Importance Of Drontal For Dogs

What is Drontal Plus for dogs?

Intestinal worm infestation in dogs is a very common situation that most dog owners face at one point in their life or the other. Drontal Plus is a medication that is used to treat dogs with intestinal worms. Drontal for dogs is a miracle for dogs and relief for dog owners.

Intestinal worms such as Hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, etc. get transmitted through various processes.

1. Pups can get worms in their intestine if their mother has any type of worms present in her body since the puppies feed on the mother’s milk and worms easily transmits through the milk into the pup from his mother.
2. If dogs accidentally ingest larvae or eggs while sniffing in the grass or playing outside with a muddy toy, any existing worm would be transmitted from the dirt into the dog’s body very easily.
3. Worms first infect insects like fleas and use them as their temporary host. If dogs consume any flea carrying the worms inside can get into the dog’s body and make the dog’s body their permanent host.
4. Dogs also contract worms from consuming the meat of previously infected grazing animals. Worms do not die immediately if the host is dead and still lives in the meat. If dogs get unsupervised and not properly washed meat of those grazing animals, they can get infected by worms. Additionally, if dogs bite on the skin of small animals like rodents and rats which have been infected by worms recently, contamination of intestinal worms in dogs can happen.
5. Lastly, no matter how disgusting it sounds intestinal worms can transmit from faeces as dogs tend to taste or sniff the faeces of other dogs. The stools that are left behind by infected dogs still contain worms and they enter the body of the new dog who tastes or sniffs the faeces.

Ingredients of Drontal for dogs

Drontal Plus is a widely known dewormer that veterinarians often prescribe for treating dogs infected with intestinal worms. This medication is effective on almost all types of intestinal worms like roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. Drontal for dogs contains three active elements that battle against these worms in numerous ways.

The three active ingredients are namely – Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate, and Febantel.

• The first ingredient, Praziquantel works as a freezer or paralyzer element that primarily paralyzes tapeworms, which causes them to detach themselves from the walls of the intestine. In this long process, the body of the infected dog adjusts to the point that the dog is then able to digest the existing worms inside his body on his own eventually killing them all. In this process, as the worms are killed inside you may not be able to see the worms in the dog’s stool afterwards.
• The second ingredient, Pyrantel pamoate, generally works on hookworms and roundworms. It also works in the same process as Praziquantel. After entering the body, Pyrantel Pamoate stops the movements of the worms and forces them to remove themselves from the internal walls of the intestine. This drug helps the dogs to expel the worms through the stool.
• The last but not the least ingredient, Febantel generally works on whipworms and works slightly differently than the other two. Febantel destroys the whipworm’s ability to metabolize glucose thus eventually stopping their life cycle and reliving the host dog’s body of worms.

Drontal for dogs Dosage

Dosage of Drontal Plus for dogs is generally decided by veterinarians based on the dog’s condition. But many dog owners long for a general idea of Drontal plus dosage as it is a very common disease and most often people do not get immediate appointments with the vet. But we will suggest you always consider a consultation with the vet as he would administer the drug in proper doses based on your dog’s needs.

Drontal plus comes in both 10 tablets per pack i.e., 1 strip and 20 tablets per pack i.e., 2 strips with box. 1 tablet of Drontal plus consists of 50 mg Praziquantel, 144 mg Pyrantel pamoate, and 150 mg Febantel. The generic doses of Drontal Plus for dogs are –

• Dogs such as puppies and small dogs who weigh between 2-25 lbs. are required 1 tablet of Drontal plus per day.
• Medium-sized dogs who weigh between 26-60 lbs. are required 2 tablets of Drontal Plus per day.
• Large dogs who weigh 60 lbs. or more than that are required 3 tablets of Drontal plus per day.

You can decide the number of tablets for yourself by matching your pup’s body weight. It will always be better if a practising veterinarian evaluates your dog and prescribe the medicine as well as the doses.

Cost of Drontal plus

Normally one 10 tablet package of Drontal plus tablets costs between 9 to 10 US dollars depending on the place. Similarly, one 20 tablet package of Drontal plus costs between 18-20 US dollars.

Side effects of Drontal plus

Dogs show almost negligible side-effects to Drontal plus. However, as a dog owner, you would be the best person to understand your dog’s temperaments and consider whether the benefits of Drontal plus outweigh the mild risks involved or not and administer Drontal plus for dogs accordingly after consulting your vet. Some side-effects of Drontal plus are –

• Sudden vomiting and nausea tendencies in your dog.
• Diarrhoea lasts for over a day.
• A swollen face, paws, or even the tongue.
• Sudden hair loss or fur loss tendencies.
• Allergic reactions such as rashes and itchiness unnoticed before.
• Faeces are covered in blood or mucous.

If two or more of these adverse signs are shown by your dog after administering him with Drontal plus, contact your vet immediately.

Cautionary warnings

• Pooches who are less than 6 months of age should not be administered with any doses of Drontal plus.
• Drontal for dogs is absolutely a no-no for dogs who are pregnant as it can lead to fetal abnormalities in later stages of pregnancy.
• Be sure to clean up the faeces of your dog after you administer them with Drontal plus, as they pass worm eggs with their faeces during those times. Use a glove and dispose of the faeces and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Drontal Plus is one of the best medicines your dog can have to fight intestinal worm attacks. Keeping in mind the side effects, consult your vet and start a course of it immediately in such situations.