Successful resolution of oesophageal spirocercosis in 20 dogs following daily treatment with oral doramectin.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a daily oral dose of doramectin in dogs with spirocercosis. Twenty naturally infected dogs were treated with 0.5 mg/kg doramectin administered orally once daily for 42 days. In 13 of the dogs there was resolution of the nodules after 42 days. Nodules were eliminated in five of the remaining seven dogs following treatment for an additional 42 days. In the remaining two dogs, treatment continued for a further 42 days (total 126 days), resulting in complete resolution. No adverse events associated with treatment were observed. This study concluded that doramectin at 0.5 mg/kg once a day is effective in the elimination of Spirocerca lupi nodules in dogs.