Pup has worms? Puppy deworming guide

‘My pup has worms in his tummy’. Most first-time dog guardians are alarmed when they come to know this. However, this is not something to be alarmed about. Whether you are welcoming a new member into your family or your dog just had a litter, as a dog guardian, it is your responsibility to get started with puppy deworming as well as the training of the new member as a part of the puppy care process. Deworming is an imperative part of dog care which starts during the puppyhood stages and continues throughout life.

Puppy deworming schedule: the short answer

Almost every puppy is born with roundworms or picks them up from the mother’s milk, so vets treat all puppies, not just ones with visible worms.

• 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks: a vet-recommended dewormer every 2 weeks (CAPC, VCA).
• From about 8 weeks: start a monthly parasite preventive from your vet (many heartworm preventives also kill roundworms and hookworms), and keep it going year-round.
• Stool tests: 2–4 fecal checks in the first year, then 1–2 a year (CAPC).
• Nursing mom: deworm her at the same time as the puppies.

Never use garlic or other “natural” dewormers. Garlic is toxic to dogs and doesn’t treat worms.

 Most dogs are born with worms. Those that are not born with worms get infected during the lactation period.

There is no question regarding, do puppies need deworming? It is just when should you do puppy deworming?

How is it possible that my pup has worms from the time before birth?

Many adult dogs carry dormant roundworm larvae in their body tissues. Late in pregnancy these larvae wake up (CAPC, Merck). Once awake, these critters can travel through the uterine wall and into the puppies.

The mother can be administered a deworming medication in advance. This will not eliminate the worms. However, this will reduce the transmission of worms from the mother to the pups. The mother’s deworming should begin around day 40 of the pregnancy and continue till 2 days after puppy’s birth.   

This is a daily, weight-based protocol that your vet will prescribe and dose. Don’t start it on your own.

Responsible breeders would administer the first dose of puppy deworming medication even before the pups have been weaned from the mother. However, whether the pups have been previously dewormed or not, now that they are a part of your family, it is your responsibility to conduct regular puppy deworming and keep the puppy safe.

Along with mother, the pups may get infested with roundworms via the transmission of the eggs of roundworms.

Getting exposed to the feces of an infected dog or playing outside may be other possible sources of roundworm infestation in puppies.

What are the types of worms which can affect puppies?

Puppies can not only become infected with roundworms, they may also get infected with other worms like hookworms, tapeworms or whipworms.

Hookworms mainly pass to puppies through the mother’s milk (VCA). These larvae generally penetrate the skin and live in the intestines.

Whipworms as the name suggests have a whip type appearance. Puppies generally get whipworms via the eggs of infected animals and feces.

Tapeworms usually come from swallowing fleas, or from eating mice, rabbits, birds or raw meat (VCA).

If a puppy has flea infestation and he or she lands up eating the flea, it can cause a tapeworm infection. Furthermore, puppies may also pick up tapeworm from eggs in case of infected animals.

Can I catch worms from my puppy?

Yes. Roundworm and hookworm eggs or larvae from puppy poop can infect people, especially young children who play in soil. It’s rare, but roundworm larvae can damage the eye (VCA). Pick up poop right away, wash hands after handling your puppy or cleaning up, and keep kids away from areas where dogs toilet.

How can you treat the worms your puppy is infected with?

If you’re suspecting that your pup has worms, always go to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will conduct a test to identify which worm infestation your puppy has.

Most often puppies are infected with roundworms. However, it is always best to make sure of that before you start the deworming medication.

Your vet will choose a dewormer based on the stool test and your puppy’s age and weight. Pyrantel and fenbendazole are common puppy dewormers. Fenbendazole treats roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and some tapeworms, but the flea tapeworm usually needs a different drug (praziquantel), plus flea control (VCA).

When should I start with puppy deworming?

