NOAH Compendium of Animal Medicines: Droncit Solution for Injection 5.68%

Droncit Solution for Injection 5.68%

Dosage and administration

The recommended dose rate is 0.1 ml/kg bodyweight, (1 ml per 10 kg bodyweight). The minimum effective dose of praziquantel varies from 3.5 to 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight. Smaller animals require relatively larger doses because of their higher metabolic rate.

Dogs and puppies:
Under 2.5 kg	0.25 ml
2.5–5 kg	0.50 ml
6–10 kg	1.00 ml
11–20 kg	2.00 ml*
21-30 kg	3.00 ml**
*Use 0.2 ml/2.5 kg bodyweight over 12 kg
**Maximum s.c. dose at one site is 3.0 ml

Cats and kittens:
Under 1 kg	0.10 ml
1–2 kg	0.20 ml
2–3 kg	0.30 ml
3–4 kg	0.40 ml
4–5 kg	0.50 ml
Over 5 kg	0.60 ml

An appropriately graduated syringe must be used to allow administration of the required dose volume. This is particularly important when administering small dose volumes.

Droncit Solution for Injection may be administered by either the subcutaneous or the intramuscular route for both cats and dogs. The intramuscular route may be preferred in dogs weighing over 23 kg. A brief period of pain occasionally follows subcutaneous administration. If a dose over 3 ml must be given subcutaneously it should always be divided and applied to two different sites. The intramuscular route is preferred whenever Echinococcus is suspected. Injection should be made with care to avoid intradermal administration and perineural injection. Recommended sites are behind the elbow, over the ribs (s/c) and into the quadriceps femoris (i/m).

For those animals maintained on premises where re-infections are likely to occur, steps should be taken to prevent re-infection. If the measures adopted are not adequate a second course of treatment may be necessary. This is particularly true of dogs in rural environments and owners should be advised not to feed raw meat, offal or heads.

In cases of Dipylidium caninum infection, re-infection is almost certain to occur if fleas are not removed from the patient's environment. Flea control of the animal and its housing should be carried out at the same time as it is treated for cestodes.

N.B. The prepatent period of Dipylidium caninum is 14–20 days; for Echinococcus granulosus 63–70 days.

Use During Pregnancy and Lactation

Use of praziquantel has been shown to be safe during pregnancy for the dam, the unborn foetus and the new-born young. There is no information, however, on the use of this formulation during pregnancy and lactation. Should treatment at this time be required, it is recommended that administration by the oral route with Droncit Tablets be considered.