Dogs and Puppies

Panacur puppy and kitten paste, Drontal Suspension and Panacur Liquid are all suitable for worming puppies. Is round worm infection dangerous to puppies Once the pups are born the larvae migrate through the liver and lungs to reach the small intestine Migrationin the lungs may produce a parasitic pneumonia whilst in the intestine worms may cause diarrhoea and vomiting leading to poor weight gain and stunted growth. Puppies as young as 2 weeks of age can be wormed with Panacur. Worming should be repeated at 5, 8, 12 weeks with Panacur. Panacur needs to be dosed for three days running for animals under 6 months old. Older dogs can receive a single dose. Virtually 100% of puppies are infected with roundworm Puppies acquire 98% of the infection before birth and 2% of the infection comes through their mothers’ milk. Early worming of puppies is essential as they can shed millions of worm eggs in their first few weeks infecting other dogs including the bitch and also putting children at risk. Worming the pregnant bitch from day 40 of pregnancy until 2 days after whelpingcan reduce the worm burden by 98% Available in the following forms: Liquid, paste, granules and new ‘favourites’.

Wormer for pregnant bitches

Panacur is the only suitable wormer for pregnant bitches we recommend Panacur liquid 10% for ease of dosage. Contains Fenbendazole and is suitable for both cats and dogs including unweaned puppies and kittens from two weeks of age. It is effective against many round, hook and tapeworms such as Toxocara, Toxascaris, Ancylostoma, Trichuris, Uncinaria, and Taenia species. It is also suitable for pregnant bitches and Giardia infections in dogs and lungworm in both cats and dogs used in accordance with the instructions provided.

Increased dosing for specific infections

For the treatment of heavily infected dogs and cats or dogs infected with protozoa Giardia: 1ml Panacur 10% liquid per 2kg bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days For the control of lungworm Oslerus (filaroides) osleri in dogs: 1ml Panacur 10% liquid per 2 kg bodyweight daily for 7 consecutive days A repeat course of treatment may be required. For the treatment of lungworm aelurostrongylus abstrusus in cats: 1ml Panacur 10% liquid per 2kg bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days

Cats and kittens

Kittens are infected through the mothers milk as soon as they begin nursing. This may continue for up to 5 weeks after birth. Worming the queen before she is mated and 2 weeks before her kittens are due will help to reduce her worm burden. The kittens should then be wormed when they are 2,5 and 8 weeks of age with Panacur with the dose spread over three days.

Drontal tablets, Panacur Favourites and Panacur Liquid are also suitable for adult dogs.

Panacur is at present the only licensed wormer for pregnant bitches. Unborn puppies are infected with Roundworms from the bitch and also through the milk. This can be prevented by worming with a small dose of Panacur daily for 25 days starting at day 40 of the pregnancy. Testing in numerous trials since the 1970'S has indicated that there is no ill effect in the bitch or her unborn puppies at the recommended dose of 25mg/kg of bodyweight for 25 days. In one report of field Use 2,817 bitches were treated using the recommended dosage rate and no ill effects from Panacur were reported in the bitches or their 15,944 puppies.

Human health problems

It is well known that Toxocara canis the most common roundworm in dogs can persist for very long periods and contaminate such areas as playgrounds and sand-pits used by children. If children are infected this may lead to sight problems or in rare cases even blindness. The Echinococcus tapeworm can infect humans and cause hydatid cysts which can grow to a very large size. There is no effective treatment for these other than surgery to remove them where possible. This tapeworm can also infect sheep and subsequently humans who consume the meat if it is not thoroughly cooked. Any dogs kept where sheep graze need effective worming with DRONTAL PLUS and it is another reason for using a “poop scoop”. Toxoplasmosis can be very dangerous in pregnant women and may be spread by cat litter trays etc. the infective agent is now known to be a protozoan parasite. Infection during pregnancy can result in the death of the foetus or if the baby survives there may be hydrocephalus (“water on the brain”) jaundice, brain or eye damage. The infection can be passed from cats to sheep or pigs with humans infected once again by eating undercooked meat. There does not seem to be much research on treating Toxoplasma in cats but it has been suggested that PANACUR may have an action similar to its use in treating Giardia in dogs. This is not covered by its marketing authorisation (Product licence) Hygiene in clearing up after cats and dogs is essential and pregnant women may wish to consider using disposable gloves.