How Quickly Does Profender Start Working for Cats?
As a pet owner, ensuring your cat is protected from intestinal parasites is crucial for their health and wellbeing. Profender, a topical dewormer specifically designed for cats and kittens, offers a convenient and effective solution for treating and controlling hookworm, roundworm, and tapeworm infections. But how fast does Profender actually start to work once applied? Let’s explore the answer and learn more about this trusted veterinary medication.
Understanding Profender: Composition and Usage
Profender combines two potent active ingredients:
- Emodepside (1.98%)
- Praziquantel (7.94%)
This combination targets and eliminates intestinal parasites effectively. Profender is supplied in single-use topical tubes, customized according to the weight of the cat:
- Small: 2.2–5.5 lbs
- Medium: 5.5–11 lbs
- Large: 11–17.6 lbs
Cats over 17.6 lbs require a combination of tube sizes to meet the correct dosage. The minimum dose is 1.36 mg/lb emodepside and 5.45 mg/lb praziquantel.
How Profender Works and Its Speed of Action
Profender begins working within hours of application. It is absorbed through the skin and quickly circulates in the bloodstream to target and eliminate intestinal parasites. The product treats:
- Hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme – all life stages)
- Roundworms (Toxocara cati – adults and larvae)
- Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taenia taeniaeformis – adults)
A single dose is typically sufficient. However, in cases where re-infection occurs, treatment can be safely repeated after 30 days under veterinary advice.
Benefits of Topical Treatment
Topical medications like Profender offer numerous benefits compared to oral treatments:
- Less stressful for both pet and owner
- No need to pill the cat
- Targets adult and immature stages of multiple parasites
How to Correctly Apply Profender
To ensure maximum efficacy, proper application techniques must be followed:
- Choose the correct dose based on your cat’s weight.
- Hold the tube upright, break the seal, and remove the cap as instructed.
- Part the fur at the base of the cat's skull to expose skin.
- Place the tube tip directly on the skin and squeeze the full contents.
- Lift tube before releasing pressure to avoid dripping.
Do not apply to damaged skin or wet fur. Make sure cats do not lick the site or groom one another until dry—typically at least one hour after application.
Important Safety Information
Profender is approved for cats and kittens 8 weeks or older and weighing ≥2.2 lbs. It should not be used on other animals or very young kittens. Additional precautions include:
- Keep out of children's reach
- Pregnant women should avoid direct contact
- Wash hands immediately after use
Human exposure, especially in the eyes or mouth, can cause irritation or systemic symptoms. Accidental ingestion by pets may lead to vomiting or excessive salivation.
Clinical Safety and Side Effects
Profender has been shown to be safe and effective in controlled studies with hundreds of cats. Reported side effects are generally mild and self-limiting and include:
- Itching or scratching at the site
- Lethargy
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Temporary hair loss at application area
Always consult your veterinarian if reactions persist or worsen.
Storage and Handling
Store Profender at or below 77°F (25°C). Keep it in its original packaging until ready for use. Avoid freezing or exposing to high temperatures, and protect from direct sunlight.
Final Thoughts: Quick and Reliable Deworming
Profender’s rapid onset of action—within hours—makes it an excellent choice for controlling intestinal parasites in domestic cats. Its convenient formulation and broad-spectrum efficacy offer peace of mind for conscientious pet owners. Maintaining a regular deworming schedule and veterinary check-ups will help keep your feline friend healthy and protect your household from zoonotic transmission.
