Praziquantel (Droncit) for Pets in 2025 🪱

Praziquantel, found in products like Droncit®, is the gold standard for treating tapeworms in dogs and cats. It's effective, fast-acting, and included in many combination products for broader parasite protection. I’m Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, and this 2025 guide breaks down how praziquantel works, how to use it safely, and when to re-dose your pet 🐶🐱

🔬 What Does Praziquantel Treat?

Praziquantel targets cestodes—tapeworms that infect pets through fleas or ingestion of prey or raw meat. These include:

• 🪱 Dipylidium caninum – from ingesting fleas
• 🍖 Taenia spp. – from raw meat or prey
• ⚠️ Echinococcus spp. – zoonotic and more dangerous
• 🧬 Also effective against flukes (trematodes)

📋 How It Works

Praziquantel damages the parasite’s skin and internal structure, causing it to disintegrate. Dead tapeworms are not usually visible in stool post-treatment.

💊 Product Forms & Combinations

• 💊 Oral tablets (23 mg for cats, 34 mg for dogs)
• 💉 Injectable version for vet use
• 🧴 Topical combo (e.g., Profender®, Nexgard Combo®)
• 💊 Combo dewormers: Drontal®, Drontal Plus®, Interceptor Plus®, Milbemax®, Sentinel Spectrum®, Credelio Quattro®, Iverhart Max®, Virbantel®

🗓️ Dosing Schedule

• 📆 Typically a single dose is sufficient for Dipylidium
• 🔁 Re-dose if flea exposure or prey hunting continues
• 🐾 Monthly combo products may prevent reinfection

🛡️ Re-Infection Risks

Fleas carry immature Dipylidium tapeworms. If your pet swallows an infected flea, they can get re-infected. Control fleas to prevent reinfection!

🧪 Side Effects

• 🤢 Bitter taste may cause nausea (~5% of pets)
• 🐱 Injectable form may cause mild mouth irritation, salivation, or weakness in cats
• 🩺 Rare: mild GI upset or injection site discomfort

⚠️ Drug Interactions

• ⬆️ Levels increased by: cimetidine, ketoconazole, itraconazole

🚫 Not for Use In

• ❌ Puppies < 4 weeks old
• ❌ Kittens < 6 weeks old
• ❌ Topical Profender: not for kittens < 8 weeks or < 2.2 lbs

✅ Safe For

• 🤰 Pregnant animals
• 🍽️ Use with or without food
• 🧊 Room-temperature storage

📲 Ask a Vet If...

• 📆 You’re unsure about retreatment timing
• 🪰 Flea problems keep causing reinfection
• 🧬 You’re concerned about zoonotic (human) tapeworm risk

Use the Ask A Vet app to speak directly with a licensed veterinarian about praziquantel-based treatments and complete parasite prevention plans 🐾💬

✅ Summary

• ✔️ Praziquantel is the most effective tapeworm treatment for dogs and cats
• ✔️ Works in one dose and is safe in pregnancy
• ✔️ Included in many monthly parasite protection products
• ⚠️ Watch for GI upset, especially with injectable or bitter tablets
• 🛡️ Flea control is essential to prevent reinfection

With praziquantel and flea control, tapeworms are no longer a threat to your pet’s health or your household 💛

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc