Active Ingredients in Wormers

Last reviewed: April 27, 2022 by Marty Greer, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Deworming your pets on a regular basis is crucial for their overall health. Dewormers often have different active ingredients, so it's important to know what each active ingredient does. Here are the top five active ingredients in wormers:

Pyrantel Pamoate

A very safe and effective ingredient to treat roundworms and hookworms in dogs. To eliminate all stages of the worms, dogs need to be dosed a second or even third time, two to four weeks apart.

Hookworms attach to your pet's intestines with their little teeth. Sentry^® WormX Liquid Dewormer contains pyrantel pamoate and works by paralyzing the worms, so they release their grip and pass in the feces. The worms remain alive in the soil for a short period of time.

Piperazine

Effective against against two types of roundworms in dogs and cats. For maximum effectiveness, Piperazine must be administered at least two times (10 to 14 days apart) to the pet. While effective, piperazine is much less palatable (tasty) than Pyrantel Pamoate.

Fenbendazole

A very broad spectrum anthelmintic (dewormer) used in both small and large animals. In dogs, fenbendazole is effective against roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and even giardia. Treatment is once a day for three consecutive days.

Fenbendazole works by diminishing the parasites' energy reserves and limiting their ability to eliminate waste.

Praziquantel

The drug of choice for treating adult tapeworm infections in both dogs and fish. Does not kill the tapeworm eggs, so there is a potential for reinfection. To prevent this from happening, pets should be retreated on a regular basis.

Praziquantel eliminates the tapeworms' ability to prevent digestion by your pet. Therefore, the tapeworms disintegrate and become absorbed into your pet's body.

Ivermectin

Most commonly used as a monthly preventative for heartworm in dogs and cats. At higher doses, it is also effective against external parasites such as lice, mange and ear mites. However, this is not a labeled use and may be toxic to certain patients. Caution is advised when using ivermectin with dog breeds that have the MDR1 gene. Studies have shown breeds such as collies, Shelties and breeds that have collie and Sheltie genetics in them, have a higher sensitivity to the effects of ivermectin. For these breeds consider using Bravecto for mange therapy and Sentinel if you don't feel comfortable giving heartworm medications containing ivermectin.

Medications with ivermectin only work on parasites that your pet has been exposed to in the preceding month, so it is recommended that heartworm prevention be used year round. Ivermectin works by interfering with the central nervous system of the heartworm larva.

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Sources

• Science Direct. "Pyrantel Pamoate" https://www.sciencedirect.com. 21 March 2022.
• U.S. National Library of Medicine. "DailyMed:PRO PET- liquid wormer dogs liquid" https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 21 March 2022.
• Science Direct. "Fenbendazole" https://www.sciencedirect.com. 21 March 2022.
• Pet MD. "Praziquantel" https://www.petmd.com. 21 March 2022.
• American Kennel Club. "Ivermectin for Dogs: Is It Safe?" https://www.akc.org. 21 March 2022.