Deworming is an important part of keeping dogs healthy. Intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms are common in dogs and can cause serious health problems if not treated. Knowing how often to give your dog deworming medication can help prevent intestinal parasites from making your pet sick.
How do dogs get intestinal worms?
There are a few ways dogs can pick up intestinal worms:
- From their mother – Puppies can get roundworms and hookworms while nursing from an infected mother dog.
- Eating infected poop – Dogs can ingest worm eggs or larvae when sniffing or eating infected dog or wildlife feces.
- Eating insects or small animals – Some worms like tapeworms are transmitted when dogs eat bugs or small critters harboring worm larvae.
- Fleas – Tapeworms can be passed to dogs if they swallow an infected flea while grooming.
Because intestinal parasites are so contagious, puppies typically get dosed with a dewormer at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Adult dogs usually need regular deworming too to prevent any parasites they pick up from causing problems.
How often should you deworm a dog?
Most veterinarians recommend deworming healthy adult dogs 1-4 times per year. Here are some general guidelines on deworming frequency:
- Puppies: Every 2-4 weeks until 12 weeks old, then monthly until 6 months old.
- Adult dogs: 1-4 times per year depending on risk factors.
- Nursing mothers: Deworm 2-4 weeks after giving birth then monthly until weaned.
Dogs at higher risk of having worms may need to be dewormed more often. Factors that increase the chances of parasite infection include:
- Frequent exposure to other dogs
- Spending time in areas with wildlife or livestock
- Eating rodents and other small animals
- Having fleas
- Poor sanitation
Show dogs, hunting dogs, or dogs living in rural areas are more prone to picking up worms. Your vet may recommend deworming them up to 4 times a year. Dogs that stay mainly indoors and have limited contact with infected animals or feces may only need annual deworming.
Types of dewormers for dogs
There are several broad-spectrum dewormers that kill a variety of intestinal parasites. Common deworming medications for dogs include:
- Fenbendazole – Kills roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and hookworms.
- Milbemycin oxime – Treats roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms.
- Praziquantel – Effective against tapeworms.
- Pyrantel pamoate – Kills roundworms and hookworms.
- Ivermectin – Treats roundworms and whipworms.
Many monthly heartworm prevention medications like Heartgard and Interceptor also contain dewormers. Your vet will help choose an appropriate dewormer based on your dog’s needs and what parasites are common in your area.
When to deworm puppies
Puppies are almost guaranteed to have roundworms and often have other worms too. Here are the typical deworming guidelines for puppies:
- 2 weeks old – Deworm with pyrantel pamoate
- 4 weeks old – Second dose of pyrantel pamoate
- 6 weeks old – Deworm with fenbendazole
- 8 weeks old – Second dose of fenbendazole
- Monthly till 6 months old – Rotate deworming medications monthly
Frequent deworming helps rid puppies of worms they got from their mother as well as worms they pick up from their environment. Rotating dewormers helps prevent parasites from developing resistance to a particular medication.
Signs your dog may have worms
Some signs your dog may have intestinal worms include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Pot belly appearance
- Dull, dry coat
- Coughing
- Visible worms in vomit or stool
Puppies with roundworms may have a characteristic bloated belly. Adults infested with tapeworms might scoot their rear along the ground due to irritation. If you suspect your dog may have worms, bring a fresh stool sample to the vet for testing.
Risks of worms in dogs
Intestinal worms can cause a number of health issues, especially in puppies. Potential problems include:
- Malnutrition – Worms rob the dog of nutrients from their food.
- Diarrhea – Worm infestation irritates the gut and intestines.
- Vomiting – In severe cases, worms can cause vomiting.
- Colic – Some worms can cause painful abdominal cramps.
- Anemia – Hookworms and whipworms feed on the dog’s blood.
- weight loss or failure to grow – Worms deprive puppies of vital nutrients.
- Skin problems – Some worms migrate under the skin and cause irritation.
- Dull coat – Worms can cause vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.
Puppies are especially vulnerable to illness from worms. But left untreated, worms can make adult dogs very sick as well. Some types like heartworms can even be fatal.
Getting deworming right
Following your vet’s deworming schedule helps protect your dog against parasitic worms. Here are some tips for safe and effective deworming:
- Get all puppy deworming doses on schedule in the first 6 months.
- Remember to deworm nursing mothers 2-4 weeks after whelping.
- Deworm dogs that spend time outdoors frequently or have fleas.
- Rotate deworming medications and follow label directions.
- Clean up feces promptly from the yard to prevent reinfection.
- Talk to your vet about heartworm prevention that also deworms.
By Deworming your dog regularly and using medications as directed, you can keep your pet worm-free and healthy.
Conclusion
Deworming on a schedule is important to protect dogs against parasitic intestinal worms. Puppies should be dewormed every 2-4 weeks until 6 months old. Adult dogs typically need deworming 1-4 times a year, depending on their risk of exposure. Dogs that spend more time outdoors, have fleas, or interact with other animals are at higher risk of worms and may need more frequent deworming. Rotate deworming medications based on your vet’s recommendations to effectively kill all types of intestinal worms. Keeping your dog on a regular deworming schedule along with prompt poop pickup can help prevent worms from making your pet sick.