Granulated anthelmintic preparations and delivery systems

1. A method of preparing a liquid delivery formulation for treating an animal comprising the steps of

(a) providing one or more packs of multi-active granules, each multi-active granule comprising a combination of a macrocyclic lactone and a gum, a wetting agent, and one or more compositions each including an anthelmintic active and an agent, wherein the one or more compositions are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a benzimidazole and a suspending agent for the benzimidazole; and

(ii) an imidazothiazole and a suspending agent; and

(b) mixing the multi-active granules from the one or more packs with an aqueous liquid to form a thixotropic or pseudoplastic composition prior to treating the animal;

wherein each multi-active granule comprises about 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 or 70% w/w of the anthelmintic agents; and

wherein the multi-active granules, in the one or more packs, are stable for at least 6 months at room temperature.

2. A method of claim 1 , wherein a suspending agent is added to the aqueous liquid; or

wherein the suspending agent is a gum; or

wherein the aqueous liquid is water: or

wherein the aqueous liquid is an anthelmintic concentrate; or

wherein the aqueous liquid contains avermectin and/or milbemycin in a liquid concentrate form; or

wherein the liquid delivery formulation is suitable for administration to animals for up to one month after mixing; or

wherein the mixing of each of the multi-active granules with the aqueous liquid is performed at the site of animal administration; or

further comprising a step before the providing step of determining the treatment needs of one or more animals; or

further comprising administering the liquid delivery formulation to one or more animals; or

wherein each multi-active granule comprises

from about 10 to about 40% w/w benzimidazole, and

from about 10 to about 60% w/w levamisole HCL; or

wherein each multi-active granule comprises 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% w/w macrocyclic lactone; or

wherein each multi-active granule further comprises a particulate source of one or more minerals; or

wherein each multi-active granule comprises a suspending agent; or

wherein each multi-active granule further comprises an anionic surfactant.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein the suspending agent of (a)(i) is a non-colloidal agent.

4. A method of claim 3 wherein the non-colloidal agent is silicon dioxide.

5. A method of forming an anthelmintic composition comprising the steps of:

providing two or more total anthelmintic actives comprising a macrocyclic lactone and one or more further anthelmintic actives selected from the group consisting of praziquantel, one or more imidazothiazoles, and, one or more benzimidazoles,

providing a suspending agent, wherein the suspending agent comprises a gum, and mixing the macrocyclic lactone with the suspending agent to form a suspension,

if the anthelmintic actives comprise a benzimidazole or praziquantel, providing a wetting agent and mixing the benzimidazole or the praziquantel with the wetting agent,

combining the suspension with the one or more further anthelmintic actives and a wetting agent if a benzimidazole is present to form an anthelmintic active mixture, and

optionally adding additional suspending agent or rheology modifier comprising a gum, and

granulating the anthelmintic active mixture to form a granulated combination of multi-active granules each comprising more than one anthelmintic active that has a shelf life of at least 6 months at room temperature, and

wherein, when subsequently mixed with water the granulated combination of anthelmintic actives forms a stable thixotropic or pseudoplastic mixture.

6. A method of claim 5 , further comprising combining a stabilizing agent with the anthelmintic actives prior to granulation.

7. A method of claim 6 wherein the stabilizing agent is a gum; or wherein the granules further comprise a particulate source of one or more minerals; or wherein the granules comprise about 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 or 70% w/w of the anthelmintic actives.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the granulated combination of anthelmintic actives is stable for at least 6 months.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the granules further comprise a dispersant.

10. A method of claim 9

wherein the wetting agent is polysorbate 80; or

wherein the dispersant is colloidal silicon dioxide.

11. A method of claim 5 , wherein a suspending agent is added to the water: or

wherein the suspending agent is a gum; or

wherein the water contains avermectin and/or milbemycin in a liquid concentrate form; or

wherein the thixotropic or pseudoplastic mixture is suitable for administration to animals for up to one month after mixing; or

wherein the mixing of each of the multi-active granules with the water is performed at the site of animal administration; or

further comprising a step before the providing step of determining the treatment needs of one or more animals; or

further comprising administering the thixotropic or pseudoplastic mixture to one or more animals; or

wherein each multi-active granule comprises

from about 10 to about 40% w/w benzimidazole, and

from about 10 to about 60% w/w levamisole HCL: or

wherein each multi-active granule comprises 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% w/w macrocyclic lactone; or

wherein each multi-active granule further comprises a particulate source of one or more minerals; or

wherein each multi-active granule comprises a suspending agent; or

wherein each multi-active granule further comprises an anionic surfactant.