All Dogs sniff and lick almost everything which comes their way and these habits make them more vulnerable to parasitic worms. Worms on a broader scope can be internal or external. The internal worms get entry into the body by ingestion, breathing contaminated air, or penetrating the skin. On a successful entry, these harmful organisms will not only affect the health of your pet but also reproduce rapidly to spread quickly day and night. Dog deworming is a practice to eliminate and prevent worms.
Most of these parasitic worms can transmit from animals to animals but some also transmit to humans. Like Dog Vaccination, Dog Deworming also protects pets’ health as well as Pet owners. So, dogs deworming is an important protocol to eliminate worms and also prevent them.
5 Signs Indicating That You Should Deworm Your Dog
Most of the time dogs don’t show specific and clear-cut signs of the presence of worms. But still, by observing the behaviour and health parameters of your dog, you can figure out the worm’s infestation.
- If your dog is headed towards weakness, weight loss, and diarrhoea or vomiting frequently with the absence of appetite it would be a sign that your dog is having worms.
- Observe the faeces of your dog, if you can see small grain-like organisms moving in the loose poop of your dog it could be filthy worms.
- If your dog has itching around the anus and tries to lick the anus frequently, it can be worms, causing itching.
- If your dog remains surrounded by flies, fleas, mosquitos, and ticks, it’s more likely to have worms.
- If your dog is in contact with dirty and infected companions in your area, chances are to catch up with worms from them.
Above all signs can or can’t be present in all dogs. We always recommend consulting a veterinarian for a better diagnosis of Dog worms or you may opt to consult a vet online if you can’t go to the veterinary hospital.
5 most common types of Dog Worms
Among many types of Dog worms, the following are the most common worms in dogs
Hookworms; having hook-like teeth cause intestinal damage. Your dog can catch up with these worms from wet grass and contaminated soil anywhere.
Roundworms are transmitted via faeces and contaminated soil, they can cause digestive problems including colic, diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal issues.
Tapeworms show almost no signs but these long-segmented worms impose potential damage to health sometimes. Sometimes the dog has signs of vomiting or abdominal pain.
Whipworms are one of the most common worms and intestinal parasites, whipworms can cause bloody diarrhoea if they remain untreated.
Heartworms, as the name suggests heartworms reside in the heart and impose a risk to the circulatory system and lungs. They transmit via mosquitos and require blood examination for diagnosis.
Dogs Deworming schedule
Puppies Deworming Schedule
The recommended schedule for deworming puppies is as follows
- For Age less than 3 months, every two weeks
- For ages 3 to 6 months, once a month
- For ages 6 to 12 months, once in two months
Adult Dogs Deworming Schedule
Adult dogs should be dewormed at an interval of 3 months. Depending upon lifestyle your Vet can slightly change the schedule for deworming your Dog.
How to Deworm your Dog?
Many ways are considered safe for dog deworming. After reading this guide you will be able to figure out the one that suits your dog most.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends using broad-spectrum dewormers throughout the whole year.
Many people treat their dogs with ‘Broad spectrum’ dewormers every 3 to 4 weeks. It keeps their dogs free of common worms. But be careful while dosing yourself as more or less dosage can be harmful. Deworming depends on the diagnosis of worms. Until you don’t know about the worm type in your dog, you can’t choose a specific dewormer though you can use one broad-spectrum. Always consult your veterinarian before taking any decision.
Treatment of Dog Worms
For most intestinal parasites veterinarians do a faecal examination before deworming your dog.
The proper procedure of dog deworming starts with sample collection. After the collection of faecal samples, your Vet will examine them under the microscope for the identification of worms. When it will be done, your Veterinarian will prescribe you the most suitable specific dewormer for your infected dog. Heartworms need blood examination for diagnosis.
Best medicine for Dog Worms/ Dog Dewormers
Depending upon the mode of action and efficacy against particular worm types, many deworming products are available on the market. One of the most commonly used and best deworming medicines is Drontal plus for dogs.
What can you expect after deworming your dog?
One of the most frequently asked questions is, how long do deworming agents take to work? The answer is that it depends upon the product you have used. Many deworming products take different times to work, some starts work immediately while some take one day to start their action.
Side Effects of Dogs Deworming
There are almost no major side effects of deworming your dog if you followed instructions and guidelines carefully. Sometimes your dog may vomit or have mild to moderate diarrhoea. If any of the signs persist you should report them to the Veterinarian.