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Whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms are common parasites that affect dogs. When your doggie is described as “having worms” he may be suffering from an infestation with one or a host of these parasites. Worm infections often occur as a result of malnutrition and dehydration.
Albendazole is the main active ingredient in Valbazen. Buy it here.
Internal parasites cause numerous problems like;
- Suppressing appetite and reducing food intake.
- Reducing nutritional intake through decreased ability to digest and absorb nutrients.
- Affecting the immune system to cause a poor response to vaccines and other diseases.
Although each parasite affects dogs differently, here are some symptoms that may point towards a worm problem in your canine;
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Poor coat appearance
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Deficiencies in nutrition and anemia
- Intestinal blockage or pneumonia
- Blood in the stool (either bright red or darker purple)
There are a range of dewormers in circulation for you to choose from. However, in this article, we will be discussing a dewormer that is not immensely popular for use in dogs but is nonetheless very effective. This product is called Valbazen Drench Dewormer. Even though its not that popular this product is known to be amazingly effective at treating worm infestation in dogs. It is important to know though that use on dogs is considered an extra-label usage, not officially recommended by the manufacturer.
In fact, there are several warnings that the use of this product on dogs may result in fatalities, so the use of this product is highly dependent on the dog breed, and according to advice by a practicing veterinarian.
This product review is based on a comprehensive study of dog owners who have used Valbazen Drench Dewormer for their canines.
Table of Contents:
- What is Valbazen Drench Dewormer
- How does Valbazen Drench Dewormer work
- Uses of Valbazen Drench Dewormer
- Effectiveness of Valbazen Drench Dewormer
- How much does Valbazen Drench Dewormer cost
- What are the side effects of Valbazen Drench Dewormer in dogs?
- Precaution
- Can this product be used for humans
- What are the benefits and downsides of Valbazen Drench Dewormer for dogs?
- Is this product recommended for dog owners?
- Maintenance and storage
- Conclusion
What is Valbazen Drench Dewormer?
Valbazen Drench Dewormer (suspension form) is a broad-spectrum dewormer in an oral suspension form originally created for use in cattle, sheep, and goats for the removal and prevention of adult liver flukes, tapeworms, stomach worms, intestinal worms, and lungworms. It also serves the same purpose for dogs, but as an extra-label use.
This product contains 11.36% Albendazole as the active ingredient. Valbazen Drench Dewormer is manufactured by Zoetis Animal Health (formerly Pfizer Animal Health).
How does Valbazen Drench Dewormer Work?
This product works through direct contact with the parasite. It contains albendazole as the active ingredient. Albendazole works by getting to the site of the infection and degenerating the tegument and intestinal cells of the worm by diminishing its energy production. This leads to immobilization and death of the parasite.
This product inhibits the parasites’ ability to use glucose. This results in their glycogen stores becoming depleted and then they die.
Sometimes, a larger volume dose is more likely to expose parasites (depending on the type of parasite) to the active ingredient and can help improve product efficacy.
Valbazen Drench Dewormer is highly effective against whipworms, hookworms, liver flukes, lungworms, and roundworms in dogs. It is also effective in treating one type of tapeworm called taenia, and a less common protozoan parasite called Giardia.
Uses of Valbazen Drench Dewormer
Since the concentration of albendazole in this suspension is quite high, you will not require a drench gun to administer this product to your pup. You can use a simple dropper to administer it to your dog.
This suspension is given orally depending on your dog’s body weight and the type of parasite your dog is being treated for. Treatment duration and doses vary from 12.5 – 50 mg/kg which translates to between a few drops to a few ml of this suspension.
The most suitable dose to use for your pup may be difficult to measure so please consult your veterinarian for appropriate dosing instructions.
Please note that timing is critical for use of Valbazen® drench dewormer to control liver flukes because the product is only effective against adult liver flukes.
However, most of the damage this parasite can cause to your dog’s liver happens during immature larval migrations. So, controlling liver flukes with this medication should be done before the adult flukes produce eggs. This means you must work closely with your veterinarian to determine the best time to administer this drug.
Effectiveness of Valbazen Drench Dewormer?
Dog parents who have used this product for their beloved pets reported that it works exactly as it should when the correct dose is administered. It is a remarkably effective dewormer when used correctly.
How much does Valbazen Drench Dewormer cost?
This medication is available across veterinary supplies stores online and offline and the prices depend on the size you are purchasing.
500ml – you can purchase this size online, for about $49.99.
1 Liter – you can purchase this size online, for about $87.99
5 Liters – you can purchase this size online, for about $359.99
What are the side effects of Valbazen Drench Dewormer in Dogs?
During the research process for this product review, many dog owners reported having different experiences with the use of Valbazen Drench Dewormer on their dogs. Most of them said this product was good for their pups without adverse effects. There some possible adverse effcts ethat you should be aware of though.
High doses of this product have been associated with bone marrow toxicity especially in small breed dogs. This means care must be taken to make sure your small dog is given the appropriate dose. Also, if possible, the use of this medication for small dogs should be avoided.
If your dog is exhibiting symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, or convulsions after taking this medication, it may indicate an overdose. Please consult your veterinarian immediately.
Precautions
All Albendazole medications, just like ricobendazole, parbendazole and cambendazole can be teratogenic. So, these medications should never be administered to a pregnant female pooch.
Can this product be used for humans?
No, this product is meant for veterinary use alone. If you have worm problems, consult your doctor for a prescription for an appropriate dewormer to use.
What are the benefits and downsides of Valbazen Drench Dewormer for dogs?
| Benefits | Downsides |
| You only require a small quantity to treat your pooch effectively. | This product comes in large containers between 500ml – 5L so even the 500ml container may not get exhausted on time before it goes bad.
Also, there are other alternatives in tablet form that you can easily use, and keep for longer before they go bad. |
| Albendazole active ingredient is a solid compound poorly soluble in water and this drench is formulated as a suspension that you can easily administer to your dog. | The suspended solid particles tend to settle down to the bottom of the container and sediment, very much like sand in water. So if you’re not careful to shake the bottle properly, you may end up giving your pooch a part consisting mainly of the solvent which wouldn’t be very effective. |
| Proper dosing of this medication for your dog is difficult to do on your own since this information is not available on the product label.
This is why you should only consider this product after consulting with your vet.
Also, there are other alternatives you can easily use, with proper dosing information on their labels. |
Is this Product Recommended for Dog owners?
Most dog owners reported that this product is amazingly effective. Although some who tried to administer on their own without the help of a veterinarian had issues with administering the required dose, especially since the dosage for dogs isn’t stated on the label.
Please note that the effectiveness of this product is highly dependent on accurate doses being administered. There you should ensure that you consult your vet before choosing this medication as an option for your dog.
Storage
To maintain its efficacy, this product should be stored in conditions between 20 – 25°C. Do not freeze this medication. Additionally, all medications should be kept out of reach of children.
Conclusion
Parasite resistance may develop to any dewormer. It has also been reported for most classes of dewormers. Therefore, treatment with a dewormer needs to be carried out in conjunction with appropriate parasite prevention practices according to your geographic area.
Fecal examinations or other diagnostic tests and parasite prevention history should be used to determine if a product is appropriate for your dog, prior to the use of any dewormer.
Note that a decrease in this products effectiveness over time may indicate the development of resistance to the dewormer administered. So, your parasite prevention plan should be adjusted accordingly based on regular monitoring.
Therefore, closely working with your vet when your dog has a parasitic infestation is of utmost importance especially for discussing important matters like treatment, and control of parasitism.
