Febantel is a broad spectrum anthelmintic effective against roundworms and, depending on the dose, also against some tapeworms (e.g. Moniezia spp) as welll. It is ineffectice against flukes (e.g. Fasciola hepatica adults) at the usual therapeutic dose. It is completele ineffective against external parasites. Oral administration is the rule.
It is used moderately in dogs and cats (mostly in tablets, pills, etc. or oral suspensions) often mixed with other anthelmintics. Usage in cattle, sheep, swine and horses is more modest (often in feed additives). It is not used in crop protection.
In ruminants, a 50% reduction of the diet 36 prior and 8 hours after treatment slows down the passage through the stomach, which increases the bioavailability of benzimidazoles and their metabolites and consequently its efficacy against gastrointestinal parasites.
In carnivores (incl. dogs and cats) delivery with the food increases the bioavailability of all benzimidazoles resulting in a better efficacy.
All benzimidazoles have almost no residual effect, i.e. they kill the parasites during a few hours after treatment but offer no significant protection against re-infestation.
Unfortunately, resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to all benzimidazoles in sheep, goats, cattle and horses is a major problem in numerous countries. Not so yet in pets.
The table below indicates some usual dosing recommendations for febantel issued by manufacturers or documented in the scientific literature. They may not be approved in some countries.
| Dosing recommendations for FEBANTEL |
||
| DOGS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 10-25 mg/kg/day x3 days |
| Oral | Toxocara canis |
10 mg/kg/day |
| Oral | Ancylostoma spp, Uncinaria spp |
15 mg/kg |
| Oral | Trichuris vulpis | 15 mg/kg |
| CATS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 10 mg/kg |
| CATTLE | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 7.5-10 mg/kg |
| Oral | Dictyocaulus viviparus | 5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Moniezia spp | 7.5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited larvae | 10 mg/kg |
| SHEEP & GOATS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Protostrongylus rufescens | 10 mg/kg |
| Oral | Moniezia spp | 5 mg/kg |
| SWINE | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 5 mg/kg; or 30 ppm (=mg/kg) in feed for 5 days |
| HORSES | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 6 mg/kg |
| POULTRY | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against febantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestianl roundworms | 120 ppm (=mg/kg) in feed during 6 days |
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Dosing recommendations for antiparasitics depend on national regulations. National regulatory authorities determine whether a product is approved for a given indication, i.e. use on a particular host at a specific dose and against a specific parasite. Check the labels of the products available in your country for specific information on approved indications.
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