Deworming Dogs: Why It Matters and When to Do It

A dog can carry worms and still look healthy for a long time. By the time clear signs appear, the worms are already affecting your dog's nutrition and health. Deworming at the right times protects your dog, and it protects your family too.

Why dogs need regular deworming

Dogs pick up worms in many different ways, so almost every dog is at risk:

• From mother to puppy: puppies can be infected before birth or through their mother's milk, which is why worms are so common in puppies.
• From the environment: worm eggs live in soil, grass and other dogs' feces, and can survive outside for quite a long time.
• Through fleas: a dog that swallows fleas while licking or chewing its coat can become infected with tapeworms.
• Through raw food: untreated raw meat, organs and fish can carry worm larvae.

Worms steal nutrients and cause diarrhea, anemia and poor growth. In puppies, a heavy infestation can cause intestinal blockage or wasting. Even more importantly, some dog worms can spread to people, especially young children who play in the dirt and put their hands in their mouths.

Common types of worms in dogs

Roundworms

Very common in puppies. A dog may have a pot belly, a dull coat and diarrhea, and sometimes vomits worms or passes worms in its stool that look like spaghetti.

Hookworms

They attach to the intestinal wall and suck blood, causing anemia; stools may be black or bloody. The larvae can also enter through the skin.

Tapeworms

Usually linked to fleas. You may see small white segments that look like grains of rice around the anus or in the stool.

Heartworms

Spread by mosquito bites, they live in the heart and the blood vessels of the lungs. This is a serious disease, and it is prevented differently from routine intestinal deworming. If you live somewhere with lots of mosquitoes, ask your veterinarian about heartworm prevention.

When to deworm

The exact deworming schedule, the product and how to use it must follow your veterinarian's instructions. Here are the times when you should raise the subject with your vet:

• Puppies: usually dewormed very early and repeatedly during the first months of life, because they are so easily infected by their mother. Ask at the very first vet visit.
• Adult dogs: need regular deworming throughout the year. How often depends on lifestyle; for example, dogs that go outdoors a lot, scavenge, live with young children or eat raw food need more attention.
• Mother dogs: before breeding, and during pregnancy and nursing, they need specific advice from your veterinarian.
• Newly arrived dogs: whether adopted or bought, take them for a checkup and ask about deworming.
• Whenever you see worms or tapeworm segments in the stool or around the anus.

Some owners choose regular fecal tests to find out whether their dog actually has worms, rather than simply giving medicine out of habit. Discuss with your veterinarian which approach suits your dog.

Things to keep in mind when using dewormers

• Only use products made for dogs, as directed by your veterinarian, and read the product label carefully.
• Never give your dog dewormers meant for people or for other animals.
• Weigh your dog before treatment, because body weight affects how the product is used. Don't guess by eye.
• Some dog breeds are sensitive to certain active ingredients. Tell your veterinarian your dog's breed and medical history.
• No single product treats every kind of worm. Ask exactly which worms your product covers.
• Record each deworming date in your dog's health record so you don't forget the next one.

Keep things clean to reduce reinfection

• Pick up your dog's poop promptly, both at home and on walks.
• Control fleas on your dog and in your home.
• Wash your hands after playing with your dog, after picking up poop, and before eating. Remind children to do the same.
• Limit raw meat, raw fish and raw organs in your dog's diet.

When to see a vet

Take your dog to the vet if you notice:

• Ongoing diarrhea, or stool that is bloody or black like coffee grounds.
• Vomiting worms, a swollen belly, or weight loss despite eating.
• Pale gums, tiredness or reduced interest in play.
• Coughing, rapid breathing or tiring easily during exercise, which may be signs of heartworm.
• Vomiting, collapse, trembling or any unusual behavior after taking a dewormer.

A puppy with any unusual signs should be seen early, because puppies become dehydrated and weak much faster than adult dogs.