Fenbendazole Dewormer Dosage for Dogs

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Fenbendazole Suspension (common name Panacur®, Safe Guard®) is a broad spectrum FDA-approved benzimidazole anthelmintic that is effective in removing and controlling most common canine gastrointestinal parasites including: whipworms (Trichuris vulpis), hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala), roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), and tapeworms (Taenia pisiformis). Used as a dewormer, fenbendazole focuses on the parasites (instead of the dog’s tissues) by disrupting the worm’s energy metabolism. The appropriate dosage of fenbendazole for dogs is 50 mg/kg (22.7 mg/lb) daily for 3 consecutive days according to The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat. Fenbendazole is not recommended for puppies under six weeks old.

It is also effective at fighting giardia that often plagues puppies and young dogs. Compared to fenbendazole wormers marketed for dogs such as Panacur C, Safeguard Goat Dewormer Suspension 10% (100 mg/mL) is often used by owners with multiple dog households, pet rescues, and shelters because it is a much more economical, yet equally as effective. Safeguard Goat Dewormer has fenbendazole as its active ingredient and comes in a palatable white suspension, available in 125mL and 1000mL bottle sizes.
Safeguard Goat Dewormer Fenbendazole

FENBENDAZOLE DOSAGE & DIRECTIONS FOR DOGS

Shake bottle well before use. Measure with an oral medication syringe (without the needle attached) 1 mL per 5lbs of your dog’s weight—this will equate to 20 mg/lb. You can inject the suspension directly into your dog’s mouth or mix in with a small amount of moist dog food. Dogs and puppies should be dosed, according to weight, for three consecutive days. Refer to the dosage chart below for a quick reference.

BarkThink Tip: 1mL is equal to 1 cc or approximately ¼ teaspoon

FENBENDAZOLE ADULT & PUPPIES DOG DOSAGE CHART 10% (100 mg/ml)

Pet Weight (Lbs)Fenbendazole Dosage (mL)
5 lbs1 ml
10 lbs2 ml
15 lbs3 ml
20 lbs4 ml
25 lbs5 ml
30 lbs6 ml
35 lbs7 ml
40 lbs8 ml
45 lbs9 ml
50 lbs10 ml
55 lbs11 ml
60 lbs12 ml
65 lbs13 ml
70 lbs14 ml
75 lbs15 ml
80 lbs16 ml
85 lbs17 ml
90 lbs18 ml
95 lbs19 ml
100 lbs20 ml
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice from a veterinarian.
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66 Comments

  1. Dr Richard Brown of Rich Square NC. was my vet for many years. He stated that fenbendazole was to be given to dogs at 1 ml/cc per 25lbs of weight. I am a long time austrailan shepard breeder and have used it as he stated to me and haven’t had any issues. Seems to me this chart offered is a whole lot stronger than whats needed.

    • The aim is to eradicate the parasite, protozoan, etal, and not to have to dispense it prophylacticly. .We’ve always used these guidelines for 25 years.

      • hello can you help me out. My shitzu, 15 lb and 5 years is getting recurrent bouts of giardia. i put him on a 7 day course of this drug 2 months ago. He was fine for a months after that and then the same symptoms of bloody loose stool with mucous and erratic pooing started all over again. I now feel that i should have repeated the medicine 2 weeks after the course because maybe the protozoans died but the eggs hatched again. He is being given the same drug again and this time the vet suggests for 10 days. Does that sound like a good idea? I do not want to poison him but at the same time i am going to be travelling in a week and will be away for 3 weeks and want him to stay safe and healthy while i am gone.

        • I treat for 3 days..then repeat in 2 weeks.
          Then treat once a month unless directed by your vet to use something else, such as a flea pill that also has a dewormer

        • I’m pretty sure your Suppose to treat again after 2 weeks. Also in stays in the ground where your dog used bathroom for a long, long time

        • I have had success treating giardia (using the Safeguard 10% suspension Liquid Goat Dewormer) at the following rate:

          1cc per 5lb of body weight (1x a day) x 5 consecutive days. Repeat again 2 Weeks FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. e.g.: if you dose Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri… dose again 2 weeks from Monday, NOT FRIDAY.

          I administered the second round two weeks after the end of the cycle before and it was not effective and I had to treat again the following month.

          Hope this helps.

        • The Cane Corso Ranch and Rescue on

          Do you have your dog around chickens at all. Chicken poop is known to be the cause of guardia. Maybe that is why you little dog keeps getting it.

        • Your dog go re-infected. You either have it in your yard (which should be treated during the dog medication) or you have it coming from some other source (like well water). If you have a well, then either you can use ultraviolet sterilization of the water or give your dog bottled water.

