Internal Parasite Medicines (Anthelminthics)

29.2.10 Internal Parasite Medicines (Anthelminthics)

Some people do not feed these medicines immediately after breeding (first 2 months of pregnancy); nor during the last month of pregnancy. However, many of them are safe and cause no problems.

For Coccidia AMPROLIUM (Amprol, Corid)

Indications: Amprolium is used to treat coccidiosis.

Warning: High doses or prolonged administration can produce nerve damage. Administration of thiamine can counteract the effectiveness of amprolium. Do not use for more than 12 days in puppies.

Dosage & Route:

Cattle- 5-10 mg/kg/day by mouth for 5 days Swine- 25-65 mg/kg by mouth, 1-2 times daily for 3-4 days, or 100 mg/kg/day in food or water Sheep- 55 mg/kg by mouth daily for 19 days Goats- 55 mg/kg by mouth daily for 19 days Llama- 5 mg/kg by mouth for 3 weeks Dog- 100-200 mg/kg per day orally, 7-10 days Withdrawal period: Cattle: 24 hours Broad Spectrum Anthelminthic (effective against worms and flukes)

These are quite effective but also expensive.

ALBENDAZOLE (Valbazen, Albomar)

Easy to carry (light tablets); easy to feed. It is very effective and should be fed two or three times per year. It can be fed with leaves, bread or other food.

Indications: Albendazole kills liver flukes, tapeworms, stomach worms, intestinal worms and lungworms. It is also used as a general dewormer in horses, dogs and cats.

Warning: Do not give to female cattle in the first 45 days of pregnancy or within 45 days of breeding.

Dosage & Route:

Horses- 50 mg/kg by mouth for 2 days Cattle- 10 mg/kg by mouth Swine- 5-10 mg/kg by mouth Sheep- 7.5-15 mg/kg by mouth for adult liver flukes 3 mg/kg by mouth for 35 days for prevention of liver flukes Goats- 7.5-15 mg/kg by mouth for adult liver flukes 3 mg/kg by mouth for 35 days for prevention of liver flukes Llama- 6.5 mg/kg by mouth Dogs- 25-50 mg/kg by mouth for 5 days Cats- 30 mg/kg by mouth for 6 days Withdrawal period:

Cattle- meat 27 days, do not use in milking cows IVERMECTIN Indications: This is a paste which is put into the mouth, and which the animal eats. It is expensive but kills almost all internal and external parasites. It is safe. It is approved for use in more species of animals than any other antiparasite drug. The only disadvantage is cost.

Warning: Do not give Collie dogs more than the 0.006 mg/kg dose as a fatal reaction may result. Do not give to dogs with heartworms.

Dosage and Route:

Horses- 0.2 mg/kg by mouth Cattle- 0.2 mg/kg by mouth or SC Swine- 0.3 mg/kg SC or IM Sheep- 0.2 mg/kg by mouth Goat- 0.2 mg/kg SC Llamas- 0.2 mg/kg by mouth or injection African Buffalo- 0.2 mg/kg SC Camel- 0.2 mg/kg SC Dogs- 0.006 mg/kg by mouth monthly for heartworms.

Cats- 0.2 mg/kg by injection for ear mites Guinea Pig- 0.2-0.3 mg/kg SC Rabbit- 0.2-0.4 by mouth, IM, SC Withdrawal Period:

Cattle- Meat 49 days. Do not use in milking cows Sheep- Meat 11 days.

Pigs- Meat 18 days.

TETRAMISOLE AND OXYCLOSANIDE (Nilzan) (Vallchira)

Indications: For the treatment of worms and flukes in cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats. It is very effective but difficult to carry. Administer by drench two or three times per year, depending on the area.

Warning:

Dosage and Route:

Cattle, Buffalo Up to 50 kg 16.5 ml 50-100 kg 33 ml 150-200 kg 66 ml 300 kg and above 100 ml Sheep and Goat Up to 15 kg 5 ml 15-30 kg 10 ml 30-45 kg 15 ml 45 kg and above 20 ml Withdrawal Period: Read label Broad Spectrum Anthelminthic (effective against many different worms)

FENBENDAZOLE (Panacur, Fencur)

Indications: Effective against all kinds of gastrointestinal roundworms, immature and adult worms, eliminates tapeworms in sheep. It is one of the most popular anthelminthics because it is safe and effective. It is also available in many different forms, including oral paste and powders.

Warning: Dogs, cats, and pigs must get the drug daily for three days in a row to be effective.

Dosage and Route:

Horse- 5 mg/kg by mouth; or 10 mg/kg by mouth for Parascaris equorum, or 50 mg/kg by mouth for Stongyloides westeri.

Cattle- 5 mg/kg by mouth; or 10 mg/kg by mouth for Moniezia and Ostertagia.

Swine- 3 mg/kg by mouth for 3 consecutive days; or 5-10 mg/kg by mouth Sheep- 5 mg/kg by mouth for 3 days Camel- 4.5-15 mg/kg by mouth Llamas- 10-15 mg/kg by mouth Goats- 5 mg/kg by mouth for 3 days Dogs- 50 mg/kg by mouth daily for 3 days Cats- 50 mg/kg by mouth daily for 5 days Rabbit- 10 mg/kg by mouth every 14 days for 2 doses Withdrawal Period:

Cattle- meat 14 days, milk 4 days Sheep- meat 14 days Goats- meat 14 days, milk 1 day LEVAMISOLE Indications: Levamisole is one of the standard anthelmintics that has been used effectively for many years. It is a broad spectrum drug that is commonly given by mouth, but special formulations are available for injection or pour-on.

