I know it has been debated before but which wormer would you recommend/ not recommend to be given to a bitch just prior to mating and would you worm through pregnancy and with what product? Thanks.

My regime is -
I Drontal a bitch prior to mating.

At day 42 of gestation I start Panacur suspension 10% and continue until 2 days after whelping.  The pregnancy dose is a very tiny dose.  I point this out, because people who are "anti" Panacur will complain about the amount of chemicals given.  The saftey for use in pregnant bitches has been tested to a far greater dose than we give, with no bad effects.

Pups are done at day 14 for 3 days, and Mum is done for 1 day.  The reason being, that she then returns to a normal adult dose.  I have used this regime for many years and very happy with the results.

Jean

I'd stick with drontal through pregnancy and for pups up to maturity - others wont agree but heard of too many horror stories with using panacur to risk my pups with it.  It's fine for adults, but I had a pup with optic nerve problems, probably caused by panacur and others have had worse - if you contact drontal they'll give you the regime for pregnancy.  It's far safer.  I know people have used it for years with no harm done, but for me it's too risky.

Jean, how much do you worm for pups? Are there instructions on the box as I didn't see any?

Yes, the box has dosing on the sides.  Perhaps you were looking at the wrong side?  There is definitely dosing listed for adult dogs (non-pregnant), pregnant bitches, and pups from 14 days.  I know the info is not all on the same side.  If you can't see it, let me know, and I'll go and get a box down out of the cupboard and check for you.

Fantastic, I'll have another look then; thank you very much! xx

I have just checked for information at Canine Chemists.  I've cut and pasted, as it even gives the dose for Giardia (although I would advise anyone to Panacur for 7 days if it is Giardia.)

Dosage and administration Routine treatment of adult dogs and cats 1 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per 1 kg bodyweight as a single oral dose (= 100 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight). Practical dosage recommendations: 2 to 4 kg 4 ml 4 to 8 kg 8 ml 8 to 16 kg 16 ml 16 to 24 kg 24 ml 24 to 32 kg 32 ml 32 to 64 kg 64 ml For dogs weighing over 64 kg, an extra 10 ml are required for each additional 10 kg bodyweight. The dose should be mixed into feed, or administered by mouth directly after feeding. Treatment should be repeated when natural reinfection with parasitic worms occurs. Routine treatment of adult animals with minimal exposure to infection is advisable 2 to 4 times per year. More frequent treatment at 6 to 8 weekly intervals is advisable for dogs in kennels. Puppies and kittens under 6 months of age 0.5 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per kg bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days given by mouth directly after feeding to unweaned animals or mixed with food for weaned animals (= 50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 3 days). Practical dosage recommendations: Up to 1 kg 0.5 ml daily for 3 days 1 to 2 kg 1 ml daily for 3 days 2 to 4 kg 2 ml daily for 3 days 4 to 6 kg 3 ml daily for 3 days 6 to 8 kg 4 ml daily for 3 days 8 to 10 kg 5 ml daily for 3 days For puppies weighing over 10 kg, an extra 0.5 ml is required daily for each additional kg bodyweight. Puppies should be treated at 2 weeks of age, 5 weeks of age and again before leaving the breeder's premises. Treatment may also be required at 8 and 12 weeks of age. Thereafter, frequency of treatment can be reduced unless the pups remain in kennels where reinfection occurs more readily. Pregnant bitches 1 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per 4 kg bodyweight daily from day 40 of pregnancy continuously to 2 days post-whelping (approximately 25 days) (= 25 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily). Practical dosage recommendations: 4 kg 1 ml daily for approx. 25 days 8 kg 2 ml daily for approx. 25 days 12 kg 3 ml daily for approx. 25 days 20 kg 5 ml daily for approx. 25 days 40 kg 10 ml daily for approx. 25 days For bitches weighing over 40 kg, an extra 1 ml is required daily for each additional 4 kg bodyweight. As treatment of pregnant bitches is 98% effective, puppies from these bitches should themselves be treated with a three day course at 2 and 5 weeks of age. Pregnant queens Pregnant queens can be safely treated with Panacur but only require a single treatment at the routine adult dose rate. Administer 1 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per 1 kg bodyweight as a single dose (=100 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight). Increased dosing for specific infections For the treatment of clinical worm infestations in adult dogs and cats or Giardia spp. infections in dogs administer 1 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per 2 kg bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days (= 50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 3 days). For the control of lungworm Oslerus (Filaroides) osleri in dogs administer 1 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per 2 kg bodyweight for 7 consecutive days (= 50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 7 days). A repeat course of treatment may be required in some cases. For the control of lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in cats administer 1 ml Panacur 10% Liquid per 2 kg bodyweight for 3 consecutive days (= 50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 3 days).

I do the same as JeanSW except I use Panacur 10% pre mating too, it is the only one licenced for use in canine pregnancy as advised by my vet.

Thanks for your answers.