        • Jessica donnery on

          Hey sweetheart you have to repeat treatment 2-3 weeks after first treatment. so you will need to restart the process and redo the 7 day treatment then 2-3 weeks later treat again. its bc of the life cycle of the parasite. You have to go back and kill what hatched or the life cycle will start again.

        • 10 days is the normal treatment time for Giardia, and can be repeated for an additional 10 days if still showing o-cysts in a fecal check. If just antigen positive many vets will not treat. Also, if a second round of treatment is needed many vets will add metronidazole to go with it.

    • The dosage for a goat is 0.6ml (which is a little over 1/2 ml for a 25lb goat. Why would you give a dog more. So I am inclined to think that your dosage at 1ml/cc per 25lbs is more accurate. After all most people are giving it monthly or every other month. Maybe the larger dose for 1st time use or if the presence of worms is detected.

      • A dog’s metabolism is much higher than a goat is what my vet told me; hence the reason for a much larger dosage.

        • Exactly, just like human meds, dogs are so different I been raising puppies for 21 years and follow this chart also when needed.

        • It’s not so much the metabolism, it’s the type of digestive system and how food material and medications are absorbed. A carnivore or omnivore processes food material quickly so everything spends less time in the stomach, and means that higher doses are needed to allow the body to absorb enough of the medication before it exits the body. A ruminant (goat, horse, cow) keeps food in the digestive system much longer which allows for more absorption before it is expelled, so less medication is required; Either way, both carnivores, omnivores, and ruminants will end up with equivalent doses in their system to kill the parasites before the body sheds it.

      • Audrey Dobbins on

        Different animals, different species, require different dosages. You will dose a goat with panacur differently than you will dose a horse with panacur. And even sheep are does differently…

    • Hi AUSDOGS!

      The dosage (mL/cc per X lbs of weight) will vary largely depending on the brands and/or medication used.

      The Safe-Guard Goat Dewormer Suspension mentioned in this post is a 10% fenbendazole suspension equivalent of 100mg/mL.

      An excellent resource for pet-related medicine, dosage, and information is The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat which recommends a dosage of 23 mg of fenbendazole per pound of dog given for 3 consecutive days.

      My chart recommendation is based on a dosage rate of 20mg per lbs. Therefore, you’ll see 1mL for a 5lb dog, 2mL for a 10lb dog, etc.

      Other useful information regarding fenbendazole that you may find useful:
      =================
      SAFETY:
      Fenbendazole is very safe. Doses up to 100 times the recommended dose of 20 mg per pound are tolerated without serious side effects. It is also safe for use with pregnant and lactating dogs as well.

      An accidental overdose may cause minor vomiting and diarrhea. It is also possible that dogs might experience hypersensitivity reactions to dying parasites. If facial swelling, hives, scratching, vomiting, shock, seizures, pale gums, cold limbs or lethargy ensue, your dog may be experiencing an allergic reaction. In cases of accidental overdose or allergic reactions you should contact a veterinarian immediately.
      =================
      SHELF LIFE: This product has a shelf life of 3 years stored at controlled room temperature. I wouldn’t give it after the expiration date on the bottle as it would be less effective, although not harmful, because products of degradation are not toxic.
      =================
      COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
      With one ~$20 bottle of Safe-Guard Goat Dewormer Suspension 10% (100mg/mL) – 125mL (4.2 fl oz), you can give a 40 lb dog at least five 3-day treatments. As such, each monthly 3-day treatment would only cost you about $4 as opposed to $12 per monthly 3-day treatment with Panacur C.

      Hope that helps!

      • Elizabeth Brauer on

        Hey Mr. Lieu,

        How much Safe-Guard suspension for goats would I have to give to get 200mg of Fenbendazole into my dog?

        Thank you for your time.

        Elizabeth Brauer

      • I believe your math may be off because at 23mg per pound for a 50 lb dog that would equate to a dosage of 1.2 mL.
        50 * 23 = 1150 mg. Now convert mg to mL: 1150/1000 = 1.15 mL (round up to 1.2)
        The formula to convert mg to mL is: mL = mg/1000
        I’ve seen many people doing the division by 100 but it should be 1000. I think you did the same based on the numbers on your chart.

    • I have used the dose as suggest here for decades. It is the correct dosing and not too strong. I breed and show English Labs for just shy of 40 years. Yes it works just fine at this amount. Just dose at what works for you but upping it from 4 to 5 lbs as a baseline will not really affect anything.

      • Hi Martin,

        While it is not recommended for puppies under 6 weeks old, it is safe for pregnant and lactating dogs. Alternatively, if dealing with younger puppies or being precautious; you can also use pyrantel pamoate is generally safer than fenbendazole but less effective on a broader range of worms.

