It’s a common question that I hear from farmers across Pakistan. Which is the best dewormer for goats? Sometimes I hesitate to give an outright answer because there are many aspects to consider before suggesting a dewormer to be the best in class. I am using the opportunity presented by this blog post to address this common question.
THE BEST DEWORMER FOR GOATS IS ENDOEX 8.75%
First, let’s quantify the attributes that could be assigned to a dewormer, which would put a certain brand of dewormer in the limelight. The list of attributes I can think of is as follows:
- Company behind the brand, and its confidence in the product they manufacture or sell.
- Ability of the said dewormer to decrease fecal egg count in goats.
- Spectrum of Activity.
- Ease of administration in goats.
- Safe to be used in pregnant goats.
- Price affordability.
Company behind the brand, and its confidence in the product they manufacture or sell.
Let’s start with the first point. I, being a veterinarian come across many companies promoting and selling dewormers. I chitchat with their salesmen and take a look into the literature of dewormers they are selling. Many times, I have found discrepancies between what the salesmen verbally claim that the dewormer is capable of doing and the actual product literature.
For example, ten years ago, very few companies dared to state in the literature of their dewormer, that their product is safe for pregnant animals. There was generally no mention of such a claim in the official literature, yet the salesmen openly claimed it to be the case.
To state in the literature, that the dewormer is absolutely safe to be used in pregnant goats or cattle is a bold act, as it portrays that the company has full confidence in its dewormer. It also puts the company on the front line for receiving scrutiny from vets and curious farmers. It takes a lot of scientific data, field trials, and farmer feedback to stand behind such a bold claim and then have it printed in the literature.
The only brand that openly stated in its literature that it was safe for pregnant animals even in 2010 was Endoex 8.75% of PVS. Yes, it was the only brand that took the courage. Big-name companies like ICI, Star, and Nawan lacked the confidence to put the statement in the literature. It was a big, bold thing back then because it meant that the company was willing to face any loss if the dewormer caused abortion or miscarriage in the treated animal.
This level of confidence, that a company has in their dewormer is a must for me. If a company is not confident in its own product, then how do you expect me to call it the best? Would you, as a farmer use a dewormer on your precious goats that has an ambiguous literature? I hope not.
That’s the first point where I can confidently claim that Endoex 8.75% satisfies the first attribute of being the best dewormer for goats.
The ability of the dewormer to decrease fecal egg count in goats
What’s the use of a dewormer that fails to consistently bring down the fecal egg count of your goats? If the dewormer fails to bring down the fecal egg count by more the 90%, then throw it away and never call that ridiculous concoction of chemicals a “dewormer”. There are only three reasons for a dewormer, to fail to bring down fecal egg counts by more than 90%.
The first one could be the resistance of the parasites at the prescribed dose rate to the active ingredients of dewormer. The second reason could be, that you are using the wrong dewormer for the parasite.
For example, there is no possibility that Nilverm could ever reduce the fecal egg count of liver fluke. It can never happen, because levamisole the active ingredient of Nilverm is ineffective for liver fluke infestation. The third reason could be the dewormer you used in your goats was either sub-standard or was a fake copy.
In numerous field trials, Endoex 8.75% has repeatedly shown a reduction of fecal egg counts in goats by more than 90%. These remarkable and consistent results have been achieved in part due to the broad spectrum of activity of Endoex 8.75%.
Therefore, Endoex 8.75% satisfies the second criterion for being the best dewormer for goats.
Spectrum of Activity
Endoex 8.75% has a broad spectrum of activity. Due to the presence of levamisole in its composition, it eliminates roundworms and lungworms. Endoex 8.75% also eliminates the inhibited forms of different roundworms. These inhibited worms are a lethal threat to goats as they can cause sudden death of goats.
The biggest advantage of using Endoex 8.75% in your goats is the absolute destruction of liver fluke from your goat herd. Endoex 8.75% acts upon all three stages of liver fluke. Therefore, using Endoex 8.75% once, yes only once in three months, effectively eliminates liver fluke from your goat herd.
Let’s first understand the age cycle of liver fluke. Liver fluke while in the body of a goat undergoes three different stages. These stages are called
- Early immature
- Immature
- Adult
It takes approximately three months for liver fluke to develop to the adult stage once it enters a goat. These three stages of liver fluke are all equally responsible for the deteriorating health of your goats.
Endoex 8.75% contains Triclabendazole, a molecule that is the only known substance to effectively kill all three stages of liver fluke. Yes, you read that right. No other flukicide can eliminate all three stages of liver fluke. Oxyclozanide, Albendazole, and Nitroxinil do not act on all three stages of liver fluke.
Due to the presence of Triclabendazole in Endoex 8.75%, it exhibits excellent ability to eliminate all three stages of liver fluke from goat herds. Dewormers like Nilzan Plus pale in comparison to what Endoex 8.75% is capable of doing. Nilzan Plus only eliminates adult liver fluke, leaving the other two stages of liver fluke in the body, which forces the farmer to use Nilzan Plus every month. In comparison, Endoex 8.75% with its remarkable spectrum of activity is only used once in three months because once you use Endoex, all three stages of liver fluke are eliminated.
Therefore, while reviewing the spectrum of activity, Endoex 8.75% is the best dewormer.
Ease of administration in goats
Endoex 8.75% is the only dewormer that does not insist on using water, milk, lassi, or yogurt as a diluent during oral administration to goats. You might be amazed to read that even vets are pushing farmers to mix milk with liquid dewormers, before oral administration to goats.
This has led farmers to become clueless and often confused about whether they should mix water, lassi, or milk.
Endoex 8.75% removes all the fuss. You just take a drenching gun, measure the required dose of Endoex 8.75% and directly administer orally. No need to mix with sweetened water, milk, or yogurt.
This ease of administration gives another point to the tally of Endoex 8.75% making it the best dewormer for goats in Pakistan.
Safe to be used in pregnant goats
As discussed, earlier Endoex 8.75% is a dewormer that boldly claims in its literature that it is safe for pregnant goats and sheep. Very few dewormers have this claim on their side. I have used it personally in uncountable pregnant goats and never had a complaint. Don’t take my word, many big and notable goat farms are using Endoex 8.75% as their main dewormer for goats across Pakistan. This attribute of being safe for pregnant goats makes Endoex 8.75% the best dewormer.
Price affordability
Endoex 8.75% is among the most affordable dewormers in Pakistan. Consider the fact, that a farmer does not have to use it every month. This increases its affordability manyfold. Use it once and use it again after 90 days or three months.
The price per dose is also comparatively less than the most notable competing brand Nilzan Plus. Endoex 8.75% is available in 100ml and 500ml pack sizes hence, it is suitable for small and large goat farms.
To conclude, the best dewormer for use in goats is Endoex 8.75%.