Interceptor Flavor Tabs for Dogs & Cats

Interceptor Flavor Tabs are a type of medication specially designed for dogs and cats to prevent and control parasitic infections. These flavor-coated tablets are highly effective in protecting your pets from heartworm disease, as well as treating and controlling common intestinal parasites.

The tablets are typically administered orally and come in various dosages based on the weight of your pet. Interceptor Flavor Tabs contain an active ingredient called milbemycin oxime, which works by targeting and eliminating heartworm larvae before they can develop into adult worms. This prevents heartworm disease, a potentially life-threatening condition that affects the heart and lungs of infected animals.

In addition to heartworm prevention, Interceptor Flavor Tabs also offer protection against common intestinal worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. These parasites can be contracted through contaminated soil, feces, or infected animals, and they can cause gastrointestinal issues, weight loss, and other health problems in pets. By regularly administering Interceptor Flavor Tabs, you can effectively control and eliminate these intestinal parasites, ensuring the well-being and overall health of your furry companions.

One notable feature of Interceptor Flavor Tabs is their palatable taste. The tablets are coated with a delicious flavor that appeals to both dogs and cats, making it easier to administer the medication. This is particularly helpful for pets who may be finicky eaters or have difficulty taking medications. The taste ensures that your pets are more likely to accept the tablet willingly, simplifying the administration process and reducing stress for both you and your pet.

As with any medication, it's important to follow the recommended dosage instructions provided by your veterinarian. Regular administration of Interceptor Flavor Tabs, typically once a month, can provide effective protection against heartworm disease and intestinal parasites, contributing to the overall health and well-being of your beloved pets.

Key Benefits:

• Heartworm Disease Prevention: Interceptor Flavor Tabs are highly effective in preventing heartworm disease, a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects the heart and lungs of infected animals. By targeting and eliminating heartworm larvae, these tablets help protect your pets from this dangerous disease.
• Intestinal Parasite Control: In addition to heartworm prevention, Interceptor Flavor Tabs also control and treat common intestinal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Regular administration of the tablets helps eliminate these parasites, preventing gastrointestinal issues and maintaining the overall health of your pets.
• Palatable Taste: Interceptor Flavor Tabs are coated with a delicious flavor that appeals to both dogs and cats. This palatable taste makes it easier to administer the medication, as pets are more likely to accept the tablet willingly. It reduces the struggle of giving medications to finicky eaters or pets who may be resistant to taking pills.
• Convenient Administration: The tablets are typically administered orally and can be easily incorporated into your pets' routine. They are usually given once a month, making it a convenient and manageable way to ensure consistent protection against heartworm disease and intestinal parasites.
• Veterinary Recommended: Interceptor Flavor Tabs are a trusted and veterinarian-recommended option for preventing heartworm disease and controlling intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian can provide specific dosage instructions based on your pet's weight and health status, ensuring the medication is administered correctly.
• Overall Health and Well-being: By effectively preventing heartworm disease and controlling intestinal parasites, Interceptor Flavor Tabs contribute to the overall health and well-being of your pets. Keeping them free from these harmful parasites allows them to lead a healthier and more active life.

Indications:

• Heartworm Prevention: Interceptor Flavor Tabs are primarily indicated for the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs and cats. They effectively eliminate heartworm larvae (Dirofilaria immitis) that may have been transmitted by mosquitoes before they can mature into adult worms in the heart and lungs.
• Intestinal Parasite Control: Interceptor Flavor Tabs are also indicated for the control and treatment of certain intestinal parasites in dogs and cats. These parasites include roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, Uncinaria stenocephala), and whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) in dogs. In cats, Interceptor Flavor Tabs can control and treat roundworms (Toxocara cati) and hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme).

It's important to note that Interceptor Flavor Tabs are not effective against tapeworms. If tapeworm control is necessary, your veterinarian may recommend an additional medication specifically targeting tapeworms.

These indications highlight the primary uses of Interceptor Flavor Tabs in preventing heartworm disease and controlling certain intestinal parasites, ensuring the health and well-being of your dogs and cats. As always, consult with your veterinarian for the most appropriate and tailored treatment plan for your pets.

