What is Piperazine used for?

Piperazine is indicated for: Roundworm (Toxocara), Roundworm infections.

Which species have cited Piperazine dosing data?

Piperazine dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 5 species: African Grey Parrot, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Rabbit (Domestic), Sugar Glider.

Is Piperazine a controlled substance?

Piperazine is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Piperazine

US brand names:Pipa-Tabs, Sergeants Worm Away

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Piperazine is dosed at 100–200 mg/kg PO once, repeat in 14 days in african grey parrots, per Doneley B. Formulary. In: Doneley B, eds. Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice: Companion and Aviary Birds; Manson Publishing, London, UK; 2011:285-320. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.439 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antiparasitic

Routes

Indications

Roundworm (Toxocara)Roundworm infections

Mechanism of Action

GABA agonist that causes flaccid paralysis in ascarids (roundworms). Worms are expelled alive by peristalsis.

Side effects & warnings

Only effective against ascarids (roundworms). Wide safety margin. May cause vomiting at high doses. Do not combine with pyrantel (antagonistic).

Species with Piperazine dosing data (5 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot Cat (Domestic)Dog (Domestic)Rabbit (Domestic)Sugar Glider

Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugs All Cat (Domestic) drugs All Dog (Domestic) drugs All Rabbit (Domestic) drugs All Sugar Glider drugs

Evidence levels across 5 dose rules

Moderate×4Weak×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 4 published sources

· Doneley B. Formulary. In: Doneley B, eds. Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice: Companion and Aviary Birds; Manson Publishing, London, UK; 2011:285-320. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.439 (2026-08-01).
· Hess L. Sugar gliders. In: Aiello SE, eds. Merck Veterinary Manual; Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ; 2016:2035-2043.; Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2020. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.706 (2026-08-01).
· Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.642 (corpus PDF p.670) - Piperazine, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs and Cats: '44-66 mg/kg administered once PO.'
· Quesenberry K, Orcutt C, Mans C, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Chapter 14 'Gastrointestinal Diseases of Rabbits', p.185 (doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-48435-0.00014-9) | Carpenter's rabbit rows cite: 194. Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed. — Verified against Quesenberry et al., Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th Ed, p.197 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (2 of 5 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 5 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	44–66 mg/kg	once, repeat in 14-21 days	Moderate	Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.642 (corpus PDF p.670) - Piperazine, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs and Cats: '44-66 mg/kg administered once PO.'
Cat (Domestic)	PO	44–66 mg/kg	once, repeat in 14-21 days	Moderate	Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.642 (corpus PDF p.670) - Piperazine, Small Animal Dosage, Dogs and Cats: '44-66 mg/kg administered once PO.'

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