Protecting our canine companions from a host of internal parasites is a crucial aspect of responsible pet ownership. Many dog owners focus primarily on heartworm prevention, often overlooking other common and equally detrimental intestinal worms. This oversight can leave a significant gap in your dog’s health defense, potentially leading to discomfort, illness, and even severe health issues. Ensuring your dog’s overall well-being goes beyond just preventing illnesses; it also includes providing a happy and stimulating environment, perhaps through enrichment activities like those enjoyed with a lickmat.
Fortunately, achieving broad-spectrum protection for your furry friend is both simple and effective with a comprehensive solution like Interceptor Plus. This powerful, veterinarian-prescribed medication offers extensive coverage against five major types of worms that can affect dogs and puppies, including heartworms, adult roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.
Why Choose Interceptor Plus for Your Canine Companion?
Interceptor Plus stands out in the realm of canine parasite prevention by offering a broader spectrum of protection compared to many other popular treatments. While products like Heartgard Plus and Simparica Trio effectively guard against heartworm disease, hookworms, and roundworms, they typically do not cover tapeworm or whipworm infections. This means that if your dog is on one of these alternative medications, they might still be vulnerable to these common and problematic parasites.
Untreated intestinal worms can cause a range of uncomfortable and serious symptoms in dogs, including chronic diarrhea, noticeable weight loss, debilitating anemia, and persistent fatigue. These conditions not only compromise your dog’s comfort but can also significantly impact their long-term health and vitality. Interceptor Plus addresses these concerns by providing robust 5-in-1 protection, ensuring your dog is shielded from a wider array of internal threats.
Administering medication to dogs can often be a challenge, but Interceptor Plus makes it easy and convenient. It comes as a tasty, chicken-flavored chew, making it a treat your dog will look forward to each month. This eliminates the need for owners to hide pills in food pockets or struggle with reluctant pets, ensuring consistent and stress-free dosing. With Interceptor Plus, you provide robust protection that lasts a full month, allowing your dog to enjoy their favorite activities—from frolicking in the backyard to exploring the dog park—with greater peace of mind.
Understanding How Interceptor Plus Works
The efficacy of Interceptor Plus stems from its unique combination of two active ingredients: milbemycin oxime and praziquantel. Each ingredient targets specific parasites, working synergistically to provide comprehensive protection.
Milbemycin oxime is the primary component responsible for preventing heartworm disease, caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis. It also effectively treats and controls adult roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. By disrupting the nerve transmission in these parasites, milbemycin oxime paralyzes and eliminates them from your dog’s system. The second active ingredient, praziquantel, is a potent anthelmintic specifically formulated to treat various types of tapeworm infections. Praziquantel works by damaging the parasite’s skin, causing it to disintegrate and be removed from the body.
This dual-action formula ensures that your dog is protected against a broad range of intestinal parasites that can be picked up from various environments, including contaminated soil, ingesting infected fleas, or consuming infected prey.
A dog happily taking an Interceptor Plus chicken-flavored chew for parasite protection.
Important Considerations and Precautions
Interceptor Plus is a prescription-only medication, emphasizing the importance of veterinary consultation before starting any heartworm prevention program. Your veterinarian will need to test your dog for any existing heartworm infections prior to administration. Giving heartworm preventative to a dog already infected with heartworms can lead to serious adverse reactions.
This medication is specifically formulated for dogs and puppies aged six weeks and older, weighing more than two pounds. It is crucial to note that Interceptor Plus should never be used in cats or humans. Always keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children. The safety of Interceptor Plus has not been evaluated in dogs used for breeding or in lactating females, so special consideration and veterinary guidance are necessary for these specific situations. Additionally, for complete heartworm prevention, it is vital to administer at least six monthly doses after the last potential exposure to mosquitoes.
Administering Interceptor Plus: Dosage and Schedule
Interceptor Plus should be administered orally, once every month, to ensure continuous protection. The minimum recommended dosage is 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) of milbemycin oxime and 2.28 mg/lb (5 mg/kg) of praziquantel. Consistent monthly dosing is key to maintaining effective parasite prevention.
The medication comes in various strengths, color-coded for different weight ranges of dogs:
- Orange Box: For dogs weighing 2.0 to 8.0 lbs.
- Green Box: For dogs weighing 8.1 to 25.0 lbs.
- Yellow Box: For dogs weighing 25.1 to 50.0 lbs.
- Blue Box: For dogs weighing 50.1 to 100.0 lbs.
For dogs weighing over 100 lbs, a combination of appropriate chewable tablets should be used to achieve the correct dosage. Always follow your veterinarian’s specific instructions regarding the dosage and administration schedule for your dog. If you miss a monthly dose, administer it as soon as you remember, but never give a double dose to compensate.
Dosing chart for Interceptor Plus, illustrating different colored boxes for dogs weighing 2-8 lbs, 8.1-25 lbs, 25.1-50 lbs, and 50.1-100 lbs.
Potential Side Effects and What to Do
While Interceptor Plus is generally well-tolerated, some dogs may experience adverse reactions. The following side effects have been reported after administration of milbemycin oxime or praziquantel: vomiting, diarrhea, depression/lethargy, ataxia (loss of coordination), weight loss, convulsions, weakness, and excessive salivation. If you observe any concerning symptoms in your pet after administering Interceptor Plus, it is crucial to contact your veterinarian immediately for guidance.
If you happen to miss giving a dose, administer it as soon as you remember. Do not attempt to give a double dose to make up for the missed one, as this could lead to an overdose. In the event of an overdose, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately for prompt medical attention.
Illustration showing five common parasites, including heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms, against which Interceptor Plus protects.
Drug Interactions and Brand Information
It is imperative not to administer Interceptor Plus to your pet if they are already taking an alternate heartworm medication. Combining heartworm preventatives can lead to serious health complications. Always inform your veterinarian about all medications and supplements your dog is currently receiving.
Interceptor Plus is a registered trademark of Elanco or its affiliates. The generic names for the active ingredients are Milbemycin Oxime (mil-beh-my-sin ox-eem) and Praziquantel (pr’z-kwn’tl). Elanco is the manufacturer of this trusted product.
Conclusion
Providing your dog with comprehensive protection against internal parasites is a cornerstone of their health and happiness. Interceptor Plus offers a superior solution, safeguarding your loyal companion against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms with a single, palatable monthly chew. Its broad-spectrum action and easy administration make it an excellent choice for dog owners seeking thorough parasite prevention. Before starting any new medication, always consult with your veterinarian to ensure it is the most suitable option for your dog’s specific health needs and to confirm proper usage. With Interceptor Plus, you can enjoy greater peace of mind, knowing your cherished pet is well-protected to live a long, healthy, and happy life.