        In my experience, my vet usually recommends pregnant dogs dewormed 10 days prior to her due date and repeat once every three weeks while she’s nursing puppies in order to prevent her from transmitting parasites. But, as always, please follow-up with your personal veterinarian to confirm.

        If you have any other questions or clarifications, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Hope that helps. Thank you!

        • Terri Jerow on

          So do you fo mom 3 days in a row 10 days before having pups or just once?? And pups at 6 weeks of agefor 3 days also along with mom again? Sorry I am confused !

        • Christine A Kiesznowski on

          Only causes a chance for cleft pallet to the unborn puppies if given during pregnancy’s gestational period of 25-31 days

  2. I gave my little pot bellied pig Olliver the Safegaurd wormer..but i gave him too much. I was told that even if i gave him too much that it was rare to overdose. He was only 22 lbs.. his body shut down and i rushed him to the vet… the vet said he wouldnt survive so he told me it was best to euthanize him.
    I am beyond devastated as i know this was my fault. Oliver was a family member and the sweetest soul ive ever rescued. I was working on getting weight on him and he had just been to the vet 2 weeks prior for a terrible skin issue . So i dont believe this wormer is 100% safe if someone accidentally gives too much.. I will Never forgive myself.

    • I am so sorry for your loss! We all make mistakes, even doing things in the best interest of our beloved animals. I know, I have done the same. Thank you for your sharing.

    • So sorry about your pet. My heart goes out to you. We all make mistakes sometimes because of unwise decisions however, I’m sure you gave your little pig a better life in the time he was with you.

    • Hi Lisa,

      I am very sorry for your loss. 🙁

      Wife and I have experienced it twice in our history together and it’s always been a tough experience. You will get through this and I’m sure Oliver know how much he meant to you and you had nothing but love for him.

      Unfortunately, I do not know much about pot-bellied pigs and how fenbendazole affects their species. All I do know is that the dosage for goats is typically only 2.3 mg per pound as opposed to 20 mg per pound for dogs due to their differences in species, physiologies, digestive tracts, metabolisms, and different worms are being targeted in each.

      For future reference, the customer service staff of Safe-Guard (and I imagine other manufacturers or your veterinarian) will answer any questions regarding dosage tolerance ranges.

      Hope all is well.

    • Cherie Touchette on

      Lisa, so sad for your loss. Heartbreaking to lose a member of your family.
      You mentioned, “he had just been to the vet 2 weeks prior for a terrible skin issue” I suspect that Oliver’s system was compromised and more susceptible to adverse reaction to any new substance introduced to his little body.

  3. Francis Snider on

    I am trying to eradicate problem but have a pregnant female. Can she be given a dose 3 days in a row or is every two weeks better for any if my dogs?

    • Hi Francis,

      While it is not recommended for puppies under 6 weeks old, it is safe for pregnant and lactating dogs. Alternatively, if dealing with younger puppies or being precautious; you can also use pyrantel pamoate is generally safer than fenbendazole but less effective on a broader range of worms.

      In my experience, my vet usually recommends pregnant dogs dewormed 10 days prior to her due date and repeat once every three weeks while she’s nursing puppies in order to prevent her from transmitting parasites. But, as always, please follow-up with your personal veterinarian to confirm.

      If you have any other questions or clarifications, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Hope that helps. Thank you!

  4. We have a six week old who was last worked on May 9th. The breeder only gave it to her for 2 days. Not 3. Today May 17th… she is super full and round looking. We suspected bloat but she pooped out about 20 tape worm segments and fullness went down tremendously. Is it safe to give her a wormer today for thr 3 days? It’s only been 8 days since the breeder did a 2 day round. Obviously not the full 3 days so it may be ineffective. Thank you

    • Hi Lauren!

      Congrats on the new pup! It is unfortunate the breeder did not complete the deworming routine properly.

      I know this was not your example, but I’ve seen some people try to give a higher dosage with less days and want to emphasize: it is important that it is given consistently for the 3-day duration, rather than try to give a single larger 1-day dosage. If it is not done, not all of the worms may be eliminated and it can repopulate (sounds like what may have happened).

      With that said, I believe you should be fine to start the 3-day deworming schedule. However, please consult your veterinarian for his/her opinion before following the protocol.

      From my understanding, fenbendazole is very safe. Dosage up to 100 times the recommended dose of 20 mg per pound are tolerated without serious side effects. An accidental overdose may cause minor vomiting and diarrhea. It is also possible that dogs might experience hypersensitivity reactions to dying parasites. If facial swelling, hives, scratching, vomiting, shock, seizures, pale gums, cold limbs or lethargy ensue, your dog may be experiencing an allergic reaction. In cases of accidental overdose or allergic reactions you should contact a veterinarian immediately.

