# Niclosamide: veterinary dose and monograph

> Niclosamide is a veterinary antiparasitic. Salicylanilide anticestodal (tapeworm) drug. Indications include tapeworm (cestode) infections — Taenia, Moniezia (ruminants), Dipylidium, etc.; deworming of dogs, cats, ruminants and poultry for susceptible cestodes; molluscicide for snail control in fluke-endemic pastures (environmental use). This monograph lists 6 reference doses for dogs, cats, cattle, goats, sheep and birds, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/niclosamide · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antiparasitic
- **Also known as:** Lintex, Yomesan, Niclosamide
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Goats, Sheep and Birds
- **General dose range:** 100–157 mg/kg PO single dose (repeat in 2–3 weeks) — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Tapeworm (cestode) infections — Taenia, Moniezia (ruminants), Dipylidium, etc.
- Deworming of dogs, cats, ruminants and poultry for susceptible cestodes
- Molluscicide for snail control in fluke-endemic pastures (environmental use)

## Niclosamide 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

*Niclosamide doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tapeworms | 100–157 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — |

- Tapeworms: Product-label dose — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph. Give after a light fast; repeat in 2–3 weeks. Praziquantel is preferred (and required for Echinococcus).

### Cats

*Niclosamide doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tapeworms | 100–157 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — |

- Tapeworms: Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph. Give after a light fast. Praziquantel is preferred (and required for Echinococcus).

### Cattle

*Niclosamide doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Moniezia / cestodes | 50–90 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Moniezia / cestodes: Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph (Merck lists it among ruminant salicylanilides without a dose). Poorly absorbed (gut-local). Follow the local label withdrawal.

### Goats

*Niclosamide doses for goats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tapeworms (Moniezia) | 50–90 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Tapeworms (Moniezia): Product-label dose — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph. Poorly absorbed (gut-local). Follow the local label withdrawal.

### Sheep

*Niclosamide doses for sheep*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Moniezia (lambs) | 75–90 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Moniezia (lambs): Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph. Poorly absorbed (gut-local). Follow the local label withdrawal.

### Buffalo

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

*Niclosamide doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Moniezia / cestodes | 50–90 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Moniezia / cestodes: Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph (Merck lists it among ruminant salicylanilides without a dose). Poorly absorbed (gut-local). Follow the local label withdrawal.

### Birds

*Niclosamide doses for birds*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tapeworms (poultry) | 100–200 mg/kg | PO | single dose | — |

- Tapeworms (poultry): Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a niclosamide monograph; Merck describes it as experimental in poultry and not approved in the USA. Follow the local product label, including egg and meat withdrawal.

## Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity. Less effective against Echinococcus and Dipylidium than praziquantel — choose praziquantel when those are the target. Ensure correct parasite identification.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Dogs: For Echinococcus (zoonotic hydatid) control, use praziquantel — niclosamide is less reliable against this important tapeworm.

## Adverse effects

- Mild, transient GI upset (vomiting, soft stool)
- Generally minimal due to negligible absorption

## Drug interactions

- No clinically important systemic drug interactions (negligible absorption)
- Alcohol may enhance absorption (avoid in formulations where relevant)

## Pregnancy and lactation

Wide margin and minimal absorption make it acceptable in pregnancy/lactation at deworming doses.

## Monitoring

- Faecal exam / proglottid passage for cure; repeat dose at 2–3 weeks
- Concurrent flea control when treating Dipylidium (flea is the vector)
- Correct cestode identification (use praziquantel for Echinococcus/Dipylidium)

## Toxicity and overdose

Very low systemic toxicity owing to poor absorption; overdose typically causes only GI upset. Environmental caution: as a molluscicide it is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates — keep out of waterways.

Management: Supportive only — fluids and anti-emetic if needed. No specific antidote required given the wide margin.

## Clinical pearls

- Safe and cheap tapeworm drug — but praziquantel is superior for Dipylidium and the zoonotic Echinococcus
- It may leave the scolex intact — repeat dosing and breaking the flea/intermediate-host cycle prevent reinfection
- A brief fast before dosing can improve contact with the worm
- Doubles as a pasture/snail molluscicide in liver-fluke control programmes — but it is toxic to fish, so protect waterways

## Mechanism of action

Uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the tapeworm and inhibits anaerobic ATP generation (glucose uptake), destroying the worm's energy supply. The damaged scolex and proximal segments detach from the gut wall and are expelled. Poor host absorption confines the action to the gut lumen.

## Formulations and products

- 500 mg tablet (chewable)
- Oral powder / suspension
- Niclosamide vet tablets (Various (India)) — 500 mg, Oral tablet
- Niclosamide (Yomesan) — 500 mg chewable tablet, Chewable tablet (human-label)

## Storage

Tablets/powder: 15–30 °C, dry, protected from light. Molluscicide formulations: store and dispose away from water bodies.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** 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.

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- [Nicarbazin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/nicarbazin)
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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Niclosamide for dogs?

Reference doses for Niclosamide in dogs: 100–157 mg/kg PO single dose (Tapeworms). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Niclosamide for cats?

Reference doses for Niclosamide in cats: 100–157 mg/kg PO single dose (Tapeworms). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Niclosamide for cattle?

Reference doses for Niclosamide in cattle: 50–90 mg/kg PO single dose (Moniezia / cestodes). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the withdrawal period for Niclosamide?

Cattle, PO (Moniezia / cestodes): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Goats, PO (Tapeworms (Moniezia)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Sheep, PO (Moniezia (lambs)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Niclosamide not be used?

Known hypersensitivity. Less effective against Echinococcus and Dipylidium than praziquantel — choose praziquantel when those are the target. Ensure correct parasite identification.

### What are the side effects of Niclosamide in animals?

Mild, transient GI upset (vomiting, soft stool); Generally minimal due to negligible absorption.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.