Puppies should be administered their first deworming medication at the age of two weeks. Following this,

• Second dose is administered at 4 weeks
• Third dose at 6 weeks
• Fourth dose at 8 weeks

After the 8-week dose, your vet will start a monthly parasite preventive, which keeps treating worms every month. Vets recommend year-round parasite control for life; if monthly isn’t possible, deworm at least four times a year (CAPC).

The complete puppy deworming schedule

Following is the complete puppy deworming schedule

Dose 1:

The first dose of puppy deworming medication is administered at the age of 2 to 3 weeks. During this period, the mother is still taking care of the pups, grooming them and cleaning the feces which the pups have passed. Along with the puppies, the mother should also be administered deworming medication. If possible, guardians should take care that the mother ingests the least amount of feces.

Dose 2:

The pups are ready for their second dose by the age of 4 weeks. The doses will depend on the puppy’s weight. It may be double or triple the first dose depending on the weight of the puppy. Large breeds require higher dosage as they age, while pups belonging to small breed will require very little dosage change over time.

Dose 3:

By this time, the pups are at 6-7 weeks of age. The third dose will be the last dose before the puppies get weaned from the mother.

Dose 4:

Around the time of eight weeks of age, the puppies will receive the fourth deworming dose. Around this time, the pup is also ready to receive the first vaccine for parvovirus as well as canine distemper virus. These two vaccines usually come in the form of a combination vaccine.

Dose 5:

This dose is an optional one. This is the time when the puppies go to their new families. Therefore, this dose of deworming medication depends on the new guardians.

It is best to ask the breeder regarding the deworming doses that the puppy has already received and the type. If the breeder informs you that the pup has worms despite the four doses of deworming medications, it is best that you continue the deworming medication.

After that, keep your dog on a monthly preventive or, at minimum, deworm four times a year with a yearly stool test.

Dewormer with Pyrantel is a good option at around four weeks of age. Around six and eight weeks you should try using a dewormer with Fenbendazole. The purpose of using two different families of deworming medication is so that the pup does not build up resistance to any of them.

Most dewormers come in a liquid form. You can mix the required quantity with the puppy’s food. You must make sure that every pup receives the medication.

Do not forget to deworm the mother as well. She can keep spreading the worms to pups.

Are natural dewormers safe?

Please don’t use “natural” dewormers. Garlic, the one most often suggested online, is toxic to dogs in every form, raw, cooked or powdered, and can destroy red blood cells (VCA, Merck). There is no good evidence that garlic, pumpkin seeds or other home remedies clear worms. Modern dewormers from your vet are safe for puppies from 2 weeks of age. If your pup still has worms after the first doses, ask your vet for a stool test and the right medicine.

NOTE: A heavy worm burden can stunt a puppy’s growth or make it seriously ill, so always use the dewormer your vet prescribes.

Can worms kill puppies?

Yes, unfortunately worms can kill a puppy. That is why you should always use a vet-prescribed dewormer. The most common worm which puppies get infected are the roundworms. Roundworms have the ability to kill puppies in many ways, most of which are dependent on their reproduction rate.

Malnutrition:

Whatever the puppy eats, the roundworms ingest it. The crucial nutrients which are needed by the puppy are sloughed off by the roundworms. In the absence of the right amount of nutrients, the organs of the puppy will not properly develop and this may lead to death.

Failure of organs

Roundworms have been known to affect the digestive tract. They can make their way from the digestive tract to other organs like the lungs and heart. This causes respiratory failure in puppies.

Obstruction of the bowel:

Roundworms reproduce very fast. They also die very quick. If there is a large number of roundworms deaths in the intestine of the pup, it will lead to a rupture of the intestinal tract. This will lead to the death of the puppy unless it is surgically treated.

This is the reason why it is imperative that you deworm the puppy during the first eight weeks of age. Deworming is a crucial part of the dog care process. If deworming is not conducted during the initial stages of puppyhood, it can cause a serious risk to the life of the puppy.