How it works:

Interceptor Flavor Tabs work through the active ingredient called milbemycin oxime, which is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent. Here's how it works:

1. Heartworm Prevention: When administered orally, milbemycin oxime is absorbed into the bloodstream. If your pet has been infected with heartworm larvae (transmitted by mosquitoes), milbemycin oxime circulates in the bloodstream and is distributed throughout the body. It targets the immature heartworm larvae (also known as microfilariae) present in the bloodstream.
2. Targeting Heartworm Larvae: Milbemycin oxime acts by interfering with the nerve transmission in the parasites. It binds to certain receptors in the parasites, disrupting their nerve function and causing paralysis. This prevents the heartworm larvae from developing further and maturing into adult heartworms.
3. Elimination of Intestinal Parasites: In addition to heartworm prevention, milbemycin oxime also provides control against certain intestinal parasites. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, it is distributed to the intestines. The medication targets and eliminates roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms present in the gastrointestinal tract of your pet.
4. Excretion: After exerting its effects on the parasites, milbemycin oxime is metabolized in the liver and eliminated from the body through the feces.

By regularly administering Interceptor Flavor Tabs, the active ingredient milbemycin oxime helps prevent heartworm disease by targeting and eliminating heartworm larvae. It also controls and treats common intestinal parasites, maintaining the overall health and well-being of your dogs and cats. It's important to follow the recommended dosage instructions provided by your veterinarian for optimal effectiveness.

Interceptor Flavor Tabs Drug Facts Sheet.

Interceptor is given orally, once a month, at the recommended minimum dosage rate of 0.23 mg milbemycin oxime per pound of body weight (0.5 mg/kg).

Dogs over 100 lbs. are provided the appropriate combination of tablets.

Administration:

Interceptor is palatable and most dogs will consume the tablet willingly when offered by the owner. As an alternative, the dual-purpose tablet may be offered in food or administered as other tablet medications. Watch the dog closely following dosing to be sure the entire dose has been consumed. If it is not entirely consumed, redose once with the full recommended dose as soon as possible.

Interceptor must be administered monthly, preferably on the same date each month. The first dose should be administered within one month of the dog's first exposure to mosquitoes and monthly thereafter until the end of the mosquito season. If a dose is missed and a 30-day interval between dosing is exceeded, administer Interceptor immediately and resume the monthly dosing schedule. If Interceptor replaces diethylcarbamazine (DEC) for heartworm prevention, the first dose must be given within 30 days after the last dose of DEC.

Palatability:

Palatability trials conducted in 244 dogs from 10 different U.S. veterinary practices demonstrated that Interceptor was willingly accepted from the owner by over 95% of dogs. The trial was comprised of dogs representing 60 different breeds and both sexes, with weights ranging from 2.1 Ibs. to 143.3 Ibs., and ages ranging from 8 weeks to 15 years.

Precautions:

Do not use in puppies less than four weeks of age or less than two pounds of body weight. Prior to initiation of the Interceptor treatment program, dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections. Infected dogs should be treated to remove adult heartworms and microfilariae prior to initiating treatment with Interceptor. Mild, transient hypersensitivity reactions manifested as labored respiration, vomiting, salivation and lethargy, have been noted in some treated dogs carrying a high number of circulating microfilariae. These reactions are presumably caused by release of protein from dead or dying microfilariae.

Adverse Reactions:

The following adverse reactions have been reported following the use of Interceptor: Depression/lethargy, vomiting, ataxia, anorexia, diarrhea, convulsions, weakness and hypersalivation.

Efficacy:

Interceptor eliminates the tissue stage of heartworm larvae and the adult stage of hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum), roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) and whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) infestations when administered orally according to the recommended dosage schedule.The anthelmintic activity of milbemycin oxime is believed to be a result of interference with invertebrate neurotransmission.

Safety:

Milbemycin oxime has been tested safely in over 75 different breeds of dogs, including collies, pregnant females, breeding males and females, and puppies over two weeks of age. In well-controlled clinical field studies, 786 dogs completed treatment with milbemycin oxime. Milbemycin oxime was used safely in animals receiving frequently used veterinary products such as vaccines, anthelmintics, antibiotics, steroids, flea collars, shampoos and dips.

