Sentinel Spectrum for Dogs

Sentinel Spectrum is a brand of chewable tablets used for the prevention and control of various parasites in dogs. It provides broad-spectrum protection against fleas, heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.

Key Benefits:

• Parasite Protection: Sentinel Spectrum is effective in preventing and controlling fleas, heartworms, and multiple types of intestinal worms commonly found in dogs.
• Active Ingredients: The active ingredients in Sentinel Spectrum are Milbemycin Oxime, Lufenuron, and Praziquantel. Milbemycin Oxime works against heartworm larvae, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Lufenuron prevents the development of flea eggs, thereby breaking the flea life cycle. Praziquantel is effective against tapeworms.
• Administration: Sentinel Spectrum comes in the form of chewable tablets that are given orally to dogs. It is important to follow the recommended dosage based on your dog's weight. The tablets have a beef flavor, which makes them palatable to most dogs.
• Monthly Treatment: It is generally recommended to administer Sentinel Spectrum once a month for year-round protection against parasites. Consistent monthly use helps ensure continuous prevention and control.
• Prescription Required: Sentinel Spectrum is a prescription medication, which means you will need to consult with a veterinarian to obtain it. Your vet will assess your dog's health, consider any existing conditions or medications, and prescribe the appropriate dosage.
• Safety and Side Effects: Sentinel Spectrum is generally considered safe for most dogs when used as directed. However, as with any medication, there can be potential side effects. Common side effects may include gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. In rare cases, dogs may exhibit hypersensitivity reactions. It's important to discuss any concerns or potential interactions with your veterinarian.

Remember, while Sentinel Spectrum provides protection against several parasites, it does not protect against ticks. If you are in an area where ticks are prevalent, you may need to use an additional tick prevention product recommended by your veterinarian.

It's always advisable to consult your veterinarian for personalized advice regarding your dog's specific needs and to determine the most suitable parasite prevention regimen.

Indications:

Sentinel Spectrum is indicated for the prevention and control of the following parasites in dogs:

1. Fleas: Sentinel Spectrum prevents flea infestations by inhibiting the development of flea eggs, thus breaking the flea life cycle.
2. Heartworms: It is effective in preventing heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis. It kills the immature stages of heartworms (larvae) before they can develop into adult worms.
3. Intestinal Worms:
• Roundworms: Sentinel Spectrum treats and controls Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, which are common roundworms found in dogs.
• Hookworms: It helps control and prevent Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala, which are hookworms that can cause intestinal damage and blood loss in dogs.
• Whipworms: Sentinel Spectrum treats and controls Trichuris vulpis, which is a whipworm that can cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs.
4. Tapeworms: It is effective against certain species of tapeworms, including Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis, Taenia multiceps, Taenia ovis, and Echinococcus granulosus.

The use of Sentinel Spectrum provides comprehensive protection against these parasites, ensuring the overall health and well-being of your dog. It is important to administer the product according to the recommended dosage and frequency as prescribed by your veterinarian.

How it works:

Sentinel Spectrum works through the combined action of its active ingredients: Milbemycin Oxime, Lufenuron, and Praziquantel. Each ingredient targets different parasites and works in specific ways to prevent and control infestations.

1. Milbemycin Oxime: This ingredient is an antiparasitic agent that belongs to the macrocyclic lactone family. It works by interfering with the nervous system of parasites, including heartworm larvae, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Milbemycin Oxime prevents the parasites from functioning properly, ultimately leading to their elimination.
2. Lufenuron: Lufenuron is an insect development inhibitor (IDI). It does not kill adult fleas but instead targets flea eggs. When administered to a dog, Lufenuron enters the bloodstream and is then deposited in the tissues. When fleas bite the dog, they ingest Lufenuron, which inhibits the development of flea eggs. This helps break the flea life cycle by preventing the production of new fleas.
3. Praziquantel: Praziquantel is an anthelmintic that specifically targets tapeworms. It disrupts the tapeworm's integument (outer covering), causing damage and subsequent disintegration. The fragmented tapeworm is then eliminated from the dog's body through normal digestion.

By combining these active ingredients into a single product, Sentinel Spectrum provides comprehensive protection against fleas, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and certain species of tapeworms. Regular administration of the chewable tablets ensures continuous protection and helps prevent reinfestation. However, it's important to note that Sentinel Spectrum does not provide protection against ticks, so additional measures may be necessary if tick prevention is required in your area.

Specifications:

• Brand: Sentinel Spectrum
• Active Ingredients: Milbemycin Oxime, Lufenuron, Praziquantel
• Type: Oral chewable tablet
• Indicated for: Prevention of heartworm disease, flea infestations, and treatment and control of intestinal parasites in dogs
• Dosage Form: Chewable tablet
• Administration: Administer orally, once a month with a full meal
• Packaging: Available in packs of 6 tablets
• Storage: Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat
• Manufacturer: Virbac
• Prescription Required: Yes, prescription-only medication. Must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

View Sentinel Spectrum Drug Facts Sheet.

Sentinel Spectrum should be administered orally, once every month, at the minimum dosage of 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) milbemycin oxime, 4.55 mg/lb (10 mg/kg) lufenuron, and 2.28 mg/lb (5 mg/kg) praziquantel. For heartworm prevention, give once monthly for at least 6 months after exposure to mosquitoes (see Effectiveness).

