Safeguard/fenbendazole for gapeworm?

[Don Andrews]

Thank you! I am not familiar with Safeguard, but have a 25 gram syringe of 10% Panacure paste fenbendazole. I'll try to work out the equivelnt. Much obliged. The paste dissolves fairly well in warm water.

 

[LouNeo]

Some great information in here, I just wanted to revisit. I have a couple chickens that have signs of gape worm. I gave them a pea sized amount of fenbendazole paste 4 days ago. They are still exhibiting signs of gape worm, is this something I can give them daily or should give them daily for a few days? What is the best thing to do? I just put the pea sized amount in their beaks and they ate it. Is that enough, should it be more / more often for a regimen? I dont want to lose the thes ones that have it. Thank you!

 

[casportpony]

Some great information in here, I just wanted to revisit.  I have a couple chickens that have signs of gape worm.  I gave them a pea sized amount of fenbendazole paste 4 days ago.  They are still exhibiting signs of gape worm, is this something I can give them daily or should give them daily for a few days? What is the best thing to do?  I just put the pea sized amount in their beaks and they ate it.  Is that enough, should it be more / more often for a regimen?  I dont want to lose the thes ones that have it.  Thank you!

A pea sized amount *might* treat large roundworms, but it won't treat gapeworms. Probably best to try 0.23 ml per pound for *five* consecutive days. It probably isn't gapeworms, but that dose will treat them if it is.

Curiously, where did you read about the pea size amount?

-Kathy

 

[LouNeo]

Kathy,

Ive read 6 or 7 other threads on here about gapeworm and trying to treat it. There were a couple that references "pea" sized amounts. Im not going to go searching for them right now as proof however. Im more interested in having the right answer than trying to prove other answers ive read. I have a paste and no good way to measure out .23ml which is the reason people references common things like "pea sized" or "marble sized" etc. I will go in search for a good way to measure out .23ml of this paste per lb of the hen.

I appreciate the diagnosis that its not gapeworm. Can I ask how you can come to that conclusion without knowing any of their symptoms or having seen them? The first hen that had exhibited these symptoms a month ago, that when I asked for help people also said, nah shes fine its not gapeworm... died a couple days later. Id like to not lose the rest of them due to respiratory distress from something restricting their airways causing them to gape towards the sky, shake their heads, and make sneezing sounds as they try to clear their throats.

I appreciate the regimen, thank you for that.

 

[casportpony]

Kathy,

Ive read 6 or 7 other threads on here about gapeworm and trying to treat it. There were a couple that references "pea" sized amounts. Im not going to go searching for them right now as proof however. Im more interested in having the right answer than trying to prove other answers ive read. I have a paste and no good way to measure out .23ml which is the reason people references common things like "pea sized" or "marble sized" etc. I will go in search for a good way to measure out .23ml of this paste per lb of the hen.

I appreciate the diagnosis that its not gapeworm. Can I ask how you can come to that conclusion without knowing any of their symptoms or having seen them? The first hen that had exhibited these symptoms a month ago, that when I asked for help people also said, nah shes fine its not gapeworm... died a couple days later. Id like to not lose the rest of them due to respiratory distress from something restricting their airways causing them to gape towards the sky, shake their heads, and make sneezing sounds as they try to clear their throats.

I appreciate the regimen, thank you for that.

It could be gapes, but gapes don't seem to be that common in chickens. Fine to treat for gapes, but don't be surprised if it doesn't cure them.

Can you get a 3 ml syringe? If so, just transfer the paste from the big tube into the 3 ml syringe.

I know the pea sized amount is in hundreds of posts, but it's just more misinformation. I've actually measured out how much a pea sized amount is, and it's about 1/4 to 1/3 a cc and contains 25 to 30 mg of medication, which is no where near enough to be effective.