Two studies in heartworm-infected dogs were conducted which demonstrated mild, transient hypersensitivity reactions in treated dogs with high microfilaremia counts (see Precautions for reactions observed). Safety studies in pregnant dogs demonstrated that high doses (1.5 mg/kg =3X) of milbemycin oxime given in an exaggerated dosing regimen (daily from mating through weaning), resulted in measurable concentrations of the drug in milk. Puppies nursing these females which received exaggerated dosing regimens demonstrated milbemycin-related effects. These effects were directly attributable to the exaggerated experimental dosing regimen. The product is normally intended for once-a-month administration only. Subsequent studies included using 3X daily from mating to one week before weaning and demonstrated no effects on the pregnant females or their litters. A second study where pregnant females were dosed once at 3X the monthly use rate either before, on the day of or shortly after whelping resulted in no effects on the puppies.

Some nursing puppies, at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age, given greatly exaggerated oral milbemycin oxime doses (9.6 mg/kg = 19X) exhibited signs typified by tremors, vocalization and ataxia. These effects were all transient and puppies returned to normal within 24 to 48 hours. No effects were observed in puppies given the recommended dose of milbemycin oxime (0.5 mg/kg). This product has not been tested in dogs less than 1 kg weight.

A rising-dose safety study conducted in rough-coated collies, manifested a clinical reaction consisting of ataxia, pyrexia and periodic recumbency, in one of fourteen dogs treated with milbemycin oxime at 12.5 mg/kg (25X monthly use rate). Prior to receiving the 12.5 mg/kg dose (25X monthly use rate) on day 56 of the study, all animals had undergone an exaggerated dosing regimen consisting of 2.5 mg/kg milbemycin oxime (5X monthly use rate) on day 0, followed by 5.0 mg/kg (10X monthly use rate) on day 14 and 10.0 mg/kg (20X monthly use rate) on day 32. No adverse reactions were observed in any of the collies treated with this regimen up through the 10.0 mg/kg (20X monthly use rate) dose.

Storage:

Interceptor should be stored at room temperature, between 59° and 77°F (15-25°C).

Caution:

Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children.

Cats over 25 Ibs. are provided the appropriate combination of tablets.

Administration:

Interceptor for Cats is palatable and may be offered by the owner as a treat. As an alternative, the tablet may be offered in food or administered as other tablet medications. The tablets can be broken for ease of administration. Watch the cat closely following dosing to be sure the entire dose has been consumed. If it is not entirely consumed, redose once with the full recommended dose as soon as possible.

Interceptor for Cats must be administered monthly, preferably on the same date each month. The first dose should be administered within one month of the cat's first exposure to mosquitoes and monthly thereafter until the end of the mosquito season. If a dose is missed and a 30-day interval between dosing is exceeded, administer Interceptor for Cats immediately and resume the monthly dosing schedule. It is recommended that cats be tested for existing heartworm infection prior to starting treatment with Interceptor for Cats (see Precautions).

Palatability:

Palatability trials conducted in 72 cats demonstrated that cats were successfully dosed with Interceptor for Cats by the owner when they either offered the tablet as a treat, placed the tablet in the cat's mouth or placed the tablet in the cat's food in 72% of cats. About 16% of the cats were dosed manually and 13% of the cats were not successfully dosed according to the protocol.

Precautions:

Do not use in kittens less than six weeks of age or less than 1.5 Ibs. body weight. Safety in heartworm-positive cats has not been established. Safety in breeding, pregnant, and lactating queens and breeding toms has not been established.

Efficacy:

Interceptor for Cats eliminate the tissue stage of heartworm larvae and hookworm (Ancylostoma tubaeforme) and roundworm (Toxocara cati) infections when administered orally according to the recommended dosage schedule.The anthelmintic activity of milbemycin oxime is believed to be a result of interference with invertebrate neuro- transmission.

Safety:

Milbemycin oxime has been tested safely in over 8 different breeds of cats. In well-controlled clinical field studies 141 cats completed treatment with milbemycin oxime. Milbemycin oxime was used safely in animals receiving frequently used veterinary products such as vaccines, anthelmintics, anesthetics, antibiotics, steroids, flea collars, shampoos and dips.

Safety studies were conducted in young cats and kittens and doses of 1X, 3X and 5X the minimum recommended dose of 2.0 mg/kg demonstrated no drug-related effects. Tolerability studies at exaggerated doses of 1OX also demonstrated no drug-related adverse effects in kittens and young adult cats.