# Rafoxanide: veterinary dose and monograph

> Rafoxanide is a veterinary antiparasitic. A salicylanilide FLUKICIDE effective against ADULT and LATE-IMMATURE liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica/gigantica), the blood-sucking nematode Haemonchus, and the nasal bot Oestrus ovis in sheep — given as an oral drench, often in combination… Indications include liver fluke (Fasciola spp.) — adult and late-immature stages in cattle, sheep, goats; haemonchus contortus (blood-feeding nematode); nasal bot (Oestrus ovis) in sheep. This monograph lists 2 reference doses for cattle and sheep, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Antiparasitic
- **Also known as:** Ranide, Flukanide, Rafoxanide
- **Species with doses:** Cattle and Sheep
- **General dose range:** 7.5–10 mg/kg PO single dose (repeat per cycle) — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Liver fluke (Fasciola spp.) — adult and late-immature stages in cattle, sheep, goats
- Haemonchus contortus (blood-feeding nematode)
- Nasal bot (Oestrus ovis) in sheep
- Broad fluke + roundworm control (combination drenches)

## Rafoxanide 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.

### Cattle

*Rafoxanide doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Liver fluke / Haemonchus | Oral drench at the label dose | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Liver fluke / Haemonchus: Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a rafoxanide monograph. Follow the local label for dose and meat withdrawal; not for animals producing milk for human consumption. Active against adult and late-immature fluke.

### Goats

*Rafoxanide doses for goats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No reference dose for this species | Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species | — | — | — | — |

- No reference dose for this species: Neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a rafoxanide monograph and no goat label dose is referenced.

### Sheep

*Rafoxanide doses for sheep*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Liver fluke / Haemonchus / nasal bot | Oral drench at the label dose | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Liver fluke / Haemonchus / nasal bot: Label-sourced (no Papich 5e or Plumb’s monograph). Follow the local label for dose and withdrawal. Also active against Oestrus ovis.

### Buffalo

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

*Rafoxanide doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Liver fluke / Haemonchus | Oral drench at the label dose | PO | single dose | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Liver fluke / Haemonchus: Label-sourced — neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s has a rafoxanide monograph. Follow the local label for dose and meat withdrawal; not for animals producing milk for human consumption. Active against adult and late-immature fluke.

## Contraindications

Lactating dairy animals producing milk for human consumption (residues — per product). Known hypersensitivity. Emaciated/heavily debilitated animals (dose cautiously). Overdosing (moderate safety margin — visual disturbances reported at high doses). Observe meat withdrawal.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cattle: Not for lactating dairy in milk (residues); observe meat withdrawal (~28 days, verify) and dose accurately to avoid toxicity.

## Adverse effects

- Generally well tolerated at label dose
- Visual disturbance/blindness reported at gross overdose (salicylanilide effect)
- Transient inappetence/GI signs

## Drug interactions

- Combined with benzimidazoles/levamisole in fluke-plus-roundworm drenches (complementary spectra)
- Other uncouplers: additive metabolic toxicity
- No major therapeutic drug interactions at label dose

## Pregnancy and lactation

Generally used in pregnant beef/sheep at label dose; verify product for dairy/breeding. Avoid overdosing.

## Monitoring

- Faecal fluke egg counts / clinical response (chronic fasciolosis improves over weeks)
- Meat withdrawal compliance
- Accurate body-weight dosing (moderate margin — avoid overdose)

## Toxicity and overdose

Moderate safety margin — overdose can cause VISUAL disturbance/blindness (salicylanilide optic effect), inappetence and GI/CNS signs. Dose by accurate body weight. Residues necessitate meat/milk withdrawal.

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive care; discontinue. Visual/CNS effects from overdose may be slow to resolve — supportive/nursing care. Prevent by accurate dosing and avoiding use in debilitated animals.

## Clinical pearls

- A cheap, effective flukicide for ADULT/late-immature liver fluke — plus useful activity against Haemonchus and (in sheep) nasal bot Oestrus ovis
- For ACUTE fasciolosis (early immature flukes), triclabendazole/nitroxynil reach earlier stages better — rafoxanide shines against mature-fluke burdens
- Dose accurately (moderate margin) — overdose can cause blindness/visual disturbance
- Often used in combination drenches (with a benzimidazole/levamisole) for broad fluke + roundworm control; observe withdrawals

## Mechanism of action

A salicylanilide that uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the fluke/nematode mitochondria, collapsing the proton gradient so the parasite cannot generate ATP — it dies of energy failure. Because it is absorbed and reaches blood-feeding parasites (adult flukes, Haemonchus) via the host circulation, it targets the mature, blood-feeding stages effectively. The same uncoupling mechanism accounts for the visual/CNS toxicity seen at overdose.

## Formulations and products

- Oral drench / suspension 2.5–3 %
- Combination drench (with levamisole/albendazole)
- Ranide / Flukanide (Various (India)) — Rafoxanide drench (± benzimidazole/levamisole), Oral drench

## Storage

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

## 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.

## Other antiparasitics

- [Ponazuril](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ponazuril)
- [Praziquantel](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/praziquantel)
- [Pyrantel pamoate](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/pyrantel)
- [Pyrimethamine](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/pyrimethamine)
- [Ronidazole](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ronidazole)
- [Sarolaner](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/sarolaner)
- [Selamectin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/selamectin)
- [Spinosad](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/spinosad)

## Frequently asked questions

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

Reference doses for Rafoxanide in cattle: Oral drench at the label dose PO single dose (Liver fluke / Haemonchus). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### Can Rafoxanide be given to goats?

Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species (No reference dose for this species).

### What is the dose of Rafoxanide for sheep?

Reference doses for Rafoxanide in sheep: Oral drench at the label dose PO single dose (Liver fluke / Haemonchus / nasal bot). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the withdrawal period for Rafoxanide?

Cattle, PO (Liver fluke / Haemonchus): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Sheep, PO (Liver fluke / Haemonchus / nasal bot): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Rafoxanide not be used?

Lactating dairy animals producing milk for human consumption (residues — per product). Known hypersensitivity. Emaciated/heavily debilitated animals (dose cautiously). Overdosing (moderate safety margin — visual disturbances reported at high doses). Observe meat withdrawal.

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

Generally well tolerated at label dose; Visual disturbance/blindness reported at gross overdose (salicylanilide effect); Transient inappetence/GI signs.

## Sources

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

---

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.