Which is the wormer of choice for in whelp bitches.Previously I have used drontal and my breeder used the same.What is the concensus opinion ?

As it is designed to reduce the transference of worm larva and kills larval stages then for pregnancy it has to be Panacur as it's the only oen specifically licensed for this.

I use a multi-wormer Drontal equivalent once a year to cover tapeworm too, but then  have never had a flea issue with mien so once a year in Summer I'm happy with for tapes.

I thought panacur would be the broadest spectrum wormer for in whelp bitches.Just wanted confirming :) Though I am just erring on the side of caution as I am waiting in hope.

I now use Milbemax (does lungworm too) with all my dogs and safe to use on in-whelp bitches and pups (although I use Panacur paste on baby pups as it's easier to administer).

Drontal for sure - too many problems with Panacur by breeders and as I have herding breeds Milbemax is out (ivermectin issues).  Drontal is by far the safest.

Always use Panacur.

Use drontal no problemes at all

when do you use the drontal? ie when bitch is in whelp or before mateing and every 2 weeks after ?? xx

Drontal - use it on the bitch on day 53 and to use it on pups after their eyes have opened.  The advice is that panacur is great for adults, but not for youngsters.  The other advice is not to worm and vaccinate at the same time - do it alternately.

Never used anything but Panacur 10% suspension, and have used it for years.  While you will hear folk go on about the length of worming period to put you off, it's important to remember that it is a tiny dose, just a quarter of the normal adult dose from day 40 of gestation to 2 days post whelp.

Because I've never had any problems, you would never persuade me to change.

I am full of guilt because I gave panacur to a litter of 2 pups and followed the instructions and started at 2 weeks.  One of the pups' optic nerves didn't fully develop which apparently isn't genetic in that breed. Eye specialist wouldn't commit as to why, but I heard since then of many problems for pups given panacur and I would never again give it to a bitch in whelp, or to pups.  I would also never worm until the eyes were fully opened and last litter wormed at 3, 5 & 7 weeks with drontal.  Other people - reputable breeders - have had issues with panacur.  Having had the problem I would never use it again other than on adults.  I hope that no one else has problems with their pups when they're using panacur.

We have had this conversation before many many people have safely used Panacur on generations of their bitches with no ill effects.

Those who use an alternative wormer in pregnancy what are they hoping to achieve, as the bitch should have been wormed prior to mating?

The aim of pregnancy worming surely is to reduce the transfer of reactivated toxacara larva which as far as I can tell is not touched by Drontal (don't know about Milbemax).

So if your not happy worming with Panacur due to worry over safety in pregnancy why worm at all in pregnancy, especially with a wider range of chemicals, that have not been tested as safe in pregnancy (it doesn't appear in the datasheet as for use in pregnancy)?

Just to say that the makers of Drontal are happy for it to be used during pregnancy - contact them for confirmation.  It deals with the encysted larva so will do the same job as Panacur, without the risks involved.  For many those risks are just too high to use.  Whilst the people I personally know who've had issues have herding breeds, the issues are throughout the breeds.  Don't forget that just because many haven't had such problems so far, doesn't mean that the issues aren't real.  It happened to me, it's happened to people I know - and they've lost whole litters, I'm lucky the pup I damaged has ok eyesight, not perfect but at least she can see!

How do you know there are not similar issues with the other wormers, especially as they  are not generally recommended as for use in pregnancy and they don't mention any effect on controlling larval transference?

Especially witht the multiwormer like Drontal that uses several different chemicals?

At least Fenbendazole (the sole active ingredient in Panacur) has been well tested in pregnancy in many species at much higher than advised dosage rates.

Why use a wormer not advised for pregnancy using chemicals contraindicated in pregnancy (Praziquanterl and Pyrantel) that are not going to be effective on the larval stages of T. canis, http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/archives/fdaDrugInfo.cfm?archiveid=15018 if you have well founded issues with the safety of another drug (Fenbendazole)tested as safe for use in pregnancy?  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12002591

Surely better not to worm in pregnancy at all?

Just an interesting snippet: http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Bayer_plc/Drontal_Plus_Flavour_Tablets/-23605.html

Within the mammalian system febantel (one of the ingredients of Drontal etc) undergoes ring closure forming fenbendazole (the ingredient of Panacur) and oxfendazole. It is these chemical entities which exert the anthelmintic effect by inhibition of tubulin polymerization.

So if you feel you have had issues with Panacur then I would not use the Drontal in pregnancy either.

Also use panacur to no Ill effect and most of my breeder friends do to and have done for years and know of no eye problems.

Not just eye problems, breeders have lost litters to epilepsy etc - this is not a small problem it's quite extensive unfortunately and I wouldn't touch the stuff with pups or pregnant bitches :-(  Everyone will do as they see fit - but the warning is real and the issues are real sadly.

I am sure just as many negative things have happened to people who have used other wormers, or nothing at all, things do go wrong and it is all too easy to jump to conclusions, adding two and two and coming up with five.

At least we know that Panacur has been extensively tested in pregnancy, at higher dosages than normal, that does not appear to be the case with the others.

I personally wouldnt use anything else except Panacur 10%, Ive never had any problems in a litter Ive bred, but each to their own.

I'm with use of Panacur. Have used it on pregnant bitches and the puppies from 2 weeks over 18 years and never had a problem. On my vets recommendation he said it was a very mild wormer compared to those of earlier years. I remember being paranoid about not overdosing in my early days and he said I worried too much.
Each to their own and their experiences I suppose.
Diane

Well I have gone for Panacur,just ordered it from Hyperdrug as I thought the price was very competative.Thank you for the suggestion of buying the 1 litre bottles of 10%.With 10 dogs worming with dorontal xl was getting expensive so this will be much cheaper(though I now appear to have a fantasy horse lol).Will start covering my woo tomorrow . Jude