Warning: Do not use at the same time as chloramphenicol. Toxic doses may produce signs similar to organophosphate toxicity; diarrhea, salivation, tremors, and foaming at the mouth. Atropine is somewhat helpful in treating an overdose.

Dosage and Route:

Horses- 8 mg/kg by mouth Cattle- 8 mg/kg by mouth 10 mg/kg using special pour-on product 6 mg/kg by SC Swine- 8 mg/kg in water or feed Sheep- 8 mg/kg by mouth Goats- 8 mg/kg by mouth Llamas- 5-8 mg/kg by mouth Camels- 5-8 mg/kg by mouth Dogs- 10 mg/kg by mouth daily for 10 days for heartworm microfilaria; or 7-12 mg/kg by mouth daily for 3-7 days for lungworm Cats- 20-40 mg/kg by mouth every other days for 6 treatments Withdrawal Period:

Cattle- meat 9 days, do not use in milking cows Sheep- meat 3 days Swine- meat 9 days MEBENDAZOLE (Benzicare, Equiverm, Telmin)

Indications: Mebendazole is most commonly used in horses, dogs, cats, sheep and swine. It is used to treat lungworms and other worms. It is quite effective.

Dosage and Route:

Horses- 10-15 mg/kg by mouth; or 15-20 mg/kg by mouth for 5 days against lungworms Cattle- 15 mg/kg by mouth Sheep- 15 mg/kg by mouth Llamas- 22 mg/kg by mouth for 3 days Camels- 22 mg/kg by mouth Dogs- 22 mg/kg by mouth for 3 days Cats- 22 mg/kg by mouth for 3 days Ferret- 50 mg/kg by mouth twice a day for 2 days Withdrawal: Sheep- meat 7 days Precautions: Mebendazole must be given daily for 3 days in a row to be effective in pigs, dogs, and cats.

THIABENDAZOLE

Indications: It is very effective against a wide range of worms, including lungworms.

Dosage and Route Horses- 50-100 mg/kg by mouth Cattle- 50-100 mg/kg by mouth Swine- 50-75 mg/kg by mouth Sheep- 50-100 mg/kg by mouth Goats- 66 mg/kg by mouth Llamas- 50-100 mg/kg by mouth daily for 1-3 days Camels- 66 mg/kg by mouth Dogs- 50 mg/kg by mouth daily for 3 days Rabbits- 100-200 mg/kg by mouth Withdrawal Period: Cattle- meat 3 days, milk 4 days Sheep- meat 30 days Goats- meat 30 days Narrow Spectrum (kills only flukes)

HEXACHLOROETHANE (Hexathane) (Vallachira)

Indications: This drug is bitter tasting but it is cheap and effective for flukes in ruminants. It is fed as a drench but tends to stick in the dosing bottle. Administer 2 or 3 times per year, depending on the need in the area.

Warning:

Dosage and Route:

Cattle, Buffalo Give from 15-100 gms/animal, at a rate of 10 gm/50kg of body weight.

Sheep, Goat Feed 8 – 15 gm per animal, at a rate of 2 gm / 10 kg body weight.

Withdrawal Period: Read label HEXACHLOROPHENE (Distodin, Flukin) (Vallachira)

Indications: This drug comes at 100 mg tablets or 1000mg (1 gram) bolus. It is cheap and effective for flukes in ruminants. The tablets are fed, or they are crushed and fed as a drench. Administer 2 or 3 times per year, depending on the need in the area.

Warning:

Dosage and Route: The general dose is 10-15 mg/kg body weight.

Cattle, Buffalo (use large bolus), 1 – 2 tablets depending on size of animal Calves – ½ bolus Sheep, Goat (use small tablet), 1 - 2 tablets depending on size of animal Lambs – ½ bolus Withdrawal Period: Read label OXYCLOSANIDE Indications: Oxyclozanide kills adult liver flukes in cattle and sheep.

Warning: Calculate the dose carefully because the toxic dose is only 4 times the recommended dose.

Dosage and Route:

Cattle- 10-15 mg/kg by mouth Sheep- 10-15 mg/kg by mouth Withdrawal Period: Cattle- meat 14 days, milk 0 days Narrow Spectrum (kills only certain worms)

NICLOSAMIDE

Indications: Niclosamide kills tapeworms in dogs, cats and sheep.

Dosage and Route:

Sheep- 52 mg/kg by mouth Dogs- 150 mg/kg by mouth Cats- 150 mg/kg by mouth Rabbit- 100 mg/kg by mouth, 2 doses one week apart PIPERAZINE Indications: Piperazine is a very effective against large roundworms in large and small animals, and has been used for many years. It is not broad spectrum. In some areas, it is not recommended in cattle, sheep and goats due to resistance of parasites in these species. Dose is calculated based upon the amount of piperazine base.

Warning: Toxic doses may cause tremors, seizures and weakness. Do not give to animals with liver or kidney disease.

Dosage and Route:

Buffalo calves-25-300mg/Kg repeat in four weeks Horses- 88-110 mg/kg of piperazine base by mouth Swine- 110 mg/kg of piperazine base by mouth Dogs- 45-65 mg/kg of piperazine base by mouth Cats- 45-65 mg/kg of piperazine base by mouth Gerbil- 2-3 g/L drinking water for one week Guinea Pig- 2-5 g/L drinking water for one week Hamster- 10 g/L drinking water Rabbit- 200 mg/kg by mouth Chicken- 250 mg/kg by mouth, or 1 g/L drinking water for three days