Profender for Cats

Profender (emodepside/praziquantel) is a prescription, skin-applied dewormer for cats. It’s a topical “spot-on,” not a pill. Drug class: topical intestinal dewormer (combines a cyclooctadepsipeptide with an isoquinoline). Rx-only. Most often prescribed to treat common intestinal worms in cats: tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms. Your veterinarian can discuss whether this is right for a specific cat and if or when re-treatment or stool checks are needed.

Profender is a prescription, spot‑on dewormer for cats that targets the main intestinal worms (tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms). It’s applied to the skin on the back of the neck. Keep other pets from grooming the area until it’s dry, and keep children from touching the spot for 24 hours. Common owner FAQs (short Q&A): - Q: What does it treat and how fast does it work? A: It treats tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms. It starts working after you apply it; your veterinarian can advise when to recheck or if any follow‑up is needed. - Q: How do I apply it and what if my cat licks it? A: Part the hair at the base of the head and apply to the skin only. Don’t apply to wet or broken skin, and prevent any pet from licking the spot for at least one hour. If your cat licks it and drools once, that can happen; if drooling is heavy, vomiting repeats, your cat seems very sleepy, wobbly, or tremors occur, contact us same day. If there is facial swelling, trouble breathing, or collapse, seek emergency care now. - Q: Can I bathe my cat or touch the area? A: Keep the site dry after application; the manufacturer has not evaluated use right before bathing. Avoid touching the wet area; wash hands after handling. Children and people who are pregnant should avoid contact with the site for 24 hours; gloves are recommended if there’s a chance of contact. - Q: Is it safe for kittens or for pregnant/nursing cats? A: It’s labeled for cats 8 weeks of age and older and at least 2.2 lb (1 kg). Safety has not been established in breeding, pregnant, or nursing cats—your veterinarian can discuss what’s appropriate for your pet. - Q: How often is it needed? A: It’s designed as a single application dewormer; whether and when to repeat depends on your cat’s risk of re‑exposure. Your veterinarian will advise on timing.

What owners most often describe within the first day after Profender: drooling or foaming (especially if the cat licked the wet application spot), a single episode of vomiting, extra licking/grooming, scratching at the site, brief tiredness or agitation, a small patch of hair loss or mild redness at the spot, and temporary greasy or powdery residue where it was applied. In field studies these effects were uncommon and typically short‑lived and self‑limiting. Same‑day call back is needed if there is repeated vomiting or diarrhea, refusal to eat or marked low energy lasting into the next day, a large/painful or worsening skin reaction at the application site, if another pet licked the site, or if you notice wobbliness, tremors, or twitching. Escalate immediately to emergency care for trouble breathing, facial swelling, collapse, or any seizure activity. Your veterinarian can discuss whether an exam or additional steps are needed based on what you’re seeing. Do not advise owners to re‑apply, wash off, or give other products; your veterinarian can guide next steps and timing if exposure (like licking) is suspected.

Form: single-use topical spot-on only—no pills. Apply to the skin at the back of the neck/base of the head. Part the hair until you see skin and squeeze the entire tube contents directly on the skin. Do not apply to wet or broken skin. Keep cats from licking the area for at least 1 hour; separate pets until dry. Keep children from touching the application site for 24 hours; wash hands after handling. Troubleshooting: If a cat licks the product before it dries, you may see drooling or vomiting; these are usually short-lived taste reactions. Mild site effects (temporary damp/greasy hair, itching, or hair loss) can occur. Call the clinic the same day if vomiting is repeated/persistent, if the cat seems very lethargic or wobbly/ataxic, or if product gets in the eyes or is swallowed. Treat seizures, collapse, or trouble breathing as an emergency and seek immediate care. Food/bathing/compounding: Because this is topical, food does not affect administration. The manufacturer notes effectiveness has not been evaluated when used before bathing; ask the veterinarian about timing baths around application. Use only the tube size dispensed for that cat; do not share or save leftovers. Compounding or altering the product is not typical for this medication—your veterinarian can discuss alternatives if topical application isn’t feasible.

Profender (emodepside/praziquantel) is a prescription-only topical dewormer for cats. Refills must be authorized by a veterinarian under a valid VCPR. This product is generally used as an episodic, single-application treatment; routine monthly refills are not typical unless the veterinarian has set a specific plan. The label notes that if reinfection occurs, another application may be done after 30 days—timing and need are veterinarian-directed. When taking a refill request, collect: cat’s name and DOB, current weight, last physical exam date, last Profender application date and tube size used, any prior side effects, any current illness, and whether the cat is pregnant, lactating, or used for breeding (safety not established in those groups). Standard turnaround is 1–2 business days for doctor review. For online pharmacies, confirm the client’s chosen pharmacy and route the request only after DVM approval; advise clients to use properly licensed/accredited pharmacies. Per AVMA/FDA guidance, prescriptions require an active VCPR and may be written for the client to fill at the pharmacy of their choice. Escalate immediately if the caller reports concerning signs after or around use (e.g., severe lethargy, vomiting, tremors/seizures, hind leg weakness, facial swelling, trouble breathing, or widespread skin irritation). If severe breathing trouble, collapse, or seizures are reported, direct the client to seek emergency care now and notify the veterinarian. Ask about human exposure to the wet application site; advise avoiding contact and refer to poison control/physician if ingestion or significant exposure occurred. Your veterinarian can discuss whether a recheck or different deworming plan is needed before approving refills.

