Panacur for dogs: What is it for and what should I look out for?

When is Panacur used?

Panacur® is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic for dogs (and cats) that is used to treat infections with various gastrointestinal nematodes and tapeworms.

Does Panacur help with all types of worms?

No: The parasites treated include roundworms such as Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara mystax, hookworms such as Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala and Ancylostoma tubeaformae, and whipworms such as Trichuris vulpis. Panacur is also effective against tapeworms such as Taenia hydatigena and Taenia pisiformis. In puppies, it is also used to treat infestations with Giardia spp.

Active ingredient fendenbandazole

The active ingredient in Panacur is fendenbendazole. This is an anthelmintic (deworming agent). Fenbendazole is available as a medicine for a variety of animal species such as cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, cats and carrier pigeons. It is effective against all major nematodes, including dormant larval stages, but is not sufficiently effective against trematodes and certain tapeworms (except Taenia). For this reason, it is often offered in combination with praziquantel, which is effective against cestodes. However, when used for three days, fenbendazole is effective against acute giardiasis in dogs.

How does Panacur work?

The mechanism of action of fenbendazole as an anthelmintic is based on the fact that it blocks the formation of microtubules by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. This impairs central functions of the worm cells, such as the formation of the cytoskeleton, mitosis and the uptake and transport of nutrients. This leads to an energy deficit, which ultimately causes the death of the parasite , which is excreted within 2 to 3 days.

Fenbendazole also has an ovicidal effect, which occurs about 8 hours after treatment, by disrupting spindle binding and metabolism during embryonic development. It is effective against adult and immature gastrointestinal and lung worms as well as dormant and tissue-bound larval stages. It also shows good results in combating various types of tapeworm.

Possible side effects

When using Panacur, side effects such as vomiting or mild diarrhea may occasionally occur in the treated animals. In very rare cases, in less than 1 in 10,000 treated animals, allergic reactions may also be observed, as confirmed by individual case reports.

In addition, teratogenic (malformation-causing) effects have been observed in dogs after three overdoses.

Administration of Panacur

Panacur is offered for oral administration in tablet form. The dosage depends on the animal's body weight. Panacur tablets are tasteless and well tolerated, which makes administration easier and minimizes side effects.

Adult dogs and cats can either be given the tablets directly or they can be crushed and mixed into the food. Alternatively, the tablets can be dissolved in a little water and then mixed into the food. For puppies, it is recommended that crushed tablets or tablets dissolved in water are mixed with part of the usual food ration to ensure that the full dose is absorbed. A special diet before or after treatment is not necessary. If the infection recurs, the treatment should be repeated.

What does the tablet look like?

Panacur tablets are white to gray-white and have an elongated shape. They have fracture grooves on both sides which make it easy to split the tablets . They have been proven to be suitable for halving, which facilitates precise dosing.

Dosage for dogs

A dog is usually given 50 mg/kg of the active ingredient fendenbandazole orally. The following guide values for Panacur can be derived from this:

• For the 250 mg fenbendazole tablet, the dosage is 50 mg fenbendazole per kilogram of body weight, which corresponds to half a tablet (125 mg) for 2.5 kg body weight or a whole tablet (250 mg) for 5 kg body weight.
• The tablet containing 500 mg fenbendazole is also dosed at 50 mg fenbendazole per kilogram of body weight. Half a tablet (250 mg) is administered for 5 kg body weight and a whole tablet (500 mg) for 10 kg body weight.

The treatment should be repeated on three consecutive days.

Conclusion on the administration of Panacur in dogs

Panacur is a proven and versatile dewormer that is successfully used in a wide range of animal species to combat various intestinal parasites . It is safe and well tolerated and offers a broad spectrum of efficacy against nematodes, giardia and tapeworms (with the exception of certain species). However, it should always be used in consultation with a vet to ensure the correct dosage and duration of use and to avoid possible side effects or complications. Consultation with a veterinarian ensures safe and effective treatment.