More Cat Care Information:
|General Cat Care #1: Before You Bring Your Cat Home|
|You will need food, food dish, water bowl, interactive toys, brush, comb, safety cat collar, scratching post, litter and litter box.|
|General Cat Care #2: Feeding|
|An adult cat should be fed one large or two smaller meals each day. Kittens from 6 to 12 weeks need to be fed four times a day. Kittens from three to six months need to be fed three times a day. You can either feed specific meals, throwing away any leftover canned food after 30 minutes or free-feed dry food (keeping food out all the time).|
Feed your cat a high-quality, brand-name kitten or cat food (avoid generic brands) two to three times a day. Kittens can be fed human baby food for a short time if they won’t eat kitten food softened by soaking in warm water. Use turkey or chicken baby food made for children six months and older. Gradually mix with cat food. Cow’s milk is not necessary and can cause diarrhea in kittens and cats. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Wash and refill water bowls daily.
Drontal for Cats is an antiparasitic product for cats and kittens older than one month and heavier than 1.5 pounds.
WHAT THIS PRODUCT CURES
Drontal treats tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis), hookworm (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) and large roundworm (Toxocara cati) infections in cats and kittens.
Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis) is a common intestinal parasite of cats. With its hook-like mouth, it attaches to the wall of the small intestine and feeds. The adult forms of tapeworm can grow to reach several inches in length. Cats become infected by ingesting tapeworm eggs through adult fleas or other potential sources that a cat is likely to ingest, such as small rodents, birds or rabbits. Adult tapeworms break off into segments with fertile eggs that can be seen in the cat's feces as pinkish bits resembling cucumber seeds. The affected animals are often licking or biting and scooting their anus across the floor as a response to the local irritation. In some cases, cats may vomit a several inches long adult tapeworm.
Hookworm (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) is a parasitic worm living in the intestines of cats. They latch onto the intestinal wall, sucking blood and tissue fluids of their host. Cats ingest hookworm larvae by grooming their feet. The larvae can also burrow through the skin on the cat's feet and migrate to the intestine. The affected animals are weak, without appetite, suffering from dark stool, severe anemia, diarrhea and constipation.Roundworm (Toxocara cati) is a parasitic worm living in the intestines of cats. Adult animals ingest the roundworm eggs in contaminated food, water, feces or vomit. Kittens can get infected during pregnancy or by drinking milk from an infected mother. During their life cycle, roundworms can migrate through the liver and lungs and cause damages of those organs. Roundworms can cause serious health issues in kittens and older cats. Infected cat has swollen abdomen, is lethargic, without appetite, coughing, vomiting.
Tapeworms rarely cause serious health issues, but if the parasites are present in a large number, the cats can suffer from weight loss and stunted growth.
Hookworm infections can cause severe complications, such as pneumonia, anemia, protein deficiency, heart failure and ascites.
Roundworms can cause abnormalities of the nervous system, damages of the liver and spleen. In kittens and older cats, they can lead to life threatening conditions.
RELATIVE INFO ON BREEDS MOST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AILMENT
There is no particular breed predisposition for any of parasitic infestations in cats. All cat breeds are susceptible to tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms. Outdoor cats are prone to internal and/or external parasite infestations as a result of their diet and lifestyle.
QUESTIONS FOR MY VET
1. What is Drontal and how it works?
a) Drontal is a broad spectrum antiparasitic used in the treatment of roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm infections in cats. Its active ingredients damage the worms' skin and nervous system response enabling the cat's immune system to eliminate them.
2. How is Drontal administered?
a) Drontal is administered orally as a single dose. The tablet can be offered with a small amount of food. It is important to follow the veterinary and product label instructions while administering Drontal.
3. What are the side effects of Drontal?
a) Drontal rarely causes side effects such as increased salivation, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite. In case you notice any of the above listed symptoms, stop giving Drontal and contact your vet immediately.
|General Cat Care #3: Grooming|
|Most cats stay relatively clean and rarely need a bath, but they do need to be brushed or combed. Frequent brushing helps keep your cat’s coat clean, reduces the amount of shedding and cuts down on the incidence of hairballs|
|General Cat Care #4: Handling|
|To pick up your cat, place one hand behind the front legs and another under the hindquarters. Lift gently. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck (behind the ears) or by the front legs without supporting the rear end.|
|General Cat Care #5: Housing|
|Cats should have a clean, dry place of their own in the house. Line your cat’s bed with a soft, warm blanket or towel. Be sure to wash the bedding often. Please keep your cat indoors. If your companion animal is allowed outside, he can contract diseases, get ticks or parasites, become lost or get hit by a car, hurt in a fight or poisoned. Also, cats prey on wildlife.|
4. What drugs should not be given with Drontal?
a) Drontal should not be administered if another antiparasitic product for intestinal worms is already being given.
