Centragard, a monthly topical heartworm preventive for cats, can be ordered beginning in August, manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim reported.
The new product, announced July 16 during the American Veterinary Medical Association convention in Denver, is formulated to treat and control hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.
Zach Mills, DVM, head of U.S. Pet Veterinary Professional Services at Merial, now part of Boehringer Ingelheim, pointed out that both outdoor and indoor cats should receive heartworm preventives like Centragard.
“Some cat owners may assume that their indoor cat will not be exposed to heartworm disease or harmful intestinal parasites,” Dr. Mills said. “In reality, even indoor cats are at risk of exposure to these parasites. According to the American Heartworm Society, 1 in 4 cats diagnosed with heartworm disease are indoor-only pets.”
Centragard (eprinomectin and praziquantel transdermal solution) is approved for use in cats as young as 7 weeks old and weighing at least 1.8 pounds.