January Intake Protocols

January Intake Protocols: Building a Healthier Foundation with Strategic Deworming

January often brings a surge of animals into shelters—post-holiday surrenders, strays from winter storms, and the continuation of intake cycles. This influx makes standardized, effective medical protocols more critical than ever. The first medical interventions an animal receives set the stage for their entire shelter stay, affecting their health, behavior, and adoption timeline. This year, focus on building a stronger foundation from day one by re-evaluating your parasite control strategy. Utilizing specific, broad-spectrum compounded dewormers can streamline your process, protect your population, and save crucial resources.

Protocol 1: The Comprehensive Intake Dewormer – Fenbendazole + Praziquantel + Pyrantel Oral Suspension

The Challenge: Incoming animals have unknown histories and often harbor multiple parasite types. Using separate dewormers for roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms is inefficient, costly, and increases handling stress.

The January Strategy: A Single, Powerful Solution.
This three-in-one oral suspension is the cornerstone of an efficient intake protocol.

• What it covers: A broad spectrum of the most common and concerning intestinal parasites.

• Operational Impact:

  1. Saves Time: One administration replaces multiple treatments.

  2. Reduces Stress: Less handling for fearful new arrivals.

  3. Ensures Compliance: Animals get complete parasite clearance from the start.

  4. Protects the Population: Immediately reduces environmental contamination and zoonotic risk.

Implementation for the New Year:
Make this suspension part of your mandatory "Day 1" intake kit for all dogs and puppies. Its palatable formulation increases acceptance, ensuring every animal gets the full dose and starts their shelter journey healthier.

Protocol 2: The Targeted Protozoal Fighter – Ponazuril Oral Suspension

The Challenge: Coccidia and other protozoal parasites cause severe, dehydrating diarrhea, especially in vulnerable kittens and puppies. Outbreaks can sweep through litters, requiring isolation, intensive care, and delaying adoptions.

The January Strategy: Proactive or Targeted Treatment.
Ponazuril is the treatment of choice for coccidiosis. Having a readily available, palatable suspension is key.

• Two-Tiered Use:

  1. Proactive in High-Risk Areas: Consider treating all incoming litters in your kitten nursery or puppy area as a preventive measure.

  2. Reactive for Outbreaks: At the first sign of watery diarrhea in a group, treat all exposed animals to contain the spread.

• Resource Savings: Effective early treatment prevents costly outbreaks, reduces length of stay, and saves on supportive care like fluids and extra cleaning.

Protocol 3: The Flexible & Precise Dewormer – Ivermectin + Pyrantel Pamoate Oral Suspension

The Challenge: You need a flexible deworming option for a variety of situations: a heartworm-positive dog needing pre-treatment, an animal with a sensitive stomach, or a unique species in your care.

The January Strategy: A Versatile Formulation for Complex Cases.
This combination suspension offers more than just intestinal parasite control.

• Broader Applications:

  • Heartworm-Positive Dogs: Can be part of pre-treatment protocols to clear intestinal parasites before starting heartworm treatment.

  • Dosing Flexibility: The liquid form allows for extremely precise dosing for very small or very large animals.

  • Palatability: Useful for animals that refuse pills or pastes.

• Strategic Stocking: While not necessarily for every intake, having this on hand through your PetScript Shelter portal ensures you’re prepared for the complex medical cases that often arrive in the new year.

Building Your 2024 Intake Blueprint:

1. Standardize: Make the Fenbendazole + Praziquantel + Pyrantel Oral Suspension your universal canine intake dewormer.

2. Prevent: Stock Ponazuril Oral Suspension and create a clear protocol for its use in kitten/puppy areas.

3. Prepare: Ensure you have access to Ivermectin + Pyrantel Pamoate Oral Suspension for your medical team’s specialized needs.

4. Track & Adjust: Use your shelter’s data to track reductions in parasite-related illness and length of stay. Adjust quantities based on intake forecasts.

Conclusion: Invest in Prevention, Reap the Benefits All Year
A strategic investment in comprehensive parasite control this January pays dividends for months to come. Healthier animals mean faster adoptions, lower outbreak risks, reduced treatment costs, and a better quality of life for the animals in your care. By streamlining your protocols with effective compounded medications, you free up staff time and resources to focus on what matters most: finding every animal a loving home.

Your January Action Item: Log into your PetScript Shelter Site account today. Review your usage of these deworming formulations and place an order to ensure you are prepared for the New Year’s intake. A strong start leads to a successful year.