My puppy won’t eat ever since he or she has been dewormed

One of the most common problems dog guardians face after the deworming procedure is the lack of appetite. If you notice that your puppy has stopped eating after receiving deworming medications, take him or her to the vet as soon as possible. Do not wait or delay this step.

A day of poor appetite can be a mild side effect. But in a puppy with a heavy worm burden, many worms passing at once can occasionally block the gut, which is an emergency. If your puppy won’t eat for more than a day, vomits repeatedly, or has a swollen or painful belly, see your vet the same day.

When the pup is administered the first dose of medication, the medication will paralyze/kill all the viable or living worms. In case your pup has worms in large numbers, there will be a lot of dead worms in the intestine which would try to pass out at the same time. In case a large number of worms try to pass out, it can cause bowel obstruction.

Is it too late to deworm the pup?

Fortunately, it is never too late to start the deworming process. It is always better to be on the safer-side. Responsible dog guardians start early and keep up year-round parasite control for life.

Dogs have a tendency to constantly get in dirt and mud and thus are likely to get infected with worms many times in their lifetime.

There is no option of a wonder medication when it comes to deworming a dog. That’s why parasite control continues for life.

Should I let the puppy drink mother’s milk after being dewormed?

Most puppies get infected by worms by ingestion of the mother’s milk. Therefore, it is normal for the dog guardian to wonder if the puppy should be allowed to continue breast-feeding after being administered the first dose of puppy deworming medication.

The short answer is yes! The mother’s milk (and the colostrum in the first day or two) provides antibodies and nutrition, vitamins as well as minerals which are needed for the proper development and growth of the puppy. Therefore, the puppy should not stop breast-feeding.

This is also the reason that the deworming medication is administered every two weeks when the puppy is breast-feeding. This is done so that in case the puppy gets more worms from the mother’s milk, the deworming medication can kill and remove the new worms.

Side effects of puppy deworming

Most dog guardians have not reported any serious side effects after administering the puppy with deworming medication. However, there is a chance that some puppies may experience mild side effects which would automatically go away within 24 hours.

The primary side effects associated with deworming medications are:

• Vomiting and /or diarrhea
• Appetite loss
• Presence of live worms in feces

If your puppy becomes very sleepy or weak, drools heavily or starts to tremble after a dewormer, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) right away, especially if you think the dose was too high. Don’t wait 24 hours.

When is it an emergency?

In case you notice the following symptoms, take your pup immediately to the veterinarian:

• Trouble breathing or wheezing
• Seizures
• Extreme bloating
• Tremors, heavy drooling or weakness
• Refusing food for more than a day, or a swollen, painful belly
• Pale gums

Some other articles you may find interesting:

Oh my God! I saw live worms in my puppy’s stool! Is this normal?

Seeing worms in your puppy’s stool for a day or two after deworming is expected. It means the medicine is working. Pick the poop up right away and finish the full schedule. The prime objective of the puppy deworming medication is to remove the worms from your pup’s intestine, not necessarily destroy or kill them.

The deworming medication works by paralyzing the worms, making it much easier for the intestines to expel them.

Once the medication wears off from your pup, the worms won’t be paralyzed anymore. This is when you may notice the worms moving about. Therefore, it is advisable to work quickly and remove the dog or pup’s feces once they are done with their business.

Conclusion:

A new member’s entry brings ton of joy as well as responsibilities. You are responsible for the new puppy’s care, training etc. 

Now you know that if your pup has worms, it is nothing to be worried about. You must follow the deworming schedule strictly and administer puppy deworming medications to your pups. Deworming is a very important part of dog care. Remember to keep a close eye on your pup for a period up to 24 hours after the administration of the deworming medication. In case you notice any unusual symptoms, contact the vet immediately.

If you still have any queries pertaining to the deworming process, mention them in the comment section below, so I can address it as soon as possible. You can also email me your queries or reach out to me on any of my social media channels.

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I will see you in my next blog post

Shruti