Febtal for cats

Febtal, an anthelmintic drug for dogs and cats, is considered one of the most effective treatments and preventatives against nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes (roundworms and tapeworms that infect animals). Based on its effect on the body, Febtal is classified as a Class 3 substance (moderately hazardous). The drug is manufactured by Agrovetzashchita LLC (Russia).

Composition and action

The active ingredient in Febtal is fenbendazole. The other ingredients are glucose (a sweetener), starch (a leavening agent), and calcium stearate (an emulsifier).

Fenbendazole is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound of the benzimidazole group, active against both mature and postembryonic, immature (larvae, eggs) forms of helminths.

Fenbendazole's anthelmintic action involves disrupting metabolic processes and destroying the structures of the helminth's digestive system, causing the parasites' rapid death. The drug's metabolites are naturally eliminated from the animal's body.

Febtal is available in 0.6g tablets. The tablets are round, gray, scored on one side and bear the company logo on the other. A blister pack of 6 Febtal tablets costs 140-200 rubles.

Indications, contraindications

Indications for the use of Febtal for cats are parasitic diseases caused by:

• nematodes (round helminths) of the species Ancylostoma, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxascaridosis canum, as well as the roundworm Toxocara canis;
• trematodes (flatworms) of the species Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantic;
• tapeworms of the species Dipylidium caninum, Taenia solium, Taenia asiatica.

Febtal is non-embryotoxic and non-teratogenic, so it can be used in pregnant cats without harm to their offspring. When used at the recommended dosage, the drug is well-tolerated and generally does not cause side effects. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to one of the drug's components may occur after administration. Such a sensitization reaction, caused by individual hypersensitivity, should prompt discontinuation of the drug.

Instructions for use

The veterinary antihelminthic drug Febtal is used without any prior preparation, such as diet or laxatives. The tablets are administered once daily for three days. The recommended dosage for adult cats is 1 tablet per 1.5 kg of body weight.

It's best to give Febtal to your cat during the morning feeding. This medication has no unpleasant taste, and in most cases, cats readily accept it in crushed form along with their regular food.

If a cat refuses to eat medicated food, a Febtal tablet can be administered forcefully. Experienced cat owners use a special pill syringe called an introducer for this purpose. To perform this procedure manually, open the cat's mouth by pressing on the base of the jaw, place the tablet (whole, not crushed) on the back of the tongue, then close the cat's mouth and stroke the jaw and neck from top to bottom to induce swallowing.

A video showing how to give a pill to a cat using a pill dispenser and a regular syringe:

Prevention of helminthiasis in cats is recommended to be carried out once every 3 months; deworming is also carried out 2 weeks before the animal’s planned vaccination.

Analogues

There are veterinary anthelmintic drugs with a different composition than Febtal but with a similar therapeutic effect. The most popular are:

• DirofenThe active ingredients are fenbendazole and pyrantel pamoate. Manufactured by Api-San (Russia).
• Azipirin. Active ingredients: praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate. Manufactured by Balkanpharma (Bulgaria).
• PratelThe active ingredients are pyrantel embonate and praziquantel, manufactured by Novartis Animal Health (Slovenia).
• Troncil KThe active ingredients are praziquantel and pyrantelManufacturer: Vetbiokhim (Russia).
• Milbemax. Active ingredients: milbemycin oxime and prazicuvantel. Manufactured by Novartis Sante Animale (France).
• CaniquantelThe active ingredients are praziquantel and fenbendazole. Manufacturer: Pharma GmbH (Germany).
• Fenbendazole. Active ingredient: fenbendazole. Manufacturer: Ukrvetbiopharm (Ukraine).
• Caniverm. Active ingredients: fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel. Manufactured by Caniverm (Czech Republic).
• DrontalActive ingredients: praziquantel and pyrantel embonate. Manufacturer: Bayer AG (Germany).

Reviews

Svetlana Petrovna Dymova, veterinarian

"Febtal is an inexpensive and very potent medication that can quickly, in just three days, clear a cat's system of worms. Febtal is generally well-tolerated and causes no side effects. Before recommending any anthelmintic medications, including those containing fenbendazole, I recommend that cat owners have their pet examined—tested for the presence of worms and identified the type. Although Febtal has a broad spectrum of action, it is not effective against all types of worms."

Natalia, Novocherkassk

"I took my Adele to the vet when she became lethargic and didn't want to eat. The vet sent her for tests, and it turned out Adele had worms, lots of them... They decided to treat her with Febtal anthelmintic tablets.

The medicine didn't taste as good as the package said. My pet refused to take the pill voluntarily, so I had to swaddle her and force the pill deep into her mouth for three days straight, ensuring she had no other option but to swallow. After Febtal, there were no unpleasant symptoms—nausea, diarrhea, allergies. But the effect was real, and very fast! Adele's appetite and activity returned on the second day.

Tatyana, Ulyanovsk

"When our cat, Tigr, was found to have worms in his stool, the doctor prescribed Febtal tablets. He said it was powerful, had no side effects, and would deal with the parasites quickly, as it killed both adult parasites, larvae, and eggs.

I didn't want to force the medicine down the cat's throat. I crushed the tablet and mixed it with Tiger's favorite food—liver pâté. He smelled the "new ingredient" in the pâté, but didn't hesitate for long before eating it all. We gave the tablets for three days. A follow-up test a week later showed that we were rid of the parasites. Now we'll give Febtal every three months as a preventative measure.

Read also:

• Fenpraz for cats
• Deworming tablets for cats
• Can a person become infected with worms from a cat?