Oxibendazole is a broad spectrum anthelmintic effective against many roundworms. It is ineffectice against flukes (e.g. Fasciola hepatica adults). It is completele inefective against external parasites. Oral administration is the rule.

Oxibendazole is used scarcely in livestock, swine and poultry (manily in drenches and feed additives), dogs and cats (in tablets, pills, etc. or oral suspensions) or horses (in feed additives and a few oral pastes & gels). It is not used against crop protection or household pests.

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 swine, poultry and pets.

The table below indicates some usual dosing recommendations for oxibendazole issued by manufacturers or documented in the scientific literature. They may not be approved in some countries.

Dosing recommendations for OXIBENDAZOLE
Delivery Parasites Dose (against oxibendazole-susceptible parasites)
DOGS
Oral Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
10-20 mg/kg
Oral Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
Puppies: 15 mg/kg/day x2 consec. days in weks 2, 4 y 6 after birth
CATS
Oral (single dose) Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
10-50 mg/kg
CATTLE
Oral (single dose) Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
5-15 mg/kg
SHEEP & GOATS
Oral (single dose) Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
5 mg/kg
SWINE 
Oral (additive) Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
15 ppm (=mg/kg) in feed, continouos feeding.
Oral (single dose) Roundworms (gastrointestinal) 10-15 mg/kg
HORSES
Oral (single dose) Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
10-15 mg/kg
POULTRY
Oral (additive) Roundworms (gastrointestinal)
10 ppm (=mg/kg) in feed during 15 días

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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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