Fenbendazole for a Dog

Fenbendazole is the generic name for the dewormer known by the brand name Panacur. It is used in many mammals, including dogs. Fenbendazole is one of the few drugs approved for use in dogs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to "The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat." It is also safe for pregnant dogs, and can be purchased without a prescription.

  1. Uses

    • Fenbendazole is used to kill several types of worms in dogs, including tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and lung fluke. In addition, veterinarians sometimes prescribe fenbendazole off label for fighting the parasitic infection giardia and for killing the lungworm. Holly Nash, D.V.M., notes that fenbendazole is often combined with metronidazole in order to fight giardia.

    Dosage

    • Dogs must be weighed before given a dose. From 23 to 25 milligrams of fenbendazole must be given for every pound the dog weighs. If weighing the dog in kilograms, use 50 milligrams for every kilogram that the dog weighs, according to veterinarian Dr. Dawn Ruben. Fenbendazole must be used for three to five days in a row in order to be effective. Just one dose will not suffice to kill internal parasites.

    Side Effects

    • The most common side effect of fenbendazole in dogs is diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. In order to help counteract vomiting, fenbendazole should be given with food. Dr. Dawn Ruben also notes that it is normal for dead worms to be passed out with feces. Some dogs are allergic to fenbendazole or its family of drugs, benzimidazoles. An allergic dog given fenbendazole will have problems breathing, swelling of the face, pale gums, skin rashes, cold legs or seizures, according to Drs. Foster and Smith.

    Disadvantages

    • Although fenbendazole is a mild dewormer, it cannot kill parasites in just one dose like other dewormers such as Droncit (praziquantel). It also cannot kill all of the species of tapeworms that a dog can get, so the dog may need to have a combination of medications in order to eliminate all of its parasites.

    Types

    • Fenbendazole is available in several forms, including an injectable dose for dogs that have trouble keeping food down. The other forms include sprinkles to be added to food, pills, a paste and a suspension liquid medication. No type is better than the others; they must all be given under the guidance and advice of a veterinarian.