Interceptor for dogs is primarily a de-worming medication but it’s also used to treat other dangerous parasites like heartworms. While the medication effectively kills certain types of adult worms, it also prevents your pet from developing recurring infections. Since it’s a prescription medication, you will have to take your dog for a vet check to get a prescription for Interceptor.
How Interceptor Works
Interceptor contains the active ingredient Milbemycin Oxime. This ingredient not only kills adult whipworms and roundworms but it also protects your pet from contracting heartworms. Besides this, the medication acts on adult hookworms. It therefore acts as a broad spectrum de-worming medication.
The medication should be given once a month to canines that are more than 4 weeks of age. Since the medication is also available in separate packages for cats, you need to make sure that you’re buying the right medication from the store.
Dosage and Administration of Interceptor
If the vet recommends the use of Interceptor, the pet will have to take a Heartworm test before the medication is administered. Since it only works as a heartworm preventive, it can’t treat active heartworm infections. The general dose for dogs that weigh between 2 and 10 pounds is 1 tablet, once a month from the brown box. Dogs that weigh between 11 and 25 pounds should be given 1 tablet from the green box, once a month.
Pets that weigh 26 to 50 pounds require 1 tablet from the yellow box, once a month, while those that weigh 51 to 100 pounds require 1 tablet from the white box, once every month. If your dog weighs more than 100 pounds you may have to give him a combination of drugs. It’s best to follow the vet’s instructions with regards to this. Your pet has to ingest the entire tablet in order for it to work effectively. If the tablet isn’t entirely ingested, consider giving your pet another dose at the earliest.
Interceptor is a prescription drug which should only be used with the knowledge and prescription of your veterinarian.
Dos and Don’ts:
- Don’t give the medication to your pet if he has had an allergic reaction to Milbemycin Oxime before.
- Do clean up your dogs feces and dispose them appropriately since the worms are likely to be eliminated in the feces.
- Do wash your hands thoroughly so that you don’t contract worm infections after coming in contact with your dog’s contaminated feces.
- Don’t feed your pet any fish or meat that isn’t entirely cooked.
- Do not combine Interceptor with any other heartworm medication.
Precautions When Giving Interceptor to a Dog
Interceptor is a prescription drug, which if given inappropriately can cause severe side effects. If your dog starts drooling or suffering from seizures, you must call for emergency medical help. These symptoms along with other signs like vomiting, diarrhea and depression are indicative of an overdose. You should therefore be careful when you dose the pet and avoid giving your dog a double dose if your fail to give the medication on time.
Apart from using Interceptor to protect your dog from worm infections, you should also ascertain that your pet’s body is free from flea infections. Since fleas are carriers of plenty of infections, you should do everything you can to safeguard your pet from these parasites.