Exitel

Exitel is available as flavoured oral tablets, designed to facilitate administration to pets. The main presentations include:

• Exitel Plus Flavour, available in boxes of 8 pork-flavoured tablets
• Exitel Plus XL, available in boxes of 10 tablets
• Exitel Cat, tablets intended for the treatment of intestinal parasite infestations in cats.

Exitel for cats and dogs is indicated for the treatment of mixed infestations with nematodes and cestodes in dogs and cats.

For Exitel Plus for dogs and Exitel XL for dogs, the product is effective against nematodes such as Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma caninum and Trichuris vulpis, as well as against cestodes such as Echinococcus spp., Taenia spp. and Dipylidium caninum.

Exitel for cats is used to treat infestations with Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina, Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis and Echinococcus multilocularis.

Exitel for cats and dogs is administered orally, as a single dose, based on the animal’s body weight. 

The recommended dose is 15 mg/kg febantel, 5 mg/kg pyrantel and 5 mg/kg praziquantel, equivalent to 1 Exitel Plus tablet for every 10 kg of body weight in dogs.

For large dogs, the Exitel Plus XL variant can be used, and for cats the usual dose is 1 tablet for approximately 4 kg of body weight.

Exitel for cats and dogs should not be used in the following situations:

• in animals with known hypersensitivity to praziquantel, pyrantel, febantel or to the product’s excipients;
• in combination with piperazine compounds, as these may antagonise the anthelmintic effect of pyrantel;
• in kittens under 6 weeks of age.

The product should be used with caution in pregnant animals and only following a risk-benefit assessment by the veterinarian.

Administration of Exitel must be accompanied by general measures to control intestinal parasites. In particular, in the case of tapeworm infestations, control of intermediate hosts, such as fleas or rodents, is essential to prevent re-infestation.

Furthermore, repeated use of anthelmintics from the same class may promote the development of parasite resistance.

In pregnant dogs, the product is not recommended during the first four weeks of pregnancy.

In general, Exitel is well tolerated by dogs and cats when administered as recommended. According to available data, there are no known specific adverse reactions associated with the use of the product.

However, should any unusual or severe reactions occur, pet owners should contact their vet.

Exitel must not be administered concomitantly with products containing piperazine, as this may reduce the efficacy of pyrantel.

Furthermore, administration alongside cholinergic compounds may lead to toxic effects.

There are no known significant interactions with food, and the tablets may be administered directly or incorporated into the feed.

There are no specific data regarding overdose with Exitel. However, administration of doses significantly higher than those recommended may lead to gastrointestinal or neurological adverse reactions.

If overdose is suspected, it is recommended that you contact your vet immediately for assessment and monitoring of the animal.

Exitel should be stored in its original packaging at room temperature. It is recommended that:

• keeping the product out of the reach of children;
• using the product before the expiry date printed on the packaging;
• storing split tablets in the original blister pack and using them within a maximum of 14 days.

• PubMed, Field efficacy of febantel, pyrantel embonate and praziquantel (Drontal® Tasty) against naturally acquired intestinal helminths in hunting dogs in southern Italy
• ScienceDirect, Efficacy of a combination of febantel, pyrantel and praziquantel in the treatment of kittens experimentally infected with Giardia species
• AVMA, Efficacy of a combined febantel and praziquantel-pyrantel product, with or without vaccination with a commercial Giardia vaccine, in the treatment of dogs with naturally acquired giardiasis
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Praziquantel/pamoate of pyrantel/febantel