fenbendazole capsules is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic and has also been studied as a cancer treatment. While there have been some promising results, it is not yet a viable treatment.
In the experiments shown in Figure 3, fenbendazole alone did not alter tumor growth either in aerobic or hypoxic EMT6 cells. It did, however, synergistically inhibit tumor growth when used in conjunction with radiation.
What is Fenbendazole Capsules?
Fenbendazole is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic approved for use in numerous animal species. It’s especially useful in horses, where it treats and prevents a wide variety of intestinal parasites, including giardia, pinworms, whipworms, roundworms, the Taenia genus of tapeworms, and encysted small strongyles (the early third-stage larva that encysts).
Inside cells of both animals and parasites are structures called microtubules, and fenbendazole is able to bind to and disrupt them. This inhibits their formation and starves the parasite by preventing it from producing energy and blocking its cell division.
Unlike many other wormers, fenbendazole is not absorbed into the bloodstream, so it stays in the gut at relatively high levels and can be used for extended periods of time. However, it’s not for everyone: high doses can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in which symptoms include hives, swelling, difficulty breathing and collapse. Luckily, low to moderate doses are safe for almost all animals.
How to Give Fenbendazole Capsules
Fenbendazole is a very reliable treatment for intestinal parasites in dogs. It is very effective against a wide variety of worms and works to rid the body of them without damaging your dog’s system or organs in the process. It can be used to treat high worm burdens and is also an excellent prevention tool for giardia and lungworms in puppies and young dogs.
Safeguard is an anthelmintic that can be administered to pet poultry, known by the brand names Panacur and Safe-Guard, to prevent or treat a variety of intestinal parasites (roundworms, flukes, certain types of tapeworms and Giardia) in chickens. It is administered orally or mixed into the flock’s drinking water.
Safe-Guard is absorbed in the intestines and metabolized by the liver of the chicken, disrupting how the worms eat. As a result, they starve themselves to death and are eliminated from the body predominately in the feces. It is important to give a second dose within a short period of time in order to kill any worm eggs that have hatched from the first dosage.
Fenbendazole Capsules for Dogs
The anthelmintic medication fenbendazole, also known by the brand names Panacur and Safe-Guard, has proven itself in controlled laboratory and clinical field studies to be effective against many of the intestinal parasites that affect pet dogs. This drug has shown excellent efficacy against hookworms, whipworms and roundworms, as well as tapeworms (including Taenia pisiformis).
Unlike some other deworming medications, fenbendazole works to eliminate parasites by binding to the tubulin in their cells. This prevents the worms from forming microtubules, which are necessary to their structural integrity and function. It also causes the worms to die.
This medication is available in granules, suspension and paste form and is given orally. Typically, veterinarians recommend pouring the medication over your dog’s food to minimize nausea and help your pet keep it down.
Like all prescription veterinary medications, fenbendazole can cause side effects in some dogs. If your pet develops a severe reaction, such as hives or facial swelling, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Fenbendazole Capsules for Cats
Fenbendazole is a safe and effective broad-spectrum dewormer for cats. It is used to treat a variety of internal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, lungworms and the protozoal disease Giardia. It is also used to treat nematodes and cestodes. However, it does not treat tapeworms spread by fleas (Dipylidium caninum) and trematodes like Heterobilharzia americana or Paragonimus kellicotti.
Medications are only recommended by a veterinarian and should never be taken without a prescription or consultation. All content on PetMD is written and reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it should not be a replacement for the advice of your vet.
During clinical trials, fenbendazole was administered to 28 six- to seven-month-old domestic short-hair cats and did not cause any adverse reactions or gross or histologic changes. It is commonly prescribed for felines at a dosage equal to or slightly higher than the one approved for dogs and wild felids. Your veterinarian will recommend the correct dosage based on your cat’s weight and duration of treatment.
