Amitraz: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Taktic, Virtraz, Preventic

Species with doses

Dogs, Cattle, Goats, Sheep and Pigs

Routes

Topical

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Tick / mite / lice / keds in cattle / sheep / goat / pig / camel
• Canine demodicosis (off-label, MDR1-clear dogs only)
• Canine tick prevention (Preventic collar)

Amitraz 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

• Generalised demodicosis (off-label): Papich 5e: 10.6 mL per 7.5 L water (0.025% solution), 3–6 topical treatments every 14 days; refractory cases 0.025–0.1% once or twice weekly. Plumb’s: apply to the whole dog and allow to air-dry (do not rinse). Toxic if swallowed; alpha-2 effects reversible with atipamezole or yohimbine.

Cattle

• Ticks / mites / keds (Taktic 12.5 %): Label-sourced (Taktic 12.5%) — Papich 5e states no large-animal amitraz dose has been reported and Plumb’s covers dogs, cats and rodents only. Follow the local label for dilution, meat and milk withdrawal.

Goats

• Lice / mites: Label-sourced (12.5% concentrate); not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Follow the local label withdrawal.

Sheep

• Sheep ked / lice / mange: Label-sourced (12.5% concentrate); not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s large-animal doses. Follow the local label withdrawal.

Pigs

• Lice / mange: Label-sourced (12.5% concentrate); not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Follow the local label withdrawal.

Buffalo

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

• Ticks / mites / keds (Taktic 12.5 %): Label-sourced (Taktic 12.5%) — Papich 5e states no large-animal amitraz dose has been reported and Plumb’s covers dogs, cats and rodents only. Follow the local label for dilution, meat and milk withdrawal.

Camelids

• No reference dose for this species: No camelid amitraz dose appears in Papich 5e (which states no large-animal dose has been reported) or Plumb’s.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATED in horses, cats, chihuahua-type small dogs (severe sedation, hypothermia, bradycardia). Pregnancy (caution). Reversal with atipamezole or yohimbine for accidental ingestion.

Species-specific warnings

Horses: Amitraz is CONTRAINDICATED in horses — severe ileus and colic reported.

Cats: Avoid in cats — sensitive to alpha-2 agonist effects.

Adverse effects

• Sedation, ataxia, bradycardia, hypothermia if licked / ingested
• Local skin irritation (high concentrations)
• Transient hyperglycaemia

Drug interactions

• Atipamezole / yohimbine / tolazoline: SPECIFIC REVERSAL for systemic alpha-2 effects from accidental ingestion / over-absorption
• Other alpha-2 agonists (xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine): additive sedation / cardiovascular depression — caution at dipping time
• MAO inhibitors (selegiline, L-deprenyl): SEVERE additive effects — avoid
• Insulin: amitraz causes hyperglycaemia — caution in diabetic patients
• CNS depressants: additive sedation if accidental absorption

Pregnancy and lactation

Generally safe at label dilutions for topical dipping in pregnant cattle, sheep, goats. Used widely in pregnant breeding stock. Excessive absorption can cause maternal alpha-2 effects → reduce uterine blood flow. Preventic collar: limited human pregnancy data — handler should wear gloves.

Monitoring

• Dilution accuracy — 2 mL/L for ticks, 4 mL/L for mites (Taktic)
• Animal observation for 1 h post-dip — sedation indicates excessive absorption
• Withdrawal periods: cattle 7 d milk / 1 d slaughter (tick dose); 14 d milk / 6 d slaughter (mange dose)
• Preventic collar: position, fit, owner education to avoid handling
• Demodicosis dogs: clinical + cytological response at 4–6 dips
• NEVER allow horses access to dipping area or dipped animals

Toxicity and overdose

CONTRAINDICATED in HORSES — severe gut ileus, colic, death. Cats: sensitive to alpha-2 effects — sedation, hypothermia, bradycardia. Chihuahuas / toy breeds: severe sedation, hypothermia, bradycardia reported with Preventic collar — risk-benefit analysis needed. MDR1-mutant dogs: enhanced toxicity (P-glycoprotein substrate). Mammalian ingestion: SLUD-like signs, sedation, hypothermia, bradycardia, hyperglycaemia — REVERSIBLE with atipamezole.

Management: ATIPAMEZOLE 0.1 mg/kg IM (or yohimbine 0.1 mg/kg IV slow, tolazoline 4 mg/kg IV slow) — SPECIFIC alpha-2 reversal. Supportive: IV fluids, active warming, atropine for bradycardia (if symptomatic). Activated charcoal if recent oral ingestion. Bathe with detergent for topical exposure. Recovery usually 12–24 h with reversal.

Clinical pearls

• Cattle / sheep / goat tick dip: 2 mL Taktic per litre water = 0.025% — full body immersion or spray
• Mange / mites: 4 mL per litre (0.05%) — same delivery method
• Canine demodicosis (off-label): 0.025–0.05% rinse weekly × 4–6 dips; check MDR1 status BEFORE
• Preventic collar: tick prevention in dogs; remove before bathing / swimming
• ATIPAMEZOLE 0.1 mg/kg IM is the antidote for accidental amitraz ingestion (dog chews collar) — keep in clinic emergency stock
• NEVER in horses — fatal ileus / colic; NEVER allow horses near dipping facility
• Cats sensitive — avoid systemic exposure; ear-mite use only if no alternative
• Toy-breed dogs (chihuahua, Yorkie): use Preventic collar with caution — severe alpha-2 effects reported
• MDR1-mutant dogs: enhanced absorption / toxicity — genetic test before any systemic use

Mechanism of action

Formamidine acaricide / insecticide. Binds octopamine and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors on the arthropod nervous system → causes hyper-excitation, paralysis, and detachment from the host. Effective against ticks (all life stages), mites (Demodex, Sarcoptes, Psoroptes, Cheyletiella), lice, keds, and some flies. Mammalian alpha-2 effects (sedation, hypotension, bradycardia, hyperglycaemia) occur with significant absorption / ingestion — REVERSIBLE with atipamezole or yohimbine.

Formulations and products

• Taktic 12.5 % EC (MSD, 15 / 50 / 250 mL)
• Virtraz 12.5 % w/v dip concentrate (Virbac, 15 mL)
• Preventic acaricidal collar (Virbac, dog)
• Taktic 12.5 % EC (MSD Animal Health) — Amitraz 125 mg/mL, Emulsifiable concentrate (dilute & dip/spray)
• Virtraz (Virbac) — 12.5 % w/v, Liquid amitraz dip concentrate
• Preventic Collar (Virbac) — Amitraz acaricidal collar, Collar with detaching effect
• Tikkil Raz (Indian Immunologicals (IIL), Hyderabad) — Amitraz I.P. 125 mg/mL (12.5 %), Dip concentrate liquid
• Megataz (Micro Animal Health Care (Micro Labs group), Bengaluru) — 12.5 % w/v amitraz, Dip concentrate - dilute before use

Storage

Concentrate: 15–25 °C, protect from light, keep tightly closed. Diluted dip: use immediately, discard unused diluted dip after 24 h. Preventic collar: sealed pouch — original packaging until use.

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

• Abamectin
• Afoxolaner
• Albendazole
• Allopurinol
• Amprolium
• Atovaquone
• Buparvaquone
• Clorsulon

Frequently asked questions