Drontal

Is it possible to use Drontal Plus in cats ?

It is not recommended to use Drontal Plus in cats because:

1. Febantel is not as well tolerated in cats as in dogs.
2. The dosage of Pyrantel embonate in Drontal Plus is not appropriate to cats.

The recommended dose of Pyrantel embonate is:

• 14,4 mg/kg in dogs
• 57,5 mg/kg in cats

Drontal Plus / Vomiting ?

It has been observed that vomiting can very occasionally occur after treatment with Drontal Plus. Following facts have been established:

1. These cases are rare
2.  Vomiting depends on individual sensitivity of the dog:
   • Trials have been performed in Australia (Hopkins) with a large number of dogs of various sizes, breeds and ages. It statistically appeared that there is no correlation between vomiting and specific dog races, sizes or even the moment of the treatment compared to the moment of the ration intake.
   •  Furthermore, it has to be said that the occasional dog will vomit or react to nearly anything. A few cases have been reported of animals for which later information reveals that they have also reacted to other medicaments like antibiotics or other wormers.
3.  In case of later readministration, it has been noticed that the intensity of side effects (vomiting) often sensibly decreased.

How to react in front of a vet complaining about vomiting in dogs after treatment with Drontal Plus?

1. Try to know more about the dog, in order to evaluate if other factors are involved:
   • is it the first time that the dog vomit after administration of a medicament? (individual sensitivity)
   • was the correct dose administered?
   • have other dogs been treated at the same time? With reactions? Etc.
2.  In case Drontal Plus treatment reasonably appears to be the cause of vomiting; recognize that this side effect can occur but minimize it. In order to minimize this undesired effect;
• mention the arguments from part 1
  • Rarity
  • Individual sensitivity
  • frequent improvement in case of later administration
• remention all the admitted advantages of Drontal Plus
• High efficacy
• Broadest spectrum of activity
• Single dose treatment
• Easy administration
• Compare positively with other competitor products (e.g. Nitroscanate)
• No other competitor product brings so many advantages with so little side effects

3. Try to evaluate the real importance of this problem in order to minimize it. Petowners often dramatize the situation. Therefore, when vets are visited by representatives, they sometimes subjectively exaggerate some side effects;

   •  You must evaluate the real and objective importance of the problem
   •  "Doctor, how many similar cases did you notice this year? How many Drontal Plus boxes (or treatments) did you sell this year?"
   • Then, if the vet has sold for example 200 boxes while only 4 cases whereobserved, it is easy to let the veterinarian admit that 2% side effect is negligible.

Is Drontal Plus effective against somatic larvae of nematodes ?

Drontal Plus, used at the recommended dose, is not effective against somatic larvae of nematodes in pregnant bitches. Currently, it is admitted that only Albendazole, Fenbendazole (Panacur^®) and Oxfendazole (Synanthic^®, Dolthene^®) can be effective against somatic larvae of roundworms (Toxocara canis and possibly Ancylostoma caninum).Nevertheless, it has to be stressed that this claim requires special administration protocols with following characteristics:

1. Higher doses than the standard recommended dose (e.g. Fenbendazole: 50 mg/kg daily from day 45-50 of pregnancy to day 12-18 after birth - Duwel et al 1978).
2.  A longer treatment duration than the standard treatment (e.g. above mentioned Fenbendazole treatment). Mebendazole (Telmin^®) and Flubendazole (Flubenol^®) are ineffective against somatic larvae of roundworm (Petrich and Stoye 1981, Bosse and Stoye 1981).

Furthermore, there are some problems with these administration protocols:

1.  They are not officialy licenced.
2. The toxicological risk induced by the use of these compounds at a high dose and during a long period has not been specifically assessed and therefore, the safety of such protocols cannot be guaranteed.
3.  The treatment is not very convenient for the pet owner (daily administration of the wormer during several weeks...).
4.  The cost of such a treatment is tremendously high compared to a Drontal single dose treatment.

References:

• Duwel D & Strasse H - 1978 - Versuche zur Geburt helminther-freier Hundewelpendurch Fenbendazol- Behandlung. Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift. Experimental Report.
•  Bosse M & Stoye M - 1981- Zur Wirkung Verschiedener Benzimidazolcarbamat auf somatische Larven von Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis. Zentralblatt Veterinärmedizin B 28: 265-279.
• Petrich & Stoye M - 1981- Zur Wirkung Verschiedener Benzimidazolcarbamat auf somatische Larven von Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis. Zentralblatt Veterinärmedizin B 28: 292-300.

Use of Drontal Plus during pregnancy

As studies have not been conducted in bitches in early pregnancy, Drontal^® Plus should not be used during the first half of gestation.Studies have been carried out, to confirm the tolerance of Drontal Plus during pregnancy and lactation: 3 groups of pregnant bitches were treated with 6 or 10 times the therapeutic dose or with placebo on the 20th and 10th day ante partum and againone and three weeks post partum. The treatment had no effect on duration of pregnancy, litter size, birth weight, mortality of the pups, clinico-chemicalparameters, haematological parameters, clinical condition or development of the pups.

From which age can Drontal Plus be used ?

Drontal Plus can be used in puppies from the age of 2 weeks.Tolerance studies in newborn pups produce no evidence of intolerance at excessive dose rates.Three groups of pups received either placebo or Drontal plus tablets at 6 and 10 times thetherapeutic dose. The first treatment took place at 10 days of age, followed by a further five medications at 2 weeks intervals.Neither clinical nor haematological changes were observed at any time during or after the treatmentperiod. Clinico-chemical parameters, bodyweight and growth rates did not differ in any way from those of the control group.

Why should Piperazine not be administrated simultaneously with a product containing Pyrantel (e.g. Drontal Plus, Drontal cat, Welpan)?

Pyrantel embonat is known to act as a potent acethylcholine agonist and depolarising neuromuscular blocking agent in the parasite. It produces rigid contraction of musculature which can be blocked by piperazine: for this reason, it is not recommended to associate Pyrantel and Piperazine.