To ensure adequate absorption, always administer Sentinel Spectrum to dogs immediately after or in conjunction with a normal meal.

Sentinel Spectrum may be offered to the dog by hand or added to a small amount of dog food. The chewables should be administered in a manner that encourages the dog to chew, rather than to swallow without chewing. Chewables may be broken into pieces and fed to dogs that normally swallow treats whole. Care should be taken that the dog consumes the complete dose, and treated animals should be observed a few minutes after administration to ensure that no part of the dose is lost or rejected. If it is suspected that any of the dose has been lost, redosing is recommended.

Heartworm Prevention:

Sentinel Spectrum should be administered at monthly intervals beginning within 1 month of the dog’s first seasonal exposure to mosquitoes and continuing until at least 6 months after the dog’s last seasonal exposure (see Effectiveness). Sentinel Spectrum may be administered year-round without interruption. When switching from another heartworm preventative product to Sentinel Spectrum, the first dose of Sentinel Spectrum should be given within a month of the last dose of the former product.

Flea Treatment and Prevention:

Treatment with Sentinel Spectrum may begin at any time of the year, preferably starting one month before fleas become active and continuing monthly through the end of flea season. In areas where fleas are common year-round, monthly treatment with Sentinel Spectrum should continue the entire year without interruption.

To minimize the likelihood of flea reinfestation, it is important to treat all animals within a household with an approved flea protection product, as necessary.

Intestinal Nematode and Cestode Treatment and Control:

Dogs may be exposed to and can become infected with roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tapeworms throughout the year, regardless of season or climate. Clients should be advised of appropriate measures to prevent reinfection of their dog with intestinal parasites. Because the prepatent period for E. multilocularis may be as short as 26 days, dogs treated at the labeled monthly intervals may become reinfected and shed eggs between treatments.

Contraindications

There are no known contraindications to the use of Sentinel Spectrum.

Warnings

Not for use in humans. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children.

Precautions

Treatment with fewer than 6 monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention (see Effectiveness).

Prior to administration of Sentinel Spectrum, dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections. At the discretion of the veterinarian, infected dogs should be treated to remove adult heartworms. Sentinel Spectrum is not effective against adult D. immitis.

Mild, transient hypersensitivity reactions, such as labored breathing, vomiting, hypersalivation, and lethargy, have been noted in some dogs treated with milbemycin oxime carrying a high number of circulating microfilariae. These reactions are presumably caused by release of protein from dead or dying microfilariae.

Do not use in puppies less than six weeks of age.

Do not use in dogs or puppies less than two pounds of body weight.

The safety of Sentinel Spectrum has not been evaluated in dogs used for breeding or in lactating females. Studies have been performed with milbemycin oxime and lufenuron alone (see Animal Safety).

Adverse Reactions

The following adverse reactions have been reported in dogs after administration of milbemycin oxime, lufenuron, or praziquantel: vomiting, depression/lethargy, pruritus, urticaria, diarrhea, anorexia, skin congestion, ataxia, convulsions, salivation, and weakness.

To report suspected adverse drug events, contact Virbac at 1-800-338-3659 or the FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS.

For technical assistance call Virbac at 1-800-338-3659.

Information for Owner or Person Treating Animal:

Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus are tapeworms found in wild canids and domestic dogs. E. multilocularis and E. granulosus can infect humans and cause serious disease (alveolar hydatid disease and hydatid disease, respectively). Owners of dogs living in areas where E. multilocularis or E. granulosus are endemic should be instructed on how to minimize their risk of exposure to these parasites, as well as their dog’s risk of exposure. Although Sentinel Spectrum was 100% effective in laboratory studies in dogs against E. multilocularis and E. granulosus, no studies have been conducted to show that the use of this product will decrease the incidence of alveolar hydatid disease or hydatid disease in humans. Because the prepatent period for E. multilocularis may be as short as 26 days, dogs treated at the labeled monthly intervals may become reinfected and shed eggs between treatments.

Effectiveness

Heartworm Prevention:

In a well-controlled laboratory study, Sentinel Spectrum was 100% effective against induced heartworm infections when administered once monthly for 6 consecutive months. In well-controlled laboratory studies, neither one dose nor two consecutive doses of Sentinel Spectrum provided 100% Effectiveness against induced heartworm infections.

Intestinal Nematodes and Cestodes Treatment and Control:

Elimination of the adult stage of hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum), roundworm (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) and tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia pisiformis) infections in dogs was demonstrated in well-controlled laboratory studies.

Flea Prevention and Control

In well-controlled studies, Sentinel Spectrum was effective in preventing flea eggs from hatching, thus providing control of the development of flea populations (Ctenocephalides felis).

Palatability

In a field study of 117 dogs offered Sentinel Spectrum, 113 dogs (96.6%) accepted the product when offered from the hand as if a treat, 2 dogs (1.7%) accepted it from the bowl with food, 1 dog (0.9%) accepted it when it was placed in the dog’s mouth, and 1 dog (0.9%) refused it.