Interceptor For Dogs Is The Ultimate Heartworm Treatment.
Novartis’ parasite preventative for dogs is called Interceptor.
Interceptor is effective in controlling heartworms, two species of roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.
Novartis has developed it’s Interceptor Flavor Tabs for both dogs and cats, however in the case of cats, the drug only covers heartworms and adult roundworms and hookworms.
Heartworm for dogs can be a life threatening condition if left untreated so it is vital to choose some kind of canine heartworm medication to use as prevention.
The incidents of dogs reacting poorly to Interceptor were very low in trials.
Likewise, Interceptor tested on cats at ten times the recommended dosage caused no side effects (although you should take precautions to ensure that your cat does not become over dosed at home!)
The following symptoms have occasionally been reported as side effects: depression/lethargy, vomiting, ataxia, anorexia, diarrhea, convulsions, weakness, and hypersalivation.
Interceptor heartworm preventative medication consists of milbemycin oxime, in dosages depending on the weight of your pet.
The packaging is color coded according to the weight range. The 2.3mg dosage for dogs 2-10 pounds is in brown packaging. 5.75mg for dogs 11-25lbs is green, 11.5mg for dogs 26-50lbs is yellow, and the 23.0mg dosage for dogs 51-100 is packaged in white.
Interceptor Flavor Tabs contain the heartworm medication packaged into an appetizing dog treat.
Your dog should be given Interceptor on a monthly basis and you should make sure that the entire dose has been consumed.
In the unlikely case it hasn’t, the dose will need to be made up.
Puppies weighing under two pounds and those less than four weeks of age should not be given Interceptor heartworm preventative.
Once they have reached the minimum age and weight criteria they need to be tested, and once they are in the clear, they can start treatment.
Interceptor faces competition from Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Plus and Sentinel.
All are available in highly palatable flavored treats to make them easy to give directly to your dog orally.
Sentinel also has added flea control with the addition of an extra compound (Lufenuron).
Heartgard and Iverhart contain ivermectin to control heartworms and pyrantel for treating intestinal worms.
Although Heartgard does not include whipworms in their spectrum of coverage, it is effective against more species of hookworms than rivals Interceptor and Sentinel.
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