Diethylcarbamazine for Dogs

Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg

Diethylcarbamazine is dosed at 6.6 mg/kg PO q24h in dogs, per Verified against Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.264 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.264' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.236; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.236. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Diethylcarbamazine is used in dogs for Heartworm prevention. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diethylcarbamazine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Filaribits, DEC

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	6.6 mg/kg	q24h	Year-round (daily)	Heartworm prevention	Strong

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
6.6	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.264	• Heartworm prophylaxis: 6.6 mg/kg q24h PO.
55–110	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.264	• Treatment of ascarids: 55-110 mg/kg PO, as a single treatment (110 mg/kg dose
110	PO	Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.264	• Treatment of ascarids: 55-110 mg/kg PO, as a single treatment (110 mg/kg dose

Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.

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Side effects & warnings

CONTRAINDICATED in heartworm-positive dogs (anaphylaxis from microfilaria die-off). Must test negative before starting. Daily dosing required. Largely replaced by monthly preventatives.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Diethylcarbamazine for Dogs?

Diethylcarbamazine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 6.6 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Diethylcarbamazine administered in Dogs?

Documented routes for Diethylcarbamazine in dogs: PO.

How long is Diethylcarbamazine given in Dogs?

Cited course lengths for Diethylcarbamazine in dogs include: Year-round (daily). Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Diethylcarbamazine treat in Dogs?

Diethylcarbamazine is indicated in dogs for: Heartworm prevention.

What are the side effects of Diethylcarbamazine in Dogs?

These are general warnings for Diethylcarbamazine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED in heartworm-positive dogs (anaphylaxis from microfilaria die-off). Must test negative before starting. Daily dosing required. Largely replaced by monthly preventatives.

Why a species-specific page? Diethylcarbamazine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.