Albendazole: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Valbazen

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbits and Chinchillas

General dose range

7.5–15 mg/kg PO once — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Bovine GI nematodes (Ostertagia, Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Bunostomum)
• Bovine lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus)
• Bovine adult liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica)
• Bovine tapeworms (Moniezia)
• Sheep/goat GI nematodes + liver flukes
• Canine Filaroides hirthi / osleri
• Canine/feline Paragonimus kellicotti
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi (rabbits)

Albendazole dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Filaroides hirthi / osleri: Plumb’s p.40: F. hirthi 50 mg/kg q12h PO for 5 days, repeat in 21 days — signs may worsen as worms die (Hawkins); 25 mg/kg q12h for 5 days, repeat in 2 weeks, also for Oslerus (Reinemeyer). Papich 5e: respiratory parasites 50 mg/kg q24h PO for 10–14 days. Risk of marrow suppression.
• Giardia (use with caution — marrow risk): Papich 5e: 25 mg/kg q12h PO for 2 days. Plumb’s p.40: 25 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days (Barr & Bowman) or 2–5 days (Lappin). Can cause bone-marrow suppression — fenbendazole is preferred.

Cats

• Paragonimus kellicotti: Plumb’s p.40 (Reinemeyer 1995): 25 mg/kg PO q12h for 14 days. Marrow suppression reported in cats — monitor CBC.
• Giardia (use with caution — marrow risk): Plumb's p.40 (Reinemeyer 1995): 25 mg/kg PO q12h ×14 days for lungworm; Giardia 25 mg/kg PO q12h ×5 days. May cause bone-marrow suppression in cats — prefer fenbendazole/metronidazole.

Cattle

• Susceptible GI parasites + lungworms + adult flukes (Valbazen label): Plumb's p.41 (Valbazen label): slaughter withdrawal 27 days at labelled doses. A MILK withdrawal time has NOT been established — the label therefore says do not use in female dairy cattle of breeding age. Dose: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.40 (label) 10 mg/kg PO once (adult flukes best treated in autumn; Herd); Roberson gives 7.5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg for adult flukes. Teratogenic — avoid in the first 45 days of pregnancy.

Goats

• Susceptible parasites (extra-label): Plumb’s p.40 (Valbazen label; Roberson 1988) and Papich 5e: sheep & goats 7.5 mg/kg PO; 15 mg/kg PO for adult liver flukes. Avoid in the first trimester (teratogenic). Extra-label in goats — extended withdrawal.

Sheep

• Susceptible parasites (Valbazen label): Plumb's p.41: slaughter withdrawal 7 days at labelled dose in sheep. No milk withdrawal is established; a 7-milking figure has been PROPOSED in the literature (Athanasiou et al. 2009) but is not a label withdrawal. Dose: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.40 (label) 7.5 mg/kg PO once (0.75 mL per 25 lb). Avoid in the first 30 days of pregnancy.
• Adult liver flukes: Plumb's p.41: sheep slaughter withdrawal 7 days at labelled dose; no established milk withdrawal. Dose: Plumb’s p.40 — 7.6 mg/kg (Paul 1986); 15 mg/kg for adult liver flukes (Roberson 1988).

Pigs

• Susceptible parasites: Plumb’s p.40 (Roberson 1988): 5–10 mg/kg PO. Extra-label in pigs — obtain a withdrawal (FARAD).

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Susceptible GI parasites + lungworms + adult flukes (Valbazen label): Plumb's p.41 (Valbazen label): slaughter withdrawal 27 days at labelled doses. A MILK withdrawal time has NOT been established — the label therefore says do not use in female dairy cattle of breeding age. Dose: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.40 (label) 10 mg/kg PO once (adult flukes best treated in autumn; Herd); Roberson gives 7.5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg for adult flukes. Teratogenic — avoid in the first 45 days of pregnancy.

Rabbits

• Encephalitozoon cuniculi: Plumb's p.40: E. cuniculi 20 mg/kg PO q24h ×10 days (Bryan 2009); phacoclastic uveitis 30 mg/kg PO q24h ×30 days then 15 mg/kg ×30 days (Ivey & Morrisey 2000). Watch for marrow suppression on long courses.

Chinchillas

• Giardia: Plumb's p.40 (Hayes 2000): Giardia 50–100 mg/kg PO once daily ×3 days.

Contraindications

NOT for lactating dairy cattle. NOT in cows during first 45 days of gestation or within 45 days of bull removal. NOT in ewes during first 30 days of gestation. Pigeons/doves: bone marrow toxicity. Alpaca crias: severe toxicity reported (neutropenia, sepsis, death). Has been associated with aplastic anaemia in dogs/cats/humans.

Species-specific warnings

Dogs: AVOID — pancytopenia (sometimes fatal) reported at extra-label doses for Giardia. Fenbendazole (50 mg/kg × 5 d) is the safer first-line.

Cats: AVOID — idiosyncratic bone marrow suppression even at standard doses. Fenbendazole is the safe alternative.

Cattle: Strict pregnancy timing: do NOT use in first 45 days of gestation (teratogenic). Withdrawal: 27 d meat (Valbazen label, Plumb's p.41). MILK withdrawal is NOT established — the US label directs that it not be used in female dairy cattle of breeding age at all.

