HEALTH
What is Deworming for Dogs? A Vet’s Guide
Regular deworming for dogs is crucial to maintain their health. Dr Pai shares insights on the ideal schedule for puppies & adults, types of dewormers, and more.
Table of contents
Worms are tiny parasites that live inside host bodies and survive by stealing nutrients from their hosts, i.e., in the current context our puppies and dogs. This is not ideal as it can lead to serious gastrointestinal problems. Our dogs can be susceptible to such worms, especially when they are puppies.
What is Deworming for Dogs?
The process of deworming dogs involves administering anthelmintic (deworming) drugs in order to get rid of these parasites. The most commonly observed worms in our dogs live in the digestive tract (intestines) and are of four types:
- Roundworms: Puppies usually get these worms from their mother (directly or by milk) and also from being in contact with infected stool or soil. They are spaghetti/noodle shaped and are typically white or light brown that can grow to be a few inches long.
- Hookworms: These worms use their hook-like mouth to attach themselves to the dogs’ intestines and suck blood. Hookworms can also burrow into human skin and cause itching.
- Whipworms: These typically have less severe reactions and don't cause any signs unless the infection becomes severe.
- Tapeworms: These are long, flat, white worms. There are many types – some infect your dog when they are fed infected meat, whereas others can infect your dog when they have fleas.
Why Is Deworming for Dogs So Crucial?
Dogs usually get worms by either eating or licking contaminated items or through mouthy interactions with other infected dogs. However, young puppies can get worms even if they have never left the house. Young puppies are susceptible to contracting it from their mother – either while she is pregnant or through the milk.
In older dogs, a lot of their favourite activities such as sniffing or licking new things, especially in the outdoor environment, can also be a means for them to get infected with worms. These parasitic infections can be quite fatal in young puppies. In older dogs, they can cause serious symptoms, such as:
Apart from minor tummy upsets, worm infections can also manifest and affect your pet’s health by:
Also remember, some of these worms can also be passed on to you! Humans can get sick from some common dog worms. This is why you should always be careful while handling and cleaning your dog's poop.
- Diarrhoea
- Abnormal poop – either abnormal colours or with blood or mucous
- You may see worms or parts of worms in the dog's poop
- They may also rub their bum on the floor, “scooting”
- Vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite
- Intestinal obstructions- If there are too many worms, they can form a tangled ball that blocks the digestive tract
Apart from minor tummy upsets, worm infections can also manifest and affect your pet’s health by:
- Lowering their immunity – By lower their immunity, it may reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations and make your dog more susceptible to getting sick.
- Causing a loss of nutrients – The worms use up nutrients that your dog needs, this can result in your puppy not growing properly and having poor health – dull coat, fur loss, and not gaining adequate weight.
Also remember, some of these worms can also be passed on to you! Humans can get sick from some common dog worms. This is why you should always be careful while handling and cleaning your dog's poop.
What different worms can look like in dog poop.
How Often Should We Deworm Our Dogs?
The process of deworming puppies starts even before the puppy is born! The mother dog is dewormed before and during the pregnancy, as well as when she’s nursing the pups.
If you think your dog has worms, collect a sample of your dog's poop and ask the vet to send it to the lab for testing. After that, you should deworm your dog as instructed by your veterinarian.
- For a puppy, deworming usually begins at 30 days (1 month of age) using a liquid puppy de-wormer and continues every two weeks till they are 2.5 months of age
- For puppies older than 3 months, you can use the adult deworming tablets once every month - until the puppy is 6 months old.
- Deworming dogs older than six months happens once every 1-3 months, based on your own and your dog’s lifestyle.
If you think your dog has worms, collect a sample of your dog's poop and ask the vet to send it to the lab for testing. After that, you should deworm your dog as instructed by your veterinarian.
What your puppy's deworming schedule may look like.
What Are the Types of Dewormers Available for Dogs?
Liquid Puppy Dewormers
These are given to young pups and contain drugs that work against Roundworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms. These may or may not work against tapeworms. There are two types of liquids used for deworming puppies:
Tablet Dewormers
Tablet Dewormers can be used once a puppy is more than 2.5 months old. They can either be crushed and mixed with food or given directly. The dose is usually 1 tablet for every 10 kgs, however, there are some formulations available for bigger dogs.
Examples: Skyworm, Drontal Plus, Kiwof plus, Plozin, etc.
Natural Dewormers
A well-balanced diet can prevent your dog from getting a severe worm infestation. There is research that shows that holistic methods can be successful at managing worms on a day-to-day basis. Some common home remedies are pumpkin seeds, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Food-grade diatomaceous earth has also been used as a Dewormer. The exact dose of the home remedies varies and is not well documented. Hence, your dog may still have worms while being treated using these methods.
Some of these home remedies can be toxic if not used properly, so please do your research and consult a holistic veterinarian or nutritionist before attempting to deworm your dog using natural Dewormers.
- Single-dose Dewormers that are given once every two weeks, for e.g., Drontal Puppy etc.
- Multiple dosage Dewormers that need to be given for three consecutive days every two weeks, for e.g., CanWorm syrup, etc.
Tablet Dewormers
Tablet Dewormers can be used once a puppy is more than 2.5 months old. They can either be crushed and mixed with food or given directly. The dose is usually 1 tablet for every 10 kgs, however, there are some formulations available for bigger dogs.
Examples: Skyworm, Drontal Plus, Kiwof plus, Plozin, etc.
Natural Dewormers
A well-balanced diet can prevent your dog from getting a severe worm infestation. There is research that shows that holistic methods can be successful at managing worms on a day-to-day basis. Some common home remedies are pumpkin seeds, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Food-grade diatomaceous earth has also been used as a Dewormer. The exact dose of the home remedies varies and is not well documented. Hence, your dog may still have worms while being treated using these methods.
Some of these home remedies can be toxic if not used properly, so please do your research and consult a holistic veterinarian or nutritionist before attempting to deworm your dog using natural Dewormers.
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