Droncit is the brand name for the prescription deworming medication praziquantel. Droncit is for both dogs and cats, but it is important that only dogs get Droncit made for dogs and cats Droncit made only for cats. Other brand name medications that use praziquantel include Drontal, Drontal Plus and Biltricide. Droncit is made by Bayer HealthCare, LLC.
How do you know if your dog has tapeworms? You may see some tiny segments that look like rice grains underneath the dog’s tail or in the stool. These egg-filled segments are only a part of a vast six inch worm anchored in the dog’s intestines. However, these segments are capable of moving all by themselves. Eventually, the dog can become very sick if heavily infested by these parasites.
Function
Droncit is for getting rid of seven different species of tapeworms and long fluke worms. According to The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat (Bantam Books; 1998), Droncit is effective against adult and larvae of these worms, but will not kill off the eggs. Because of that, the dog should be given another dose in 21 days to kill off worms that may have hatched from any eggs in the dog’s digestive system.
Types
Droncit comes in a tablet form and an injectable form. An injectable form may be preferred in dogs that are having trouble keeping food down or that have trouble swallowing pills or who keep spitting them out. Injections can be given intramuscularly or subcutaneously, but Bayer recommends that intramuscular injections work best. An injectable dose is one millilitre per 10 kilograms that the dog weighs.
Dosage
Doses are determined by the weight of the dog or cat. Bayer’s recommended dose for the pill type is 5 milligrams of Droncit per kilogram that the pet weighs. This means that a 50 milligram tablet can be given to a dog that weighs 10 kilograms. Droncit should be given with food. Bayer even recommends hiding the pills in meat or sausage so the dog will swallow them.
The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat claims that side effects happen more with dogs and cats given injections rather than from pills. It also mentions that only 10% of dogs and cats that get Droncit get any bad side effects. These include staggering, drooling a lot more than usual, pain in the injection site, vomiting and diarrhea. Call the vet immediately if this happens.
Warning
Droncit should not be given to dogs that have liver or kidney disease, to puppies younger than 4 months old or to dogs that are in general very sick. In the latter case, the dog’s health needs to improve before the body will able to handle Droncit.
References:
“The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat.” Kate A.W. Roby, VMD, et al. Bantam Books; 1998.
Bayer DVM. “Droncit.” http://www.bayerdvm.com/products/droncit/droncit.cfm
Pet Place. “Praziquantel (Droncit, Drontal).” Dr. Dawn Ruben. http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/praziquantel-droncit-drontal/page1.aspx
Pet Education. “The Veterinary Use of Praziquantel: Patient Information Sheet.” http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Rx_Info_Sheets/rx_praziquantel.pdf
