Levamisole and oxyclozanide dose rate for ruminants
Levamisole and oxyclozanide are both anthelmintic drugs used in ruminants. Here's a quick summary from memory:
- Levamisole: 7.5 mg/kg body weight for cattle and sheep (subcutaneous/oral); acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist causing spastic paralysis of nematodes.
- Oxyclozanide: 10-15 mg/kg for cattle, 10 mg/kg for sheep; a salicylanilide flukicide effective mainly against adult Fasciola hepatica.
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levamisole oxyclozanide dose rate ruminants cattle sheep goat
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The library is a human medical textbook collection and doesn't cover veterinary pharmacology. The web search results are solid. Let me compile the complete answer from those authoritative sources plus my knowledge:
Levamisole and Oxyclozanide - Dose Rates in Ruminants
Levamisole
| Species | Route | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | Oral (drench/bolus) | 7.5 mg/kg body weight |
| Cattle | Subcutaneous injection | 7.5 mg/kg body weight |
| Sheep & Goat | Oral | 7.5 mg/kg body weight |
| Sheep & Goat | Subcutaneous injection | 7.5 mg/kg body weight |
- Drug class: Imidazothiazole anthelmintic
- Mechanism: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist - causes spastic (flaccid) paralysis of susceptible nematodes
- Spectrum: Effective against gastrointestinal roundworms (Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Nematodirus) and lungworms (Dictyocaulus); also has immunomodulatory activity
- Available formulations: Oral drench, bolus, soluble powder, injectable solution
- Combination product: Often combined with oxyclozanide (7.5 mg/kg LVM + 15 mg/kg OXZ) for broad-spectrum coverage against both nematodes and flukes
- Withholding period: ~3 days (meat); do not use in lactating animals producing milk for human consumption (varies by country)
Oxyclozanide
| Species | Route | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | Oral (drench) | 10-15 mg/kg body weight |
| Sheep | Oral (drench) | 15 mg/kg body weight |
| Goat | Oral (drench) | 15 mg/kg body weight |
- Drug class: Salicylanilide flukicide
- Mechanism: Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in flukes - disrupts mitochondrial ATP synthesis
- Spectrum: Primarily effective against adult Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke); has some activity against Fasciola gigantica and adult tapeworms (e.g., Moniezia)
- Limitation: Poor efficacy against immature/migrating flukes (use triclabendazole for early fluke stages)
- Available formulations: Oral drench, suspension, feed premix, combination tablets (with levamisole)
- Withholding period: ~28 days (meat); 4-5 days (milk) - check local product label
Combined Product (Levamisole + Oxyclozanide)
The combination is widely used for broad-spectrum treatment:
| Species | Levamisole | Oxyclozanide |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle, Sheep, Goat | 7.5 mg/kg | 15 mg/kg |
This combination provides simultaneous coverage against nematodes (via levamisole) and adult liver flukes (via oxyclozanide), as confirmed in pharmacokinetic studies of the combination (Gokbulut et al., 2014).
Key clinical notes:
- Dose by accurate body weight to avoid under-dosing (risks resistance) or toxicity
- Levamisole has a narrow safety margin - do not exceed recommended dose; overdose causes nicotinic signs (muscle tremors, salivation, convulsions)
- Oxyclozanide is generally well tolerated; adverse effects (diarrhea, anorexia) can occur at doses ≥15 mg/kg
- EMA MRL report on oxyclozanide notes liver/brain toxicity at higher doses in target animals
- Always consult local product data sheet for current registered doses and withdrawal periods
Dose rate of febendazole in animals
Fenbendazole (note: commonly spelled "fenbendazole") is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic. Quick summary from memory:
- Cattle/Buffalo: 7.5 mg/kg orally
- Sheep/Goat: 5 mg/kg orally
- Dogs/Cats: 50 mg/kg orally for 3 days
- Horses: 5-10 mg/kg orally
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fenbendazole dose rate all animals cattle sheep dog cat horse pig poultry
Excellent - comprehensive data retrieved. Here is the complete reference:
Fenbendazole - Dose Rates in Animals
Drug class: Benzimidazole anthelmintic
Mechanism: Inhibits tubulin polymerization, disrupting glucose uptake and energy metabolism in parasites
Route: Oral (drench, granules, paste, suspension, bolus)
CATTLE / BUFFALO
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms (GI nematodes) | 5-7.5 mg/kg single dose |
| Continuous low-level (mixed in feed) | 1 mg/kg/day x 5-10 days |
| Lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) | 5-7.5 mg/kg (repeat after 4 weeks if needed) |
| Ostertagia inhibited larvae (Type II ostertagiosis) | 10 mg/kg single dose |
| Moniezia spp. (tapeworms) | 10 mg/kg |
| Fasciola hepatica adults (liver fluke) | 15 mg/kg/day x 6 days |
| Giardia spp. | 10 mg/kg twice daily x 3 days |
SHEEP
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms (GI nematodes) | 5-10 mg/kg single dose |
| Moniezia spp. (tapeworms) | 5-15 mg/kg |
| Fasciola hepatica adults | 150 mg/kg single dose; or 10-30 mg/kg/day x 5 days |
| Dicrocoelium dendriticum (lancet fluke) | 100-150 mg/kg single; or 25 mg/kg/day x 5 days |
GOATS
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms (GI nematodes) | 5-15 mg/kg single dose |
| Moniezia spp. | 5-15 mg/kg |
Note: Goats generally require the higher end of the dose range due to faster drug metabolism compared to sheep and cattle.
