: milbemycin oxime 4 and 16 mg, praziquantel 10 and 40 mg, respectively Kittens up to kg - ½ children's dosage, up to 2 kg - tab. Adult; 2-4 ksh - half an adult dose, 4-8 kg - 1 tablet, over 8 - 1.5 tablets. | Pet weight less than 500 grams, age up to 1.5 weeks, pregnancy last trimester. | 150-170 for pediatric dosage, 270-300 adult dose |
Storage of Drontal and precautions
The veterinary drug does not require special storage conditions - it is enough to place the unopened package in a cool, dark place. Care must be taken that small children or animals do not gain access to the tablets; tablets should not be stored near food or human medicines.
In cases where the tablet is given to a cat by force, the person should either use tweezers or wear protective medical gloves. If you plan to crush the tablet, it is most convenient to do this between two tablespoons, which are then thoroughly washed in boiling water with soap.
In a human pharmacy you can purchase a special device for crushing tablets
During manipulations with tablets and animals, you should not eat, smoke, or apply any products (for example, cream) to your hands. After the procedure is completed, the person should wash their hands with soap.
Analogs
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Deworming tablets with praziquantel and pyrantel can be sold under different names. Some Drontal analogues have an identical chemical composition, others combine different active substances. Anthelmintics with similar effects include:
- Pratel. Swiss tablets, the composition of which is completely identical to Drontal. Features a cheaper price.
- Prazicide. An inexpensive domestic drug, the formula of which also contains praziquantel and pyrantel.
- Dirofen. Russian remedy for helminths, containing equal amounts of pyrantel and febantel.
- Cestal. A drug from a French company with the same formula as Drontal. It is distinguished by the flavoring additive “liver”.
- Polyverkan. French preparation in the form of sugar cubes. Contains niclosamide and oxybendazole.
- Milbemax. French-made tablets containing, in addition to praziquantel, milbemycin oxime.
It is necessary to choose a Drontal substitute together with a veterinarian.
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?
| Parasite | Description |
| Trichuris vulpis (whipworm) | A parasite that reaches the cat's intestines and parasitizes the rectum and anus. Causes severe itching and poisons the animal's body. Infection occurs through contact with dirty soil and water, food |
| Ancylostoma caninum (hookworm) | They belong to the type of round fluke worms, they are very harmful to cats due to their small size - hookworms can cause anemia in the pet, as they interfere with blood clotting, provoke bleeding in the internal organs, loss of appetite and body weight in the animal |
| Echinococus multilocularis (cestodes) | Worms that form entire colonies in the liver, lungs and other organs, suppressing the cat’s immunity. Farm animals can infect a cat, so cestodes are especially dangerous for pets living on farms or in private homes where there is a farm |
| Toxocaria canise (toxocara) | A round parasite that not only affects the cat’s intestines along its entire length, but also quickly migrates to other organs, moving inside the blood vessels. Infection occurs very easily - from water, soil, an infected animal |
| Diphyllobothrium latum (wide tapeworm) | The worm is a tapeworm, flat type, predominantly parasitic in the intestines. The risk of tapeworm infection is high for cats that are fed raw river and lake fish. |
| Dipylidium caninum (tape tape) | The largest type of worm, it can greatly undermine the health of a cat. It parasitizes the lower intestines, entangling the entire length of the organ. A cat can become infected by eating raw meat or walking in grazing areas. |
| Multiceps multiceps (multiceps) | A flat tapeworm that settles in the cat's intestines. The intermediate host of multiceps is the sheep, so cats living in close proximity to sheep flocks, as well as those receiving milk or meat from sheep, become infected. |
| Echinococus granulosus (cyclophyllide) | Tapeworms that enter a cat's body with contaminated meat or poultry, and then spread through the bloodstream to all organs |
| Uncinara stenocephalla (uncinaria) | A round nematode that a cat can pick up when it drinks water from a contaminated source, communicates with homeless relatives, or eats contaminated food. |
| Toxascaris leonina (roundworm) | A roundworm commonly found in cats and dogs. Pets are usually infected from their owners' shoes, the soles of which accidentally carried larvae. |
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?
Release form and composition
The Drontal formula was developed by the German company. The veterinary medicine is sold in the form of tablets. They have an oval-elongated shape with a transverse notch in the center. Capsules are placed in 2 or 8 pieces in foil blisters and cardboard packaging. Each box is supplied with instructions for use.
The contents of Drontal tablets include pyrantel embonate and praziquantel as active ingredients. The amount of these substances is 230 mg and 20 mg, respectively. Additional components help maintain a homogeneous consistency: starch, cellulose, polyvidone, quartz, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide.
Drontal has a long shelf life of 5 years. After this period, the tablets cannot be used to treat cats.
The line of German drugs also includes Drontal Plus. Its composition has been supplemented with a third active agent - febantel, and the amount of praziquantel and pyrantel has been increased. But it should be given exclusively to dogs for the treatment of helminthiases and giardiasis.
Benefits of Drontal tablets
Drontal is widely used in veterinary practice as an antiparasitic agent.
Its popularity is determined by a number of advantages:
- acts against different types of helminths;
- complete destruction of worms and their larvae with one pill;
- it is permissible to use for preventive purposes;
- a small list of contraindications;
- suitable for all breeds;
- reasonable price;
- allowed for both young and elderly pets;
- does not have a harmful effect on the cat's body.
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.
Owner reviews
Konstantin. I have been buying this for my beauty for 2 years now. It is easy to use and the dosage is indicated on each tablet. Therefore, it is very easy to calculate a weight of 2 kg. I give it in the morning on an empty stomach with minced meat.
Daria. A cat came to us at the dacha. We took in a foundling and, as it turned out, he suffered from a number of diseases for homeless people, including worms and fleas. The medication helped in 2 doses. We don't know anything else about them. Of the minuses, I think that it is not very convenient to give the tablet.
Olga. I really like this tool. We have been giving it to our Murzik for 3 years in a row for the purpose of prevention. One downside is the large size of the tablet. However, I don't mix it with food because our pet vomits. I give it only in the morning on an empty stomach.
Reviews about Drontal for cats
Olga Sokol: “My cat is one and a half years old and we have never detected signs of infection with worms (pah-pah-pah). We hope that this is a consequence of regular preventive measures - we give Arkasha Drontal once every three months, one and a half tablets (one tablet is designed for 4 kg of weight). In addition, we found a clever way to feed the medicine to our Persian - we previously tried to put it on the root of the tongue, but it turned out to be safer to disguise the crushed tablet as hair removal paste. Arkasha adores it and licks it clean, not noticing the medicinal additives.”
Natalya Romanenko: “In winter, I picked up a kitten near a heating main, which I thought would not live to see the morning - it was so bad. I washed it at home and trimmed it, but forgot to deworm it. But in vain. What a shock I experienced when one day I saw that her feces were simply infested with white worms. On the advice of the veterinarian, she gave Drontal for kittens. The very next day, the feces were brown with noticeable light specks - apparently these were particles of destroyed worms. Today the cat is fat, well-groomed and we don’t think about parasites. By the way, don’t forget to treat for worms 3 days after fleas.”
Igor Sych: “My old man is 15 years old, he doesn’t go outside, but I still give him preventive measures. Previously, I gave Drontal once every six months, but then switched to a regimen of once a year - solely out of respect for my advanced age. In all the years that we have been using this drug, there has been no vomiting, no diarrhea, no other side effects - the main thing is to check the expiration date on the packaging.”
