Veterinary 2025 Guide: Profender® Topical Solution for Feline Worm Control 🐱🩺

Hello, I’m Dr Duncan Houston BVSc. This 2025 guide explores Profender® Topical Solution—a convenient, prescription-only spot-on dewormer for cats, combining emodepside and praziquantel to treat hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms in a single dose. We’ll cover how it works, dosing, safety, contraindications, monitoring, and essential client education—with support from Ask A Vet 😊.

🔍 1. What Is Profender®?

Profender® is an FDA-approved topical parasiticide containing emodepside (nematocide) and praziquantel (cestocide), delivering systemic deworming through skin absorption :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

🎯 2. Indications & Spectrum

• Treats hookworms (Ancyclostoma tubaeforme), roundworms (Toxocara cati), and tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp.) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Approved for kittens/cats ≥ 8 weeks old and ≥ 2.2 lb (1 kg) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Single-dose effective; re-treatment after 30 days if re-infection is suspected :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

💧 3. Dosing & Application

• Available in three tube sizes for kitty weight ranges: Small (2.2–5.5 lb), Medium (5.5–11 lb), Large (11–17.6 lb); combinations for heavier cats :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Apply entire tube to clean, dry skin at the base of the neck; avoid wet hair or irritated skin :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Keep cats away from licking treatment site for at least 1 hour; children should avoid contact for 24 hrs :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

⏱️ 4. Onset & Efficacy

Worm elimination begins within 24–48 hours; dead parasites are passed in stool or digested :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

⚠️ 5. Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

• Common: mild salivation or hypersalivation if site is licked, transient hair changes, erythema, alopecia :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Rare: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anxiety, ataxia—usually mild and self-limiting :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Neurologic signs (e.g., tremors) are very rare and may occur if the cat ingests the product :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.

🚫 6. Contraindications & Precautions

• Do not use on kittens under 8 weeks or < 2.2 lb (1 kg) :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Avoid use in cats with known hypersensitivity to emodepside, praziquantel, or formulation components :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Avoid bathing or washing within 24 hrs post‑application to maintain efficacy :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.
• Use cautiously in debilitated or critically ill cats; assess benefit-risk :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.

🔁 7. Retreatments & Frequency

• Single dose typically sufficient; repeat after 30 days if re-exposure risk is high (e.g., hunting, fleas) :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Regular fecal exams guide frequency in multi-cat households or environments with persistent exposure.

📝 8. Client Education & Home Care

• Explain how to part the fur and apply to skin—stress no need to massage.
• Demonstrate proper dosing tube selection by weight.
• Warn about possible mild site reactions or behavior changes; urge reporting of more serious signs.
• Recommend separating cats for an hour post-application and avoiding human contact with site for 24 hrs.
• Emphasize flea control to reduce re-infection from tapeworms :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.
• Use Ask A Vet app for treatment reminders, symptom tracking, recheck prompts, and instant veterinary advice 😊.

📌 9. 2025 Vet Takeaways

• Profender® spot-on offers broad-spectrum, single-dose deworming for cats without the stress of pills.
• Use correctly packaged tubes by weight; ensure application to dry skin and prevent licking/contact post-treatment.
• Watch for transient local reactions; rare systemic signs require evaluation.
• Repeat treatment only if necessary; integrate flea control and regular fecal checks.
• Owner guidance and digital support via Ask A Vet improve compliance and long-term parasite control 😊.

At Ask A Vet, we offer reminders, recheck alerts, treatment logs, and 24/7 veterinary messaging to support safe and effective parasite control. Encourage clients to download our app for connected, confident home care ❤️