Sheep: Teratogenic in first 30 days of pregnancy. Goats clear it faster — may need 1.5× cattle dose.

Goats: Use 10–15 mg/kg PO — higher than cattle. Same first-30-day teratogenicity caveat.

Adverse effects

• Aplastic anaemia (rare but reported in dogs, cats, humans)
• Anorexia (dogs at 50 mg/kg q12h)
• Lethargy, depression, anorexia (cats on extended Paragonimus regimens)
• Severe alpaca cria toxicity at high doses
• Bone marrow / intestinal toxicity in pigeons and doves

Drug interactions

• Cimetidine: inhibits hepatic oxidation — increases sulphoxide levels
• Dexamethasone / corticosteroids: may increase albendazole concentrations
• Praziquantel: increased albendazole levels when co-administered
• Phenobarbital / phenytoin: induce metabolism — may reduce efficacy
• Carbamazepine: induces metabolism — reduced efficacy

Pregnancy and lactation

AVOID in first trimester — TERATOGENIC in cattle, sheep, dogs at 1st-month dosing (skeletal, palate, and ocular abnormalities). Do NOT use in first 45 days of bovine pregnancy, first 30 days of ovine pregnancy. After this window, generally safe. FDA Category D. Compare to fenbendazole (Category B) if pregnant.

Monitoring

• CBC at 7 and 14 days if used in dogs at extra-label dose (e.g. Giardia), or in any species at >20 mg/kg
• Hepatic enzymes (ALT, ALP) if treatment extended beyond label duration
• Faecal egg count reduction test 14 days post-treatment — verify efficacy and identify resistance
• Pregnancy status documented before every dose in breeding females
• Withdrawal periods strictly: cattle 27 d meat / 60 h milk; sheep 14 d meat

Toxicity and overdose

Teratogenic at standard doses given early in pregnancy — primary safety concern. Bone marrow suppression at chronic high doses (>20 mg/kg/day × weeks) — neutropenia, thrombocytopenia. Hepatotoxicity at very high cumulative doses. Cats: idiosyncratic neutropenia / pancytopenia reported even at standard doses — AVOID in cats. Dogs: anti-Giardia use (25 mg/kg PO q12h × 2 days) has caused fatal pancytopenia — fenbendazole preferred for Giardia in dogs.

Management: No specific antidote. Discontinue immediately. CBC monitoring for cytopenia at 7, 14, 21 days. Hepatic enzyme monitoring. Bone marrow suppression: supportive — granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) if neutrophils <500/µL, transfusion if severe anaemia / thrombocytopenia. Activated charcoal if recent ingestion.

Clinical pearls

• Cattle / sheep: 7.5–10 mg/kg PO single dose covers GI nematodes, lungworms, AND adult Fasciola hepatica — broader than fenbendazole
• Goats: 10–15 mg/kg PO single dose (higher than cattle due to faster metabolism)
• NEVER in first 45 days of pregnancy — teratogenic. Use ivermectin or fenbendazole for early-pregnancy parasitism
• Dogs / cats: AVOID for Giardia — fenbendazole is safer. Albendazole pancytopenia in dogs and cats has been fatal
• Horses: not commonly used — ivermectin / moxidectin / fenbendazole are first-line in equine practice
• Fasciolosis: 7.5–10 mg/kg PO for adult flukes only; triclabendazole or closantel needed for immature stages

Mechanism of action

Benzimidazole carbamate anthelmintic. Binds beta-tubulin of nematode, cestode, and trematode microtubules, blocking polymerisation — disrupts glucose uptake, energy metabolism, and cell division. Bioactivated to albendazole sulphoxide (active metabolite, longer half-life). Broader spectrum than fenbendazole — covers Fasciola hepatica adults at standard dose and is the benzimidazole of choice for liver fluke.

Formulations and products

• Valbazen suspension 113.6 mg/mL
• Albomar oral suspension 25 mg/mL (Virbac, 2.5 %)
• Albomar tablet 600 mg / 1500 mg (Virbac)
• Albomar Oral Suspension (Virbac) — 25 mg/mL (2.5 %), Micronised oral suspension
• Albomar Tablet (Virbac) — 600 / 1500 mg, Oral tablet (large animal)
• Albasure Bolus (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — Albendazole 3 g + Ivermectin 100 mg, Uncoated oral bolus
• Albenz Plus Bolus (Micro Animal Health Care (Micro Labs group), Bengaluru) — Albendazole 3000 mg + Ivermectin 100 mg, Uncoated oral bolus
• Albenz Plus Oral Suspension (Micro Animal Health Care (Micro Labs group), Bengaluru) — Albendazole 750 mg + Ivermectin 25 mg per 30 mL, Oral suspension

Storage

Oral suspension: 15–25 °C, shake well, protect from light. Tablets / bolus: 15–25 °C, dry. Discard expired stock.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other antiparasitics

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• Afoxolaner
• Allopurinol
• Amitraz
• Amprolium
• Atovaquone
• Buparvaquone
• Clorsulon

Frequently asked questions