Interceptor Chewable Tablets for Dogs & Cats

Monthly Heartworm and Intestinal Worm Prevention Tablets for Dogs and Cats

Product Description

Interceptor Flavor Tabs is a once-monthly prescription tablet that protects dogs and cats against heartworm disease while targeting hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Its active ingredient, milbemycin oxime, disrupts nerve signal transmission in parasites, leading to paralysis and death. The beef-flavored chewable comes in weight-based sizes and can be offered by hand or added to food.

Benefits

• Heartworm Prevention: Interceptor clears Dirofilaria immitis larvae monthly, before they mature, which is what keeps both dogs and cats from developing heartworm disease.
• Hookworm Control: Adult hookworms, Ancylostoma caninum in dogs and Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats, feed on blood. Left untreated, they cause anemia and serious damage to the intestinal lining.
• Roundworm Treatment: Dogs can carry Toxocara canis or Toxascaris leonina, while cats carry Toxocara cati. Interceptor clears adult infections of all three, which tend to affect digestion and body weight over time.
• Whipworm Control in Dogs: Trichuris vulpis is a stubborn intestinal parasite that dogs pick up from contaminated ground. Interceptor removes existing adult infections and keeps them from taking hold again.
• Safe for Young Pets: Treatment can start as early as 4 weeks and 2 lbs in puppies, and 6 weeks and 1.5 lbs in kittens, provided the correct weight-based tablet size is used.
• Easy Monthly Administration: Beef-flavored and chewable, most pets take it without any fuss. It can also be tucked into food if needed, which makes the monthly dose a non-event for most owners.
• Weight-Based Sizing: Tablets come in color-coded sizes matched to specific weight ranges for both species, so selecting the right dose is straightforward at every size and life stage.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Milbemycin Oxime (macrocyclic anthelmintic — a mixture of approximately 80% A4 and 20% A3 oxime derivatives of 5-didehydromilbemycins)

How to Use

Dosage and Administration Instructions

• Prescription Required: A licensed veterinarian must authorize this medication before it can be dispensed or administered. Federal law does not permit use without a valid prescription.
• Test Before Starting: Dogs should be screened for an existing heartworm infection before the first dose. Active infections need a different treatment protocol entirely.
• Monthly Dosing Schedule: One tablet by mouth every 30 days at a minimum of 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) for dogs, and 0.9 mg/lb (2.0 mg/kg) for cats.
• Food Optional: The chewable tab can be handed over directly or offered with a small amount of food. Breaking it up is fine too if that makes administration easier.
• Start Within First Month: The first dose needs to go in within a month of the pet's initial mosquito exposure, with monthly dosing continuing from that point without gaps.
• Six Months Minimum Post-Exposure: Stopping before six consecutive monthly doses after the last mosquito exposure leaves the window open for heartworm to develop.
• Watch for Full Consumption: Keep an eye on your pet for a few minutes after dosing. If any part of the tablet is spit out or lost, give a replacement dose right away.

Disclaimer: This dosage information is provided by the manufacturer. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any medication for your pet.

Additional Information

Precautions

• Minimum Age and Weight — Dogs: Four weeks and 2 lbs is the minimum for puppies. Below either threshold, this medication has not been tested and should not be given.
• Minimum Age and Weight — Cats: Kittens need to be at least 6 weeks old and weigh 1.5 lbs before Interceptor is considered safe to use.
• MDR-1 Sensitive Breeds: Rough-coated Collies and several related breeds can carry the MDR-1 mutation, which makes them more reactive to milbemycin oxime. Getting the dose right matters more in these dogs than in most.
• Breeding and Lactating Dogs: Nobody has studied how Interceptor behaves in breeding or nursing females. Until your vet says otherwise, hold off on using it in these animals.
• Use Correct Tablet Only: Dog tablets are not interchangeable with cat tablets, and a size meant for a bigger animal should never go to a smaller one. The distinction matters clinically.
• No Effect on Adult Heartworms: Interceptor only works on immature larvae. A dog already carrying adult heartworms needs that infection dealt with first through a separate protocol.
• Secure Storage Required: Keep tablets locked away or stored somewhere neither children nor other pets can get into them unsupervised.

Possible Side Effects

• Vomiting and Diarrhea: Vomiting and diarrhea are among the most commonly reported reactions following administration of milbemycin oxime in dogs; continue use and contact your vet if these persist.
• Depression and Lethargy: Some dogs may show signs of depression or reduced energy levels after receiving Interceptor; notify your veterinarian if this seems severe or prolonged.
• Loss of Coordination (Ataxia): Ataxia or stumbling has been reported in some dogs after administration; contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet shows difficulty walking or loss of balance.
• Decreased Appetite: Reduced food interest or anorexia has been reported in some animals following administration; monitor your pet and consult your vet if appetite does not return within a day or two.
• Rare Serious Reactions: In rare cases, convulsions, extreme weakness, excessive drooling, or shock-like reactions have been reported; seek emergency veterinary care immediately if these occur.

Storage Information

• Room Temperature Storage: Anywhere between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F) works, as long as the spot stays consistently dry and well away from any heat source.
• Restrict Access Always: Wrong doses in the hands of children or other animals is a real risk. Lock these away or put them somewhere genuinely out of reach.
• Check Expiry Before Use: Pull the pack out before each monthly dose and confirm it hasn't expired. Outdated tablets should be discarded rather than used.

Shipping & Return

We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.

For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy. 

Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What parasites does Interceptor Flavor Tabs protect against in dogs and cats?

Ans: In dogs, Interceptor prevents heartworm disease and controls adult hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm infections. In cats, it prevents heartworm disease and removes adult hookworm and roundworm infections. It provides this broad protection with just one monthly tablet.

Q2: How does milbemycin oxime in Interceptor work to protect my pet?

Ans: Milbemycin oxime works by interfering with invertebrate neurotransmission, flooding susceptible worms with chloride ions and disrupting their nervous system activity. This causes muscle paralysis and ultimately kills the parasites, including heartworm larvae and intestinal worms.

Q3: How do I know which Interceptor tablet size is right for my dog or cat?

Ans: Interceptor is available in color-coded weight categories. For dogs, Brown (2–10 lbs), Green (11–25 lbs), Yellow (26–50 lbs), and White (51–100 lbs). For cats, Green (1.5–6 lbs), Yellow (6.1–12 lbs), and White (12.1–25 lbs). Your veterinarian will prescribe the correct size based on your pet's weight.

Q4: Can I start giving Interceptor to my dog without a heartworm test?

Ans: A heartworm test before the first dose is important. Interceptor only works at the larval stage, so an existing adult infection will go untreated if the dog is not screened first. That situation calls for a separate treatment protocol. Your vet can assess where your dog stands and advise on the right path forward.

Q5: At what age can puppies and kittens start taking Interceptor heartworm tablets?

Ans: At 4 weeks and 2 lbs, puppies meet the minimum threshold for Interceptor. Kittens need to be at least 6 weeks old and weigh 1.5 lbs. With very young animals especially, checking the dose with your vet before starting is the right move.