Interceptor for dogs is a parasite prevention treatment made by Novartis.
More than one parasite is killed by Interceptor; heart worm, two kinds of roundworm, hookworms and whipworms.
Novartis make Interceptor flavor tabs for dogs and also cats (although in the case of interceptor for cats, the drug only protects against heartworm, adult roundworms and adult 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.
In trials for Interceptor, dogs reacted very well with very few cases of allergy or side effects.
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!)
In the few cases of side effects, the following symptoms were reported depression/ lethargy, vomiting, ataxia, anorexia, diarrhea, convulsions, weakness and hypersalivation.
Interceptor heartworm medication is essentially milbemycin oxime in differing doses, according to the weight of dog you are treating.
The ranges are 2.3mg (coded brown for dogs 2-10 lbs), 5.75mg (coded green for dogs 11-25lbs), 11.5mg (coded yellow for dogs 26-50lbs) and 23.0 mg (coded white for dogs 51-100 lbs).
The drug is packaged into a tasty treat called flavor tabs.
Owners should give their dogs the correct Interceptor dose on a monthly basis and should watch closely to make sure that the entire tablet has been ingested.
In the unlikely case it hasn't, the dose will need to be made up.
Puppies less than four weeks of age, or weighing less than two pounds, should not be given Interceptor heartworm preventative medication.
Once dogs have reached the minimum age and weight requirements, they should have a negative heartworm test prior to starting on Interceptor heartworm preventative 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, which contains Lufeneuron, offers additional protection against fleas as well as heartworms and some intestinal parasites.
Heartgard and Iverhart contain ivermectin to protect against heartworms and pyrantel to prevent some types of intestinal worms.
Heartgard is effective against more species of hookworms than Interceptor and Sentinel, but unlike those two, it does nothing for whipworms.