5. Is Drontal safe for my cat?
a) Drontal is safe for cats and kittens older than 1 month and heavier than 1.5 pounds. Adverse reactions are possible but occur rarely.
6. What should I do in case of accidental overdose?
a) Stop administering Drontal and seek veterinary help immediately. The common symptoms of overdose in cats include vomiting, diarrhea and increased salivation.
7. What if I miss a dose of Drontal?
a) Drontal is given as a single dose, when the veterinarian prescribes it as a treatment for the existing parasitic infection.
HOW IT WORKS
Drontal for cats has two active ingredients: praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate. Praziquantel is an antiparasitic used in the treatment of tapeworm infections. It damages the parasite's skin impairing its ability to protect itself from the digestive juices in the intestine. The tapeworms are disintegrated and eventually digested.
The other active ingredient of Drontal is pyrantel pamoate, effective against hookworm and roundworm infections. Pyrantel pamoate paralyzes the parasites, causing them to release the grip of their teeth to the surface of the intestines. They are eventually eliminated with the excrements and can sometimes be visible in the feces of the treated cat. Paralyzed worms are alive outside of the body for a short period of time.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Drontal should be administered according to the veterinary instructions. The tablets are intended for oral administration. It is not relevant whether Drontal is given with or without food. It is not necessary to withdraw food in order to administer Drontal tablet. If the animal is reluctant to ingest the tablet, it can be crumbled and mixed with the usual cat food. In certain cases, roundworms and hookworms can be seen in the feces of the treated cat within one day of tablet administration. However, tapeworms are rarely seen since they are usually completely digested. In case of reinfection, the treatment may need to be repeated. It is necessary to prevent future infections through flea control, maintaining hygiene of the cat's environment and correction of the cat's predatory habits.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Drontal tablets are administered orally, and the dose is determined according to the cat's weight. Weigh the cat before administering Drontal to ensure proper dosing.
Body Weight* (lbs.)
Number of Tablets
2 – 3
4 – 8
9 – 12
13 – 16
Active ingredients of Drontal for Cats are praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate. Each tablet of Drontal contains 18.2 mg praziquantel and 72.6 mg of pyrantel pamoate.
Drontal is for animal use only. Keep away from children and pets.Do not administer to kittens younger than 1 month and lighter than 1.5 pounds.Seek veterinary advice before administering Drontal to pregnant or sick animals.
STORAGE AND DISPOSAL
Store at room temperature between 15C and 30C.
BRAND VS. GENERIC COMPARISON
A generic equivalent of Drontal tablets is available on the market. It contains the same active ingredients and comes in the similar formulation. However, it's safe use, and reliability has not been confirmed. Despite the lower price, veterinarians are more likely to prescribe the brand name product due to its confirmed quality and reliability.
For more details about product visit us at allvetmed.com/Drontal-Cat-p/DROC.htm
|General Cat Care #6: Identification|
|If allowed outdoors (again, we caution against it!), your cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. A safety collar with an elastic panel will allow your cat to break loose if the collar gets caught on something. An ID tag or an implanted microchip can help insure that your cat is returned if he or she becomes lost.|
|General Cat Care #7: Litter Box|
|All indoor cats need a litter box, which should be placed in a quiet, accessible location. A bathroom or utility room is a good place for your cat’s box. In a multi-level home, one box per floor is recommended. Avoid moving the box unless absolutely necessary. Then do so slowly, a few inches a day. Cats won’t use a messy, SMELLY litter box. Scoop solids out of the box at least once a day. Dump everything, wash with a mild detergent (don’t use ammonia) and refill at least once a week, less frequently if using clumping litter. Don’t use deodorants or scents in the litter or litter box (especially avoid lemon scent).|