Brand: PALATABLE FLEA CONTROL TABLETS for DOGS & CATS

Company: EXELPET


FORMULATION: «tablets» for oral administration; may be chewable, flavored, coated, etc.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S)*: PYRIPROXYFEN: 100 mg

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): JUVENILE HORMONE ANALOGUE


INDICATIONS: CATS


PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity): Fleas

* Can be slightly different in some countries: read the product label!


RECOMMENDED DOSE*:

  • Puppies & kittens ≤2.5 kg: ¼ tablet weekly (≥10 mg/kg pyriproxyfen)
  • Small dogs & cats ≤5 kg: ½ tablet weekly (≥10 mg/kg pyriproxyfen)
  • Dogs & Cats, every 10 kg: 1 tablet weekly (≥10 mg/kg pyriproxyfen)

* Can be slightly different in some countries: read the product label!


SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: n.a. for the spot-on. >5000 mg/kg for pyriproxyfen
  • Estimated Toxicity Class according to the WHOU unlikely to present acute hazard (based on the LD50, learn more)

Suspected poisoning? Read the article on pyriproxyfen safety in this site.

You may be interested in the following articles in this site dealing with the general safety of veterinary products:


RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance? YES, low in fleas, mainly the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis.

So far there are no reports on flea resistance to pyriproxyfen. However, fleas have developed resistance to several other insecticides (e.g. carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids) and are certainly capable of becoming resistant to pyriproxyfen as well. Experience shows that prolonged and uninterrupted use of any insecticide against fleas bears the risk of resistance development.

Alternatives to prevent resistance through product rotation:

*F = effective against fleas; T = effective against ticks.

These alternative products may not be available in all countries, or may not be available as spot-ons.

Resistance of fleas to carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids is not uncommon in several countries, including the USA.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.


MARKETING

Are the active ingredients of this product ORIGINAL* or GENERICS**?

  • Pyriproxyfen: GENERIC (introduced in the 1980s by SUMITOMO)

*Meaning that they are still patent protected and generics are not yet available
**Meaning that they have lost patent protection and may be acquired from manufacturers of generic active ingredients other than the holder of the original patent.

COUNTRIES where this product is marketed (maybe under another TM): AUSTRALIA
GENERIC BRANDS available? Very few

Click here to learn more about GENERIC vs. ORIGINAL drugs.


COMMENTS

PALATABLE FLEA CONTROL TABLETS for DOGS & CATS from EXELPET is a generic flea tablet for dogs and cats. 

Administered weekly it prevents development of fleas, which stops the build up of a flea population in the pet's environment, but only if all the dogs and cats in the same household are treated against fleas.

Pyriproxyfen (Nylar) is a veteran insect development inhibitor introduced in the 1980s (by SUMITOMO) is scarcely used in pets and not at all in livestock or horses. Its only effect is to stop development of flea eggs and larvae. It has no direct protective effect whatsoever against adult fleas. It should be used preventively, i.e. before the beginning of the flea season. When used in already infected animals it will take 4-5 weeks to clear the environment from fleas, thus it is recommended to combine it with a flea adulticide, at least at the beginning of treatment. Most other pet antiparasitics that contain pyriproxyfen are for topical administration (spot-ons, sprays, etc.): oral administration is rather unusual.

Systemic products (tablets for oral administration, injectables) have several general advantages over topical products (spot-on, insecticide-impregnated collars, shampoos, soaps, sprays, powders, etc):

  • They do not contaminate the pet's hair coat: avoiding contact with the pets after administration is not necessary for children or adults.
  • The active ingredient reaches the parasites through the blood, everywhere in the pet's body, whereas topical products may leave some body parts (e.g. the ears, between the legs, etc.) insufficiently protected.
  • Efficacy is independent from exposure to dirt, sun, shampooing, washings, rain, baths, etc., whereas topical products can be washed away, or broken down by sunlight, etc.

But they have also a few disadvantages:

  • The parasite has to bite and suck blood first before it is killed or sterilized.
  • Orally administered products (tablets, suspensions, pastes, etc.) may be vomited and treatment needs to be repeated.
  • Administration of tablets may be less convenient than administration of spot-ons.
  • The choice of products for oral or injectable administration is smaller than for topical administration.

For an overview and a list of the most popular pet antiparasitics for flea, tick, lice and/or mite control click here.


DISCLAIMER

This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics. 

Information offered in this article has been extracted from publications issued by manufacturers, government agencies (e.g. EMEA, FDA, USDA, etc.) or in the scientific literature. No guarantee is given on its accuracy, integrity, sufficiency, actuality and opportunity, and any liability is denied. Read the site's DISCLAIMER.

In case of doubt contact the manufacturer or a veterinary professional.