Albendazole is a product with antiparasitic effect, which will be active against several intestinal parasites that can infest dogs from any age. Currently, it is not widely used, since there are many other effective drugs against parasites that have been replacing the use of albendazole for dogs in regular or occasional deworming.
In this article on our site we will review the indications of this product, as well as its possible side effects. Read on to discover the most suitable dose of albendazole for dogs and much more.
What is albendazole for dogs?
Albendazole is an active principle that belongs to the class of benzimidazoles It shares a group with other better-known antiparasitic products and currently more used than albendazole for dogs, such as febantel or fenbendazole. These types of products have been administered as antiparasitics for decades, specifically, their use has been recorded since 1960, although albendazole began to spread somewhat later, around 1970.
In any case, the time it has been on the market has led to its replacement by new drugs that are increasingly more effective, safe and specific. The benzimidazoles themselves have evolved. The first ones that were presented focused their action on adults and larvae of worms located in the gastrointestinal tract. The benzimidazoles evolved and managed to broaden their spectrum of use and pass from the intestines to the blood, as is the case with albendazole. In this way, they can combat worms lodged outside the intestine, such as those that parasitize the lungs. Albendazole, in particular, works by preventing the digestive enzymes of parasites from working. In this way, they are unable to obtain the glucose necessary for their survival and end up dying.
What is albendazole for dogs used for?
Albendazole is used to fight intestinal parasites such as nematodes, cestodes or tapeworms, trematodes and giardia. Therefore, it can be used for internal deworming, although albendazole is a dewormer that is currently prescribed much more for cattle than for dogs or cats.
Albendazole for dogs will act on the parasites that are currently in the gastrointestinal tract, but it has no residual effect, that is, it does not prevent new infestations, like no other internal dewormer.
Although adult dogs do not usually show symptoms of gastrointestinal parasites, in puppies, especially, we can see vomiting and/or diarrhea with the presence of worms, delayed growth, malnutrition, anemia, etc. But that we suspect the presence of parasites does not mean that we can give the dog albendazole on our own. In that case you have to go to the vet. This professional will take a stool sample with a thermometer and look at it under a microscope to check for the presence of parasites. Depending on the ones he identifies, he will prescribe the most appropriate antiparasitic, which does not have to be albendazole.
Is albendazole good for dogs?
As we mentioned, there are currently other drugs designed to combat the same parasites as albendazole but with a higher percentage of success and a better composition. For this reason, albendazole for dogs is not bad, but there are better products
Albendazole Dosage for Dogs
It is recommended that adult dogs be internally dewormed every 3-4 months and always before any vaccinations are administered. In puppies, during the first months of life, internal deworming must be more frequent. It is advisable to start at two weeks of age and repeat it every 15 days until the end of the vaccination schedule. Afterwards, they go on to be dewormed like adults, every 3-4 months. For more details, don't miss the article in which we explain how often to deworm a dog.
It is possible to give albendazole to puppies, but it should always be the veterinarian who prescribes the most suitable product. In addition, for an effective and safe dose, you must first know the weight of the dog. On the other hand, there is albendazole marketed specifically for dogs. It is administered orally and can be found both in liquid and in tablets, so it is possible to choose the easiest presentation to administer according to the characteristics of our dog. It is recommended to give it with food because this favors its absorption.
Therefore, the dose will vary depending on the presentation that the veterinarian prescribes and the weight of our dog, hence the importance of weighing it so that the dose is correct. Depending on the infestation, the veterinarian will tell us if a single dose is useful or if it is necessary to repeat it. In addition, you also have to take into account the parasite that you want to eliminate. As an example, we can point out that the dose of albendazole against Toxocara canis is 50 mg per kg of weight per day. It must be administered for three days in a row. In contrast, albendazole treatment against Giardia spp. It will be 25 mg per kg of weight in two daily doses for four days. In view of these data, it is understood the importance of going to the veterinarian to give an effective dose of albendazole.
Recommendations for giving albendazole to a dog
When administering this antiparasitic, its presentation must be taken into account. Albendazole in liquid form, that is, in syrup, should be administered directly into the dog's mouth. To do this, you will have to follow these instructions:
- Fill the syringe with the amount indicated for your dog.
- Insert the syringe through one of the sides, just behind the fang, and deposit the liquid little by little. You may need someone to help you restrain the dog.
- Reward your dog when he has ingested all the product so that he associates this experience with positive stimuli.
Now, if the albendazole for dogs is in tablets, you will have to follow these steps:
- Put the pill in some wet food (canned or homemade).
- Offer your dog the food with the tablet inside and watch how he eats to make sure he does not expel the product
- If you cannot get the tablet to be swallowed, you should crush it and mix it in this way with food or dilute it in water.
Albendazole Side Effects for Dogs
Although well used albendazole for dogs offers great safety in its use, that is, it causes few side effects, some precautions must always be taken into account. Some of these side effects include a decreased appetite or even anemia, although this is rare.
On the other hand, as in most antiparasitic products, it is possible to observe adverse effects after administration such as vomiting or diarrhea, as well as decay and lethargy.
Albendazole contraindications for dogs
Albendazole should not be given to puppies less than two weeks old or to bitches with of gestation,as it could harm fetuses or cause miscarriage. The veterinarian will have to assess its use in those specimens that present a liver problem.
On the other hand, if there is any symptom of allergy to the product, it is necessary to go to the veterinarian immediately to confirm the reaction and avoid giving it to it again.