HORSES
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms, small strongyles (adult) | 7.5 mg/kg single dose |
| Mucosal stages of Trichonema (cyathostomes) | 30 mg/kg single dose |
| Migrating larvae of Strongylus vulgaris / S. edentatus | 60 mg/kg single; OR 7.5 mg/kg/day x 5 days |
| Strongyloides westeri (suckling foals) | 50 mg/kg single dose |
| Thelazia lacrimalis | 10 mg/kg/day x 5 days |
| Trichostrongylus spp. | 50 mg/kg |
DOGS
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) | 50 mg/kg/day x 3 consecutive days |
| Hookworms (Ancylostoma, Uncinaria) | 50 mg/kg/day x 3 days |
| Whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) | 50 mg/kg/day x 3 days (repeat at 3 weeks and 3 months) |
| Tapeworm (Taenia spp.) | 50 mg/kg/day x 3 days |
| Filaroides osleri (lungworm) | 50 mg/kg/day x 10 days |
| Paragonimus kellicotti (lung fluke) | 20-50 mg/kg/day x 5 days |
| Trichinella spiralis (muscle) | 25 mg/kg twice daily x 5 days |
| Pregnant bitches (larval transmission prevention) | 50 mg/kg/day from Day 40 of gestation to Day 14 of lactation |
| Giardia | 50 mg/kg/day x 3-5 days |
CATS
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms | 50 mg/kg/day x 3 consecutive days |
PIGS
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| GI roundworms | 5 mg/kg single dose; or 3 mg/kg/day x 3 days |
| Metastrongylus spp. (lungworm) | 5 mg/kg |
POULTRY (Chicken, Pheasant, Partridge)
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Ascarids (chicken) | 15-25 mg/kg/day x 3 days |
| Ascarids (pheasants, partridges) | 120 ppm in feed x 3 days; or 60 ppm in feed x 6 days |
| Capillaria spp. | 10-50 mg/kg x 5 days |
| General (all poultry) | 10-50 mg/kg (repeat after 10 days) |
SOUTH AMERICAN CAMELIDS (Llama, Alpaca)
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Roundworms | 5-15 mg/kg |
| Moniezia spp. | 10 mg/kg x 3 days |
REPTILES
| Indication | Dose |
|---|---|
| Helminths (general) | 50-100 mg/kg single dose (repeat in 2 weeks); or 50 mg/kg/day x 3-5 days |
Key Clinical Notes
- Safety margin: Very wide - well tolerated even at 6x the recommended dose; safe in pregnant and lactating animals
- Withdrawal period (meat): Cattle ~8-14 days; Sheep ~10 days; varies by country and formulation - always check product label
- Milk withholding: Not approved for use in dairy animals in many countries; check local regulations
- Resistance: Benzimidazole resistance is common in small ruminants (especially Haemonchus contortus) - fecal egg count reduction tests are recommended to confirm efficacy
- Pharmacokinetics: Half-life is ~36 hrs in cattle, ~27-33 hrs in sheep, ~9.5 hrs in horses; excreted mainly via feces (>90%)
Sources: Parasitipedia fenbendazole dose table | EMA MRL Report - Fenbendazole (All Ruminants) | Panacur SPC (HPRA)
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