      Hope that helps and she gets well soon!

  5. Hello.

    My vet has given me Safe Guard to give 7 month old puppy. He is 25lbs. The dose reads 6 CC/ML every 24 hours for 10 days.

    But from this article it says it should be given for only 3 days.

    Any idea why the vet would have him take it so long? I know I can just call and ask, but I hate to second guess professionals and say “but this article I read on the internet says…”.

    Thanks.

    • Hi Matt!

      Unfortunately, can’t answer why your vet recommended 10 days. However, the general protocol is to do a minimum of 3 days to be effective.

      Your dog may have a certain diagnosis that your vet may feel need extensive time to ensure that the treatment is effective. The most common I can think of is giardia which usually require more than 3 days because it’s a fairly hardy and vexing bug to get rid of.

      Think of it like taking antibiotics—it is usually better to continue taking it for the recommended prescription even if you start feeling better to ensure that the bug is completely eliminated.

    • Hi Jenniffer!

      Technically, it would be 0.8mL or 0.8cc. But given that fenbendazole is relatively safe*, 1 mL or 1cc should be fine as well if that is easier for you.

      *Fenbendazole is considered very safe. Doses up to 100 times the recommended dose of 20 mg per pound are tolerated without serious side effects. It is also safe for use with pregnant and lactating dogs as well.

      Hope that helps.

      • John, I have Fenednezole plus for my dogs. Two are around 85 lbs and one 40? The medication is in powder form. My dogs won’t eat it in their feed.
        Confused about dosage and how to administer.Orally is pretty much nil on the tow bigger dogs.

        I also have racing pigeons i want to use it for. 5 grams/ gallon?
        Appreciate any help.

        • Hi Silver,

          It will really depend on what the dosage of fenbendazole is in the powder. Would you happen to have that information or provide a photo/link to the product?

          Given that it’s in powder form (also similar to paste form), you’ll likely have to dilute it as the smell tend to be a lot more overpowering to canines compared to the liquid form I recommend.

          Unfortunately, I’m not aware on the recommended/safe dosage for racing pigeons. However, if you can figure out how much fenbendazole you have per dosage and what the recommended dosage for pigeons are…you should have no problem. Looking forward to hearing more!

  6. would you also recommend this as a ‘regular’ de-worming protocol (in the past I always used Strongid) thanks!

  7. I need help with deworming my dogs with panacur paste 10% . My vet gave me proper dosage per lb. But he has passed and I list the paper and thought I remembered but now having doubts I was right. Need to know if I messed it up or not. Can anyone help me figure out how much to give her from this syringe that’s labeled in lbs. Instead of ml ?

    • Hi Penelope!

      Without the full details, it’s hard to say. If it is to treat ONLY Giardia then yes, I would say it is a bit overkill because pyrantel pamoate is typically used for parasite worms such as roundworms, hookworms, and pinworms.

      If your dog has Giardia AND potential worms (or just in need of a routine deworming), then the prescription makes sense.

      Giardia is typically treated with fenbendazole OR metronidazole. Depending on the circumstances, a veterinarian may prescribe a specific combination of both. Hope that helps!

  8. Is this dosed once a day or twice a day? So for an 11 pound dog would I give 2ml in 24hours? Is it better to divide the dose to every 12 hours?

  9. Chuck Puglia on

    This is definitely too large a dosage for this product. The correct dosage statement should read, “The daily dose for Safe-Guard® Canine is 50 mg/kg (22.7 mg/lb) of body weight.” and not the daily dose of Fenbendazole is that. Safe-Guard® Canine contains only 22.2% Fenbendazole by weight. This means the correct dosage of just Fenbendazole is 5.0394 mg per pound. So if you call it 5mg/lb and the liquid solution contains 100mg/ml, you should dose at 1ml/20lbs. of dog weight.

  10. 1. My litter of puppies got Pyrantel Pamoate at 4 wks., then the 3-day regimen of fenbendazole at 6 weeks. Is a follow-up treatment of fenbendazole recommended at 8 weeks?
    2. If so, is it also a 3-day treatment?
    3. If I missed repeating it at 8 weeks, does the entire program start over at 9 weeks, or will one more 3-day treatment be enough?

  11. I just finished giving my 4 year old german shepherd the 5 day course on Friday of fenbendazole the goat dewormer. Followed the instructions per weight. All week she passed mucus, visible worms, diarrhea.
    Today her poop finally looked normal thank goodness. When do I need to repeat the treatment? Some say 2 weeks others say 1 month. Need clarity.
    I’m really dumbfounded as to where this came from because she sleeps with me and my yard is very clean. She goes in a designated spot on my patio which I clean and sanitize immediately after.

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