Evaluation of the safety of fenbendazole in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety of fenbendazole in domestic cats.


METHODS
28 six- to seven-month old domestic short-hair cats.


METHODS
Cats were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups or a control group (n = 7/group). Cats in the treatment groups were given fenbendazole at a dosage of 50, 150, or 250 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 9 days; control cats were given a placebo. A fecal examination, coagulation tests, serum biochemical analyses, CBC, and urinalyses were performed before and 5, 9, and 21 days after initiation of treatment; cats were closely monitored for adverse reactions. After the last dose of fenbendazole was given, 4 control cats and 4 cats given fenbendazole at the highest dosage were euthanatized, and necropsies were performed.


RESULTS
None of the cats developed any adverse reactions. For cats in the control and all treated groups, laboratory test results were within reference limits, and there were no significant differences in results of laboratory tests among groups. No gross or histologic lesions were identified in the control or treated cats that were euthanatized.


CONCLUSIONS
Fenbendazole administered to healthy cats at a dosage 5 times the dosage and 3 times the duration approved for use in dogs and wild felids did not cause any acute or subacute adverse reactions or pathologic changes. Results suggest that cats may be safely treated with fenbendazole.
Schwartz
R D
RD
Hoechst Roussel Vet, Clinton, NJ 08809-4010, USA.
Donoghue
A R
AR
Baggs
R B
RB
Clark
T
T
Partington
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001831:Body Temperature; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005273:Fenbendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000473:pathology; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D011517:Prothrombin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012449:Safety; D013918:Thrombin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary
D000871:Anthelmintics; D005273:Fenbendazole