Your 25 gram tube of paste = 25 ml of liquid Safeguard

From left to right - Panacur Paste (10% fenbendazole) - 0.1 ml (10 mg), 0.25 ml (25 mg), 0.5 ml (50 mg).
1 ml of paste = 1 ml of liquid Safeguard



Weighed empty 6cc (ml) syringe


Filled with Panacur 10% paste and weighed. Difference is 6 grams, so 6 grams = 6cc's (ml)



This book says treatment is 0.14 ml per pound, but I suggested 0.23 because 0.23 ml per pound will treat capillary worms, so might as well treat all just in case.

Gapeworm




If you need more proof, here is a prescription from a vet: Note that the vet rounded up to 0.25 ml (25 mg) per pound. I'm too anal, so I prefer to say it's 0.23 ml per pound, 'cause it's actually 0.227 ml (22.7 mg)



Does that help at all?

-Kathy

 

[LouNeo]

It does help and I appreciate it. I will look for a syringe to use for measuring. I appreciate the visual representation as well. For those of us who are not in either medical or lab fields, mL's have a lot less of a meaning than does a visual we can reference. I will find a syringe tomorrow and dose appropriately.

Ive done a lot of research on gape and understand how the worms are cycled through egg and earth worm. Id love to move my flock but I cant and they free range to get into everything anyhow.

Thank you again for your help and going above and beyond with the information, I genuinely appreciate it.

-Lou

 

[LouNeo]

My biggest concern was over medicating with it. I didnt know how it would effect them if they had too much. Thank you again for putting me at ease with that and that I now know they are not getting nearly enough.

 

[casportpony]

My biggest concern was over medicating with it.  I didnt know how it would effect them if they had too much.  Thank you again for putting me at ease with that and that I now know they are not getting nearly enough.

Lots of under dosing info on the web.... People read the instructions for goats, cows, and horses and think that chickens are the same, but they aren't, birds, cats, and dogs require higher doses than people think.

-Kathy

 

[smooch177]

Maybe I've just been reading too much about gapeworms and treatment, but now I'm even more confused and I'm a medical professional!

I'm treating chicken(s) and I just picked up the Panacur paste. I read the same thing about the "pea-sized" dosing and gave my sickest girl her first dose earlier today...but now I'm definitely questioning whether I gave her enough.

I have 1ml, 3ml, 6ml syringes. She's about 4.5lbs, can someone just help me with her dose? And the consensus is treat for 5 days for gapeworms right?

Last question, I'm fairly convinced that gapeworms are my problem but since she has had mild respiratory issues, is it unreasonable to treat with an antibiotic (tylan) at the same time to cover my bases? (I've posted my questions over in the illness forum without any responses.....)

Thanks in advance for any help/advice

 

[casportpony]

Maybe I've just been reading too much about gapeworms and treatment, but now I'm even more confused and I'm a medical professional!

I'm treating chicken(s) and I just picked up the Panacur paste. I read the same thing about the "pea-sized" dosing and gave my sickest girl her first dose earlier today...but now I'm definitely questioning whether I gave her enough.

I have 1ml, 3ml, 6ml syringes. She's about 4.5lbs, can someone just help me with her dose? And the consensus is treat for 5 days for gapeworms right?

Last question, I'm fairly convinced that gapeworms are my problem but since she has had mild respiratory issues, is it unreasonable to treat with an antibiotic (tylan) at the same time to cover my bases? (I've posted my questions over in the illness forum without any responses.....)

Thanks in advance for any help/advice

As a medical professional you should be used to dealing with things like mg/ml and mg/kg, yes? One ml of Safeguard paste = 100 mg. One pea size amount is 0.25 ml to 0.3 ml, so only 25 mg to 30 mg. With me so far?

Not sure who started the pea size misinformation, but it's referenced in thousands of places on the web and in books

4.5 pounds / 2.2 x 50 (mg/kg) / 100 mg/ml = 1.02 ml x 5 days for your 4.5 pound hen
This dose will also treat capillary worms, large roundworms, and possibly some species of tapeworms.


-Kathy