How to Use Levamisole for Lung Worms

Lungworms, or Metastrongylus, infect the respiratory tract of animals, such as livestock. Livestock infected with lungworms cough up the eggs, then often swallow them and pass them through the digestive tract. When the eggs return to the soil, they often are eaten by other animals, spreading the infection. Levamisole is one type of deworming medication used to treat lungworms. The specific use of this drug differs according to the type of animal infected. Your vet can provide specific advice tailored to each individual animal.

Things You'll Need

  • Levamisole
  • Water
  • Bottle/bucket
  • Balling gun
  • Bolus
  • Syringe
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bring your animal to its vet for proper diagnosis of lungworms. After diagnosing the animal, the vet will typically weigh the animal and determine the proper dosing and administration of levamisole.

    • 2

      Mix levamisole powder with water in a bottle or bucket with measuring marks. For every gallon of water, add 10 ml of levamisole, or follow your vet's instructions if they differ from these guidelines. To treat pigs, for every 100 pounds of the pig's weight, they require 1 gallon of water and levamisole solution, according to Drugs.com. Mix the solution with the water thoroughly before allowing the pig to drink it.

    • 3

      Administer levamisole to a cow by using a balling gun to inject the medicinal bolus into the mouth. Cattle often spit the medication out after letting it stay in the mouth for awhile. When using a balling gun, ensure that the bolus travels past the cow's tongue.

    • 4

      Ask your vet about an injectable form of levamisole if your cattle resists oral medication. Your vet might administer the injection, or he might teach you how to administer it. Always use a clean, sharp needle. Inject no more than 10 ml of levamisole at a time into the skin of the neck, according to Purdue University.