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Your Complete Guide to Dog Worming
Puppies and younger dogs tend to suffer from worms more than older dogs, so it’s important to have a new dog wormed as soon as it’s safe to do so. (Older dogs do also benefit from regular worming). Most dogs do not show signs of worms, but if left untreated, these parasites can cause serious problems. Not only are worms extremely uncomfortable for your pup, but tapeworms and roundworms can also spread to humans. For this reason, it’s best to establish a regular dog worming regime.
Let’s take a look at how often you should worm your dog, plus some great products to help make the de-worming process easier.
How can I tell if my dog has worms?
Here are some signs your dog has worms:
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Rapid weight loss or sudden bloating
- Dragging their bottom along the floor (itching)
- A sudden change in your dog’s usual behaviour
- Anaemia (low number of red blood cells)
- Visible tapeworm segments around your dog’s behind (these usually look like grains of rice)
- Stunted growth and development in young puppies
How often should I worm my dog?
Dog owners are generally recommended to treat their dogs for worms once every 3 months for adult dogs. New puppies require worming once every 2-3 weeks until they’re 12 weeks old, and then they should be wormed monthly until they reach 6 months old, at which age they can move onto the adult schedule.
If your dog likes to eat things they shouldn’t (think bits of roadkill, rodents and insects, and rubbish), you may need to worm more often – around every 1-2 months. It’s worth noting that while dog worming medication effectively gets rid of worms, it doesn’t prevent them.
If you are looking to treat your dog after worming them, why not take a look at our 6 fun ways to pamper your pooch?
Is worming my dog expensive?
Fortunately, worming your dog (or any other pet) is extremely affordable, and many products cost less than £5 per treatment.
What dog worming products should I use?
Panacur Worming Products
Panacur's worming range comes in a variety of forms, so whether you prefer to give your pet their medicine through a sachet, paste, or syringe, you have choices. This medication is used to treat domestic dogs and cats infected with gastrointestinal tapeworms. It’s also effective at treating all stages of roundworms in a dog’s gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.
Drontal Dog Worming Tablets
If you have a fussy dog who has a hard time taking medicine, the Drontal Plus Flavoured Dog Worming Tablets are another great option. This medicine can be used on puppies aged two weeks and up, with a dosage of one tablet per 10 kilograms of bodyweight. Drontal’s dog worming tablets effectively eliminate roundworm and tapeworm.
Johnson's One-Dose Easy Wormer
Johnson's One-Dose Easy Wormer comes in four different packages so be aware of the age for which you’re purchasing it:
- The Size One dog worming tablets are suitable for small dogs and puppies weighing up to 6kgs.
- The Size Two dog worming tablets work well for medium breeds of dogs weighing 6-20kg.
- The Size Three dog worming tablets treat roundworms and tapeworms in large breeds of dogs weighing 6-40kg.
- The Size Four dog worming tablets are suitable for large dogs of 6-80kg.
At Vet Pharmacy, we know that worming your dog isn’t always easy, but if you make it a monthly, bi-monthly, or tri-monthly habit, it will soon be just another thing you do throughout the year. Click here to view our full range of dog medicines or to learn more about how to take care of your pet:
Looking to worm your cat?
Check out our recommendations here:
This blog post was written on behalf of Vet Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.