Milbemax for dogs

During the spring and summer, external parasites (fleas and ticks) are the most common cause of concern for animals and their owners. However, helminths, which actively reproduce during the warmer months, should also be considered. Milbemax for dogs can help combat this problem.

Indications for use of the drug

Milbemax tablets are intended for the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs, including:

• ascaris;
• nematodes;
• whipworms;
• cystod;
• tapeworms.

If from the moment of birth of the pet preventive deworming If your dog has never been wormed, it's important to pay attention to the characteristic signs of parasite infestation. Constant diarrhea and a bloated belly (especially common in young puppies infected with roundworms from their mother) should be a warning sign. Dogs infected with helminths become apathetic, lose their appetite, and lose weight.

A healthy pet should have a shiny, thick coat. If hookworms are present, a rash appears on the animal's skin, and the coat begins to dull and fall out.

But the most obvious sign of a parasite infestation is persistent itching in the anal area (the dog constantly rubs its butt on the ground) and the presence of white stripes or larvae in the stool. Ignoring these obvious symptoms can lead to severe damage to the animal's internal organs and even death. Furthermore, parasites can also be dangerous to humans.

Operating principle

Milbemax tablets for dogs contain praziquantel and milbemycin oxime. Both substances disrupt the normal nervous system of parasites, leading to their paralysis and death. The instructions for Milbemax for puppies and small dogs are identical to those for standard tablets. Only the amount of active ingredients varies. The product, intended for small dogs and puppies (weight 0.5-5 kg), contains:

• 2.5 mg milbemycin oxime;
• 25 mg praziquantel.

Tablets for large adult dogs (weight 5-25 kg):

• 12.5 mg milbemycin oxime;
• 125 mg praziquantel.

After oral administration, the active ingredients are rapidly and almost completely absorbed. Peak plasma concentrations are reached within three hours and then gradually decline over three days. Bioavailability is approximately 80%. Milbemycin oxime acts as a GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) agonist and also binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels in nerve and muscle cells of invertebrates. In both cases, the component blocks nerve signal transmission, resulting in the death of the parasites due to paralysis or starvation. Milbemycin oxime also affects the reproduction of some helminths by reducing egg production or inducing abnormal oogenesis. Praziquantel, on the other hand, causes muscle spasms in tapeworms.

The drug begins working immediately after administration. If parasites were present, they can be detected in the animal's feces within 48 hours of treatment.

Price

The price of Milbemax for dogs is 600-650 rubles for 2 tablets, and 420 rubles for the drug for puppies.

How often can Milbemax be given to dogs?

The dosage and frequency of administration directly depend on the dog's age, weight, and any other medications it has been receiving. This is because many medications directly affect the gastrointestinal tract, meaning additional administration of Milbemax can lead to severe side effects.

The standard instructions for Milbemax for dogs recommend deworming at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age. After that, a preventative dose can be administered every 3 months. Prevention should be continued year-round without interruption.

If your pet has previously been diagnosed with heartworm disease (heartworms), Milbemax will need to be administered monthly for a year. Only after an ultrasound confirms complete elimination of the dangerous parasites can you switch to the standard preventative regimen.

Is the drug dangerous for pets' health?

Every responsible owner, having become familiar with the mechanism of action of Milbemax's main components, worries about whether the drug will harm their dog's health. In fact, there is no danger. This is because GABA receptors in animals are found only in the central nervous system, specifically in the brain and spinal cord. All mammals have what's known as the blood-brain barrier, which prevents microscopic molecules of the active ingredients from entering the brain. Consequently, Milbemax is much less toxic to vertebrate mammals than to parasites, which lack such a barrier.

Important! Dogs with a mutation in the MDR-1 gene are an exception. These animals are more sensitive to Milbemax, and for them, taking the pill can be fatal. Therefore, it is recommended to have your animal examined by a veterinarian before the first administration of the drug.

The instructions for Milbemax for dogs state that the tablets are safe for all dogs, including seniors, young dogs, pregnant dogs, and nursing mothers. To prevent worms in newborn puppies, female dogs should be treated before mating and given an additional tablet approximately 10 days before whelping. Milbemax's safety has been confirmed by clinical trials. More than 75 different dog breeds have shown excellent tolerance to the tablets.

Caution! It is not recommended to give tablets to collies or shelties, as these breeds are particularly sensitive to macrolides (the pharmacological class to which milbecin oxime belongs).

Side effects

Milbemax is considered one of the safest deworming medications, as clinical signs of overdose can only occur when the recommended dose is exceeded by more than 10 times! Irreversible damage develops when the recommended dose is increased by more than 80 times! Therefore, owners can rest assured that they haven't miscalculated the dosage.

If Milbemax is given to collies or shelties, especially those with the mutated gene, temporary loss of coordination, foaming at the mouth, and vomiting can be expected. In all other dogs, side effects are mild and usually resolve within 24 hours.

The manufacturer admits that in rare cases after taking the tablet the following may develop:

• diarrhea and vomiting;
• a sharp increase in itching in the anus (associated with the active exit of helminths);
• a sharp increase in appetite;
• profuse salivation.

Although an overdose is extremely unlikely, every owner must be able to recognize dangerous symptoms promptly. Because the tablets have a pleasant taste and smell, an unsupervised dog could easily ingest a dangerous amount of Milbemax.

The following signs should be a cause for concern:

• trembling in the pet's limbs;
• general lethargy and apathy;
• constant salivation;
• refusal to eat.

It's essential to give your dog plenty of clean water and activated charcoal. However, if symptoms persist within 24 hours, or if your dog's gums turn pale or seizures occur, consult a veterinarian immediately. Also, monitor your dog's stool: if your dog hasn't had a bowel movement within 48 hours, the gastrointestinal tract may be blocked by dead parasites. Surgery may be necessary to remove the worms.

Real reviews of Milbemax for dogs

Victoria, 39 years old:

"The kids brought a puppy home from the street and begged me to keep him. I immediately gave him a bath and treated him with flea spray. When I noticed white spots in his stool, I decided to deworm our new pet. There were a lot of different options online, but I settled on Milbemax because of the many positive reviews. I liked that I didn't have to fiddle with the dosage (they sell ready-made tablets for small puppies). The tablet itself is small, but apparently has the right scent. Our little dog gobbled it up and didn't even notice. Of course, the next day he was restless, constantly rubbing his bottom on the floor. About ten balls of roundworms came out! But now I know my kids are safe."

Elena and Maxim:

"We have two collies. We give them deworming medication at least once every six months. We decided to give them a preventative treatment and noticed that we were out of Caniquantel (the tablets the vet prescribed). My husband bought Milbemax at the pharmacy and immediately gave it to the dogs. When I read the instructions that evening, I was very alarmed, as it stated that the tablets were not suitable for collies. That morning, we took the dogs to the vet (even though no symptoms were observed). It turned out that Milbemax is not recommended only for young collie puppies or dogs with a mutated gene. Since no side effects developed, the doctor approved periodic administration of Milbemax for the prevention of dangerous heartworms."

Karina, 22 years old:

"Milbemax reviews online are excellent, so I decided to buy it for my dachshund. I bought special tablets for small breed dogs, but the drooling still started. My dachshund refused to eat for almost a day and slept almost entirely. I was considering taking him to the vet, but all the unpleasant symptoms seemed to have subsided. I'm afraid to give him the tablets again."

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