De-worming is an essential part of an healthy Dog. This aspect of their lives should not be taken for granted as it could be life threatening to your pets.


At what age do I De-worm my puppy?


Puppies 4 to 12 weeks of age should be wormed every two weeks.

From age 12 weeks to 6 months puppies should be wormed monthly

From 6 months onward dogs and puppies should be wormed every 3 months.

 What are some of the symptoms that my dog or puppy has intestinal worms?


Loss of appetite

The dog's coat is in poor condition

The dog has a pot belly appearance - especially in puppies

The dog or puppy suffers weight loss

Diarrhea (sometimes bloody diarrhea)

Vomiting

Lethargy

Anemia - The dog or puppy has pale gums

Worm segments around the anal area. These segments look like small grains of rice or sesame seeds.

Continual licking of the anal area

The dog or puppy scoots around on it's rear end.

Coughing if juvenile roundworm have migrated to the dog's lungs

What are the types of intestinal worms that infect dogs?


Tapeworm in dogs


You can often see the dried sections of tapeworm around the dogs anus. They resemble rice grains. Dogs will often scoot around on their rear end due to the irritation. More information on Tapeworm in dogs

Flea control is an important part of preventing tapeworm.
More information on Getting rid of fleas on your dog and in your house


 Hookworms in dogs


Hookworms are very small worms that have hook like mouth parts that burrow into your dog's intestinal wall and suck blood. They can cause anemia, black or bloody diarrhea and sometimes death in puppies. Diagnosis is made by examining the feces for eggs under a microscope

Most often found in humid tropical areas. Can infect humans.

Roundworms in dogs


Dogs can become infected with roundworms by eating infected lizards, mice, birds and other prey. Puppies can be infected by their mothers. They can also become infected from ingesting soil contaminated by infected faeces. If your puppy vomits up a worm there is a good chance it is a roundworm. Roundworms will look like spaghetti in the puppy’s feces.

Roundworms can be passed on to humans and children are most at risk.

Whipworm in dogs


Often hard to diagnose from a stool sample. Chronic weight loss may be a symptom of whipworm together with feces that has a covering of mucous.

Whipworms are not passed on to humans.

 Other types of worms

Heartworm.


Ringworm. Ringworm is actually not a worm but a fungus that affects the skin.
More information on Ringworm in Dogs with pictures

What de-worming medication should I use for my puppy?


Ask your vet for the best worm medication for your dog or puppy.

You can often purchase de-worming medication over the counter at your vets without a consultation fee.

Below are a few suggestions.

Drontal Plus is a popular choice that comes in tablet form. Drontal Plus is a broad-spectrum de-wormer used in dogs to treat tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Suitable for dogs weighing over 2 lbs and 3 weeks of age. They come in chewable tablets that are easy to give and is given as a single dose.

 Interceptor Flavor Tabs is a monthly heartworm medication that prevents heartworm disease, controls adult hookworms, and removes and controls adult roundworms and whipworm infections. Suitable for dogs over 4 weeks of age and weighing over 2 pounds

Panacur C (fenbendazole) is a broad spectrum parasiticide used to treat hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms in dogs Suitable for dogs (6 weeks of age or older)

WormX Plus is pork liver flavored chewable tablet de-wormer. WormX Plus treats roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

Prazisam plus is a broad spectrum Dewormer used to treat roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.


Common de-wormers for dogs and efficacy are as under

De-wormer
Hook/ Round worm
Whip worm
Tape worm
Dose mg/kg bw
Pyrantel pamoate
+++
--
--
5-10
Fenbendazole
+++
++
--
50 for 3 days
Praziquantel
++
+++
++
8
Milbemycin
+++
+++
++
0.5
Praziquantel with febantel
+++
++
--

Praziquantel with pyrantel pamoate
+++
+++
+++

Ivemectin
++
++
--
0.02
Right age of deworming in puppy is at 15 days with pyrantel pamoate liquid every 12 days for four times. followed by this a dose of pyrantel pamoate and fenbendazole at months 2,4 and 6. After this every six months deworming can be done using combinations of praziquantel / pyrantel pamoate/ febantel and ivermectin . It is also very important to  alter the combination/ drug every time as the worms also get resistance to wards a single dewormer. In pregnant bitches fenbendazole is the only safe dewormer and this can be used at 10-15  day of gestation to avoid trans placental infection to pups.
  
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