Interceptor® Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Interceptor?
- The active ingredient in Interceptor is Milbemycin Oxime.
- How should Interceptor be given?
- Interceptor is given on the same calendar day each month, with or without a meal. It can be crushed up or mixed with the dogs food as long as you are sure the dog eats the entire meal at one sitting to get the entire tablet.
- How does Interceptor work?
- Milbemycin interferes with the nerve signal transmission of the L3 and L4 stages of the heartworm life cycle, killing them before they develop into adult heartworms. These are the stages present for 50-70 days after the dog has been bitten by an infective mosquito. Milbemycin also treats and controls adult intestinal parasites such as hookworm, whipworm and two types of roundworm.
- How fast does it work?
- Interceptor is 100% absorbed 3 hours after the first dose, killing infective larvae. It is cleared from the pets system in about 2 days. Worms may be seen in the dogs stool as early as the following day, and this is normal.
- When should my pet start taking Interceptor?
- Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the correct date to begin Interceptor, as climates and start dates differ across Canada. As a general policy, Novartis recommends Interceptor be started one month after the onset of mosquito season.
- How safe is Interceptor for my pet?
- Interceptor has been tested and found to have no adverse reactions in over 75 dog breeds, pregnant females, breeding males and females, and puppies as young as 2 weeks of age.
- What about my pregnant pet?
- Milbemycin was administered daily to reproducing dogs, prior to mating and during gestation, without detectable adverse effects.
- What if I accidentally give my pet more than the prescribed dose?
- Several safety studies at doses up to 10x the label rate demonstrated that Milbemycin oxime can be used safely in dogs. If you accidently give your dog more than the prescribed dose, contact your veterinarian for advice.
- The vet saw worm eggs in my dogs stool, does this mean Interceptor is not working?
- Interceptor is working just as it should. When given at the correct dose, Interceptor is Guaranteed to prevent your dog from showing clinical signs of roundworm, hookworm and whipworm disease. Only the adults are removed during a standard monthly treatment and there are always several immature stages of the worm life cycle throughout the pet. The adults are removed, then the immature stages develop into adults and may begin laying eggs before the next dose. But next month the adults will be removed again without the pet becoming clinical for these diseases.
- I think my pet may have had a reaction to the Interceptor, what should I do?
- Suspected reactions are typically a coincidence and do not repeat themselves on re-dosing of the medication. But if you are at all concerned about a reaction with a Novartis product please see your veterinarian, or contact us directly. Some dogs experience are vomiting or diarrhea, but these clinical signs are usually transient and passing. Ensuring the dose is given after the full meal is one way to relieve this. Sometimes direct dosing of a dog with the tablet can stimulate the gag reflex and cause vomiting which is unrelated to the drug itself. If this occurs repeatedly you will need to alter your dosing method, such as mixing the dose with a meal or crushing the tablet to powder.
INTERNAL PARASITES
Learn more about the internal parasites that can infect your pet.