Brand: PRAC-TIC ®

Company: ELANCO (NOVARTIS)


FORMULATION: «spot-on» solution for topical administration on the back of the animals (also called pipettes, squeeze-ons, drop-ons, etc.)

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S)*: PYRIPROLE: 125 mg/mL (=12.5 %)

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): PHENYLPYRAZOLE


INDICATIONS: DOGS

PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity)

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


RECOMMENDED DOSE*:

  • Dogs, small 2 to 4.5 kg bw: 1 pipette with 0.45 mL (equivalent to 28.1 - 12.5 mg/kg pyriprole)
  • Dogs, medium 4.5 to 11 kg bw: 1 pipette with 1.1 mL (equivalent to 30.6 - 12.5 mg/kg >pyriprole)
  • Dogs, large 11 to 22 kg bw:  1 pipette with 2.2 mL (equivalent to 25.0 - 12.5 mg/kg pyriprole)
  • Dogs, very large 22 to 50 kg bw: 1 pipette with 5.0 mL (equivalent to 28.4 - 12.5 mg/kg pyriprole
  • Dogs > 50 kg appropriate combination of pipettes

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


SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: >2000 mg/kg (calculated from LD50 for the active ingredient >300 mg/kg)
  • LD50 (acute dermal) in rats: >5000 mg/kg (according to EMEA)
  • Estimated Toxicity Class according to the WHO: III Slightly hazardous (based on the LD50, learn more)

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

WARNING !!!: Never use on cats pipettes approved only for dogs. Never use on small dogs pipettes approved for large dogs. Learn more about spot-ons and their safety.

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 to moderate in:

So far there are no confirmed reports on flea resistance to pyriprole. But fleas have developed resistance to several other insecticides (e.g. carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids) and are certainly capable of becoming resistant to pyriprole as well. Experience shows that prolonged and uninterrupted use of any insecticide on fleas (including pyriprole) bears the risk of resistance development. Consider also that pyriprole is a phenylpyrazole, the same chemical class as fipronil, the a.i. of the FRONTLINE-range of spot-ons from MERIAL, from which there are numerous generic brands.

There are no reports on resistance of brown dog ticks to pyriprole.

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 and brown dog ticks to carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids is not uncommon in several countries.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.


MARKETING

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

  • Pyriprole: ORIGINAL (introduced in the mid 2000s)

*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): UK and EU, New Zealand
GENERIC BRANDS available? NO

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


COMMENTS

PRAC-TIC is the original once-a-month flea + tick spot-on for dogs with pyriprole, introduced by NOVARTIS (now ELANCO) in the mid 2000s.

Pyriprole is a phenylpyrazole similar to fipronil, with a comparable spectrum of efficacy against fleas and ticks. It has not been introduced in the USA. So far, PRAC-TIC is the only product at all manufactured with pyriprole, which is not used on livestock, nor in crop protection or in vector control.

Administered about every 4 weeks PRAC-TIC controls established flea infestations and prevents flea population development in the pets environment, but only if all the dogs and cats in the same household are treated against fleas. It also kills several tick species (e.g. Dermacentor spp, Ixodes spp, Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

Topical products (mainly spot-ons and insecticide-impregnated collars) have some advantages over systemic products (mainly tablets for oral administration and injectables):

  • Most topical products kill or sterilize the parasites before they bite and suck blood on the pet, whereas systemic products kill or sterilize the parasites only after their blood meal.
  • Topical products cannot be vomited.
  • Spot-ons and collars are very convenient to administer.
  • There is a larger choice of topical products.

But topical products have also some disadvantages:

  • Topical products contaminate the pet's hair coat and it is advisable for children and also adults to avoid contact with the pet for several days after treatment.
  • Topical products may not control parasites in some parts of the pet's body (e.g. the ears, below the tail, between the legs, etc.), whereas systemic products reach the blood-sucking parasites through the blood wherever they are.
  • Efficacy of topical products may be reduced or shortened through exposure to dirt, sun, shampooing, washing, rain, baths, etc., whereas efficacy of systemic products is independent from these factors.

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.