Fenbendazole powder is an antiparasitic drug that works to kill worms. It is most commonly used to treat a variety of intestinal parasites in dogs, including roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. It can also be used to treat and prevent giardia in dogs. It can be added to a regular deworming regimen as part of a preventive care program in young pets to help protect them from parasitic infections.
The fenbendazole in Panacur and other fenbendazole products works by blocking the ability of worms to produce energy, ultimately starving and killing them. It is most effective against adult worms, but can also kill worms in their immature forms and tapeworms (although it is not effective against Dipylidium tapeworms). It can be purchased over the counter as single-use packets or by prescription in granule, liquid and chew forms. Typically, fenbendazole should be given with food in order to prevent stomach upset. It is important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions when using fenbendazole powder and to ask them to test a fecal sample for the presence of giardia 2-4 weeks after finishing treatment.
Generally, fenbendazole does not cause any side effects at normal dosages in dogs and cats. However, higher doses can result in a hypersensitivity reaction caused by the release of antigens by dying parasites. If your pet shows signs of a hypersensitivity reaction, such as facial swelling, itching, hives, diarrhea, seizures or shock, seek veterinary attention immediately.
Giardia is a microscopic parasite that can cause diarrhea, loss of weight and other symptoms in dogs. It can be found in feces, and it can also spread from animal to animal and even between humans. Panacur and other fenbendazole drugs work by blocking the ability of giardia to produce energy, thus starving and killing them. It is important to follow your veterinarian’s instruction when using Panacur or other fenbendazole drugs to treat giardia and to ask them to test a sex fecal sample for the presence of this parasite 2-4 weeks after finishing treatment.
In swine, fenbendazole is approved for removal of large roundworms (Ascaris suum), lungworms (Metastrongylus apri, Metastrongylus pudendotectus) and nodular worms (Oesophagostomum dentatum, Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum). It is also approved to remove ascarids (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala) and whipworms (Trichuris vulpis).
Your vet may recommend a compounded form of fenbendazole in certain situations. Compounding pharmacies are licensed by states to create medications on an individual basis for patients who can’t take an FDA-approved medication in capsule form or have other conditions that require a custom formulation. fenbendazole powder