Escalate to a veterinarian or technician immediately if the cat shows any of the following after Profender: trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, collapse, severe lethargy, seizures, constant tremors, stumbling/wobbliness, or hind-leg weakness. These can indicate a serious reaction and should be treated as an emergency. Repeated vomiting or profuse drooling right after application—especially if the cat or a housemate may have licked the product—also requires prompt veterinary assessment. Your veterinarian can discuss what to watch for and next steps. If a person ingests the product or gets it in the eyes, this is a medical exposure—advise them to contact Poison Control or a physician right away. People who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid direct contact; children should not touch the application site for 24 hours. Profender may irritate skin or eyes; rare human reactions have included facial or tongue swelling. Before dispensing or advising use, loop in a veterinarian if the caller mentions the cat is under 8 weeks old, under 2.2 lb, is pregnant/nursing or used for breeding, is sick/debilitated, or has (or may have) heartworm disease. Your veterinarian can determine whether Profender is appropriate and how to proceed for these cases.

Profender is a topical dewormer for cats that contains emodepside and praziquantel. Emodepside is handled in the body by a transporter called P‑glycoprotein. The Canadian product label warns that giving Profender with other P‑glycoprotein substrates or inhibitors may change drug levels; examples include other antiparasitic macrocyclic lactones (such as selamectin, moxidectin, ivermectin), erythromycin, prednisolone, and cyclosporine. The label also notes that the real‑world clinical impact of these interactions has not been fully studied, so veterinarians should assess risks before combining therapies. The U.S. label reports Profender was used in field studies alongside many common medications (including steroids and antifungals) but does not list specific interaction outcomes, so defer to the veterinarian when in doubt. Praziquantel is processed by liver enzymes (CYP3A). Human clinical data and drug references indicate that CYP3A inhibitors can raise praziquantel levels (for example, cimetidine/Tagamet, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin), while strong inducers (e.g., rifampin) can lower them. Although these data come from human and pharmacology studies, they are useful red flags for cats as well—your veterinarian can discuss whether any adjustment or timing change is needed. Also ask owners about other tapeworm dewormers (e.g., products that already contain praziquantel) to avoid duplicate ingredients. Common co‑prescribed or owner‑reported meds to flag for the veterinarian: flea/heartworm preventives containing macrocyclic lactones (selamectin, moxidectin), prednisolone, cyclosporine, and erythromycin; among human OTCs, specifically ask whether the “acid reducer” is cimetidine (Tagamet) versus famotidine (Pepcid), and note any recent use of azole antifungals. Escalate immediately if the cat develops neurological signs (tremors, wobbliness, seizures), facial swelling, trouble breathing, or repeated vomiting after application—these require urgent veterinary attention.

Storage: Keep Profender at or below 77°F (25°C). Do not freeze. Store the sealed tubes in a secure place, out of reach of children and other pets. This product is not for human use. After application, children should not touch the application site for 24 hours. Handling: Profender comes in single-use tubes. Open a tube only when ready, and apply the full contents; do not save or store a partially used tube. If a tube is damaged, has leaked, or was exposed to temperatures outside the label range (e.g., frozen or overheated), pause dispensing and check with the veterinarian before replacement or redosing. Pregnant people should avoid direct contact with the product or wear disposable gloves when handling. Disposal: For expired or unused tubes, a drug take-back program is preferred. If none is available, follow FDA guidance for non-flush medicines: mix the unused liquid with an unappealing material (e.g., used coffee grounds or cat litter), seal in a bag/container, and place in household trash—do not pour into sinks or toilets. If a person or pet accidentally swallows the liquid or gets it in eyes/skin and symptoms occur, contact Poison Control or a veterinarian/animal poison control right away. Your veterinarian can discuss safe storage during travel and what to do if product integrity is in doubt.

Typical follow-up after Profender is minimal. The label indicates a single topical application is effective, and additional treatment is only considered if re‑infection is suspected; your veterinarian will advise if a second application (no sooner than 30 days later) is appropriate. The label does not specify any routine lab or bloodwork monitoring for healthy cats using Profender as directed. Plan routine parasite surveillance rather than a special “Profender recheck” visit. Schedule fecal parasite testing per clinic protocol and CAPC guidance: kittens are tested multiple times in the first year; healthy adult cats at least twice per year, adjusted for lifestyle and risk. For tapeworms, fecal tests may miss infection—ask owners to watch for “rice‑like” segments in stool or around the anus and to contact the clinic if segments persist after treatment; the veterinarian can discuss prevention strategies to reduce re‑infection risk. Home monitoring after application: brief drooling, vomiting, or mild skin irritation can occur, especially if the cat licks the site before it dries. Escalate same day if there is repeated vomiting/diarrhea, marked lethargy, or any neurologic signs (e.g., wobbliness, tremors), and alert a veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian can determine if an exam, fecal recheck, or other follow‑up is needed.

Profender (emodepside/praziquantel) is a prescription, topical dewormer for cats that treats common intestinal parasites—tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms. Only a veterinarian can determine if and when it’s appropriate for a specific cat and will provide application and follow‑up instructions. What clients may report: brief drooling if the cat grooms the spot before it dries, mild scratching or small hair loss at the site, short‑term vomiting/diarrhea, or lethargy. Advise clients to keep people—especially children—and other pets from touching the wet application site, and to wash hands after contact. If a client reports severe facial swelling, trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, or persistent vomiting/tremors after any medication, direct them to seek emergency veterinary care immediately and alert the veterinarian. Front‑desk guidance: verify the pet’s name, weight, and last exam; route all questions about timing, missed/incorrect application, pregnancy/breeding, other medications, or ongoing symptoms to the veterinarian. Do not promise refills or same‑day use until the medical team reviews the record. Avoid saying: - “It’s safe for every cat.” - “Just apply another dose.” - “You can stop using it.” - “It treats all worms and prevents re‑infection.” - “You don’t need an exam.”