Oxibendazole: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Anthelcide, Loditac, Equipar

Species with doses

Dogs, Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Pigs

General dose range

10–15 mg/kg PO single dose (repeat per cycle) — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Equine large/small strongyles, ascarids (Parascaris), pinworms (Oxyuris), Strongyloides
• Porcine GI nematodes
• Broad-spectrum benzimidazole deworming (horses)

Oxibendazole 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

• GI nematodes (historical combination with DEC): Papich 5e: 5 mg/kg oxibendazole with 6.6 mg/kg diethylcarbamazine PO q24h — the combination is no longer used for heartworm prevention. No stand-alone canine dose in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. The combination was associated with hepatopathy.

Cattle

• GI nematodes: Plumb’s p.918 (Brander 1982): cattle 10–20 mg/kg PO. Obtain a withdrawal from the local label or FARAD.

Horses

• GI nematodes: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.918 (Anthelcide EQ label): 10 mg/kg PO; 15 mg/kg for Strongyloides (threadworms); retreat in 6–8 weeks where reinfection is likely. Check faecal egg-count reduction — cyathostomin benzimidazole resistance is common.

Sheep

• GI nematodes: Plumb’s p.918 (Brander 1982): sheep 10–20 mg/kg PO. Extra-label — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Pigs

• GI nematodes: Plumb’s (Roberson 1988): swine 15 mg/kg PO. Extra-label unless a local swine label exists — obtain a withdrawal (FARAD).

Buffalo

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

• GI nematodes: Plumb’s p.918 (Brander 1982): cattle 10–20 mg/kg PO. Obtain a withdrawal from the local label or FARAD.

Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity. Early pregnancy at high/repeated doses (theoretical benzimidazole teratogenicity at high doses). Confirm benzimidazole susceptibility where resistance is suspected. Observe withdrawal where relevant.

Adverse effects

• Mild, transient GI effects (uncommon)
• Very well tolerated — wide safety margin
• Reduced efficacy where benzimidazole resistance exists (esp. equine cyathostomins)

Drug interactions

• No major systemic drug interactions
• Cross-resistance with other benzimidazoles (fenbendazole, oxfendazole, albendazole)

Pregnancy and lactation

Benzimidazoles are generally regarded as safe in pregnancy at label doses; avoid very high/repeated dosing in early gestation.

Monitoring

• Faecal egg count reduction (efficacy AND resistance surveillance)
• Rotate anthelmintic classes (equine cyathostomin BZ resistance is widespread)
• Withdrawal compliance (pigs)

Toxicity and overdose

Very wide safety margin; overdose typically causes only mild GI upset. High-dose/prolonged benzimidazole exposure can rarely affect rapidly dividing tissues, but this is not expected at deworming doses.

Management: Supportive — fluids if needed. No specific antidote required (wide margin).

Clinical pearls

• A broad benzimidazole for horses — strongyles, ascarids and pinworms; share with the class's wide safety margin
• Equine small-strongyle (cyathostomin) resistance to benzimidazoles is common — do FECRTs and rotate to other classes (macrocyclic lactones, pyrantel)
• Historically the benzimidazole partner in older daily DEC heartworm preventives in dogs
• Dose to accurate body weight despite the forgiving margin

Mechanism of action

Binds parasite β-tubulin and inhibits microtubule polymerisation, disrupting the worm's cytoskeleton, nutrient uptake and energy metabolism — killing GI nematodes. Mammalian tubulin has much lower affinity, giving the wide safety margin characteristic of benzimidazoles.

Formulations and products

• Oral paste (equine)
• Oral suspension / drench
• Anthelcide EQ (Zoetis) — Oxibendazole equine paste/suspension, Paste / suspension

Storage

Paste/suspension: 15–30 °C, protect from light; shake suspension well.

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

• Niclosamide
• Nitenpyram
• Nitroxynil
• Oxfendazole
• Permethrin
• Piperazine
• Ponazuril
• Praziquantel

Frequently asked questions