Brand: GRANOFEN ®

Company: VIRBAC


FORMULATION: «GRANULES» for oral administration, usually mixed with food

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S): FENBENDAZOLE 222 mg/g (= 22.2%)

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): BENZIMIDAZOLE


INDICATIONS: DOGS and CATS*


PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity):

* In some countries not available for cats


RECOMMENDED DOSE*

UK and other countries:

  • Dogs & Cats: 1 g product per 2.2 kg (5lb) body weight as a single dose (100 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight). For dogs weighing over 50kg (110lb) an extra 1g is required for each additional 2.2kg bodyweight. The dose should be administered by mixing into the feed.
  • Weaned puppies and kittens under six months of age: 1 g product per 4.4 kg (10lb) bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days mixed into the feed (50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 3 days). For dogs/puppies weighing over 22kg (50lb), an extra 1g is required daily for each additional 4.4 kg (10lb) bodyweight.
  • Pregnant bitches: 1 g product per 8.8 kg (20lb) bodyweight daily from day 40 of pregnancy continuously to 2 days post-whelping (approximately 25 days) (25 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily).
  • For the control of lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in cats administer 0.4 g product per 4.4kg (10lb) bodyweight daily for 5 consecutive days (20 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight for 5 days).
  • For the treatment of clinical worm infestations in dogs and cats administer 1 g product per 4.4kg (10lb) bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days (50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 3 days).

* Can be slightly different in some countries: read the product label!


SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: n.a. for the granules. >10000 mg/kg for fenbendazole a.i.
  • Estimated Hazard Class according to the WHO: not applicable for veterinary medicines

Suspected poisoning? Read the articles on fenbendazole safety in this site.

You may be interested in the following articles in this site dealing with the general safety of veterinary products:


RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance development? NO

There are no reports on resistance of dog or cat worms to benzimidazoles about 40 years after their introduction.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.


MARKETING

Are the active ingredients of this product ORIGINAL* or GENERICS**?

  • Fenbendazole: GENERIC (introduced in the 1970s)

*Meaning that they are still patent protected and generics are not yet available
**Meaning that they have lost patent protection and may be acquired from manufacturers of generic active ingredients other than the holder of the original patent.

COUNTRIES where this product is marketed: UK and other EU countries.
GENERIC BRANDS available? YES, in most countries.

Click here to learn more about GENERIC vs. ORIGINAL drugs.


COMMENTS

GRANOFEN is a granule wormer from VIRBAC for dogs and cats. It is a generic version of PANACUR C GRANULES from MSD ANIMAL HEALTH.

Fenbendazole is a veteran benzimidazole introduced in the 1970s (by HOECHST). It is abundantly used in livestock an horses, moderately in pets. It is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic effective against most gastrointestinal worms that infect pets, including roundworms (Toxocara canisToxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina), hookworms (Ancylostoma spp, Uncinaria stenocephala) and whipworms (Trichuris vulpis), but also against lungworms (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) and certain tapeworms (e.g. Taenia spp).

Fenbendazole as well as other benzimidazoles (e.g. febantel, albendazole, mebendazole, etc.) and tetrahydropyrimidines (e.g. pyrantel, morantel, etc.) have no residual effect, i.e. they act against the worms during a few hours after administration but are quickly metabolized and excreted. For this reason treatment must often be repeated for certain indications. This is in contrast with wormers containing macrocyclic lactones (e.g. milbemycin oxime, selamectin) that ensure protection against numerous roundworms during weeks after a single treatment.

For an overview and a list of the most popular pet wormers click here.


DISCLAIMER

This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics. 

Information offered in this article has been extracted from publications issued by manufacturers, government agencies (e.g. EMEA, FDA, USDA, etc.) or in the scientific literature. No guarantee is given on its accuracy, integrity, sufficiency, actuality and opportunity, and any liability is denied. Read the site's DISCLAIMER.

In case of doubt contact the manufacturer or a veterinary professional.