Common Parasiticides: Prevention and Treatment Options

Jim Budde, PharmD, RPh, DICVP, FACVP, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Instinct Science

ArticleApril 20262 min read

Many safe and effective agents for prevention and treatment of common parasites are available; options for dogs and cats are summarized below (Tables 1-3). Many products have also been used to treat parasites in other species (eg, small mammals, birds, reptiles).

Table 1. Common Ectoparasiticides

Target parasite(s)

Single Agents

Combination Products

Insecticidal agents only

Nitenpyram (dogs, cats)^a,b

Spinosad (dogs, cats)^a,b

Imidacloprid (dogs)^a

Spinetoram (cats)

Fipronil and combinations (dogs, cats)

Dinotefuran combinations (dogs, cats)

Deltamethrin combinations (dogs)

Flumethrin combinations (dogs, cats)

Permethrin combinations (dogs)

Pyriproxyfen combinations (dogs, cats)

Acaricidal & insecticidal agents

Afoxolaner (dogs, cats)^a,b

Fluralaner (dogs, cats)^a

Lotilaner (dogs, cats)^a,b

Sarolaner (dogs, cats)^a,b

Fipronil and combinations (dogs, cats)

Dinotefuran combinations (dogs, cats)

Deltamethrin combinations (dogs)

Flumethrin combinations (dogs, cats)

Permethrin combinations (dogs)

Pyriproxyfen combinations (dogs, cats)

^a Doses are also available for other small mammals, birds, and/or reptiles.

^b Single agent also effective for treatment of Cochliomyia hominivorax (ie, New World screwworm)

Table 2. Common Endoparasiticides

Target Parasite(s)	Single Agents	Combination Products
Coccidiosis (eg, cystoisospora)	Ponazuril (dogs, cats)^a Toltrazuril (dogs, cats)^a Sulfonamide antibiotics (eg, sulfadimethoxine, sulfa-/trimethoprim [ie, TMS]; dogs, cats)^a	n/a
Giardiasis	Fenbendazole (dogs, cats)^a Metronidazole (dogs, cats)^a	Pyrantel/praziquantel/febantel (dogs)
Toxoplasmosis	Clindamycin Pyrimethamine (used concurrently with sulfa-/trimethoprim)	Sulfa-/trimethoprim (dogs, cats)^a
Tritrichomonas blagburni (formerly Tritrichomonas foetus)	Metronidazole Ronidazole	n/a
GI nematodes (eg, roundworms, hookworms, ± whipworms)	Fenbendazole (dogs, cats)^a Pyrantel (dogs, cats)^a	Emodepside/praziquantel (cats) Pyrantel/praziquantel (cats) Pyrantel/praziquantel/febantel (dogs)
Cestodes	Epsiprantel (dogs, cats)^a Praziquantel (dogs, cats)^a	Emodepside/praziquantel (cats) Pyrantel/praziquantel (cats) Pyrantel/praziquantel/febantel (dogs)

^a Doses are also available for other small mammals, birds, and/or reptiles.

Table 3: Common Endoparasiticide/Ectoparasiticide Drugs & Combination Products

Target Parasites

Single Agents

Combination Products

Agents for heartworm prevention and GI nematode (± tapeworm) & flea/tick treatment/control

Ivermectin (dogs, cats)^a

Milbemycin oxime (dogs, cats)^a

Moxidectin (dogs)^a

Selamectin (dogs, cats)^a

Afoxolaner/moxidectin/pyrantel (dogs)

Eprinomectin/praziquantel (cats)

Esafoxolaner/eprinomectin/praziquantel (cats)

Fluralaner/moxidectin (cats)^a

Ivermectin/pyrantel (dogs)

Ivermectin/praziquantel/pyrantel (dogs)

Lotilaner/moxidectin/praziquantel/pyrantel (cats)

Lufenuron/milbemycin (dogs)

Lufenuron/milbemycin/praziquantel (dogs)

Milbemycin/ praziquantel (dogs)

Moxidectin/imidacloprid (dogs, cats)^a

Sarolaner/moxidectin/pyrantel (dogs)

Selamectin/sarolaner (cats)

Spinosad/milbemycin (dogs)

^a Doses are also available for other small mammals, birds, and/or reptiles.