Puppies love to stick their snoot in everything from freshly cut grass to the smelliest rubbish pile, which means they’re likely to pick up some parasites along the way. And, with a developing immune system, young pups aren’t able to fight off every worm they meet. Luckily, there’s a pretty simple solution. Learning how often to worm puppies will help you protect your pup from every parasite that wants to catch a ride.
With the right worming schedule, you won’t have to worry about your doggo putting their nose to the ground when they go out for walkies with you or their dedicated Dog Walker!
What does worming do?
The term “worming” is a bit vague, so let’s clarify what we mean.
The worming that we’ll focus on in this article refers to medication that targets a range of different internal parasites that your dog may contract. These include tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm, and whipworms. These types of parasites generally live in the intestine although they can sometimes be found in your dog’s muscle tissue.
In addition to regular worming prevention medication, your vet may recommend that your dog be tested for heartworm. Heartworm is placed in a separate category as it is more severe and requires its own treatment plan. There are monthly oral medications available, as well as injections that provide coverage for up to six months or a year. Luckily, a 2016 study of heartworm in Australia suggested that prevalence of this internal parasite remains low.
How often to worm puppies under 10 weeks old
Very young puppies are typically wormed every two weeks until they reach about 10 weeks old, or possibly 12 weeks depending on the advice of your vet. This might surprise you given that pups this young tend to stick with mum and their littermates! But the fact is, worms can be transmitted from mum to puppies during pregnancy or through nursing, so it’s essential to take extra precaution.
What’s more, worming medication typically only kills internal worms in the adult life stage. Treatment needs to be repeated to account for the eggs that haven’t hatched yet.
Mum herself should have also had a round of worming before giving birth as well as during the nursing period. Learn more about doggy pregnancy in our article, How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
How often to worm puppies between 10 weeks and 6 months old
Puppies under six months old are getting into all kinds of mischief from chewing up your favourite trainers to blundering their way through early socialisation with other dogs. The point is, they’re exploring the world around them more confidently by the day, and that means they’re more likely to be exposed to parasites.
Until they reach the six month mark, you’ll want to continue to worm your puppy once a month.
How often to worm puppies over six months old
At six months old, your dog’s immune system should be fully developed so they won’t need such frequent worming. That said, even adult dogs should receive worming medication about four times per year.
If your pupper has struggled with worms throughout their first year, your vet may recommend that you continue with more frequent worming to ensure that they develop normally.
Learn how to spot the signs of worms
Even when you have your puppy on a consistent worming schedule, it’s still a good idea to know some of the signs of intestinal parasites. Here are the most common:
- Weight loss or stunted growth
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Exhaustion
- Increased thirst
- Coughing
- Swollen belly
- Visible worms in faeces or vomit (in the case of tapeworms)
Keep your pup and home worm-free for good
Prevention through worming medication is the best way to protect your pup from intestinal parasites. But, it’s not the only thing you can do! Here are a few tips on keeping your puppy months worm-free:
- Make sure you’re worming everyone. Unfortunately, some internal parasites aren’t picky about their hosts. If your household includes young children and other animals, your vet may recommend that everyone receives appropriate worming medication
- Keep the backyard poop free. In general, you’ll want to keep your puppy away from dog, cat, and other animal faeces as much as possible as the worms can continue to live and breed outside of the host. Even if your dog doesn’t have a poop-eating habit, simply being around animal droppings is enough to contract parasites. So keep all outdoor spaces clean!
- Clean and sanitise indoor spaces often. One type of internal parasite, hookworm, can be contracted from soil while tapeworm eggs can be spread through fleas. So, it’s a good idea to keep your dog’s living area clean. Not only will this lower the risk of internal parasites, but it could also prevent your dog from developing other conditions like ringworm, a type of fungal infection
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- Consider leaving your pup with a Dog Sitter instead of a kennel. To be sure, your puppy is going to be exposed to many other dogs and environments during their first year of life. But, it’s still a good idea to opt for care settings that aren’t overcrowded, such as kennels. A dedicated Dog Sitter can care for your dog in your home or provide a clean space for them at theirs!
- Stay up to date on flea prevention. Because fleas can carry parasites, you’ll want to add regular flea prevention to your healthcare routine along with regular worming
- If possible, lower the risk of mosquito-bites. Heartworm is spread through mosquitoes, so it’s a good idea to protect your pup from itchy bites as much as possible. Reduce the amount of standing water on your property, and consider asking your local pet shop for a dog-friendly insect repellent
You’re ready to keep your puppy parasite-free!
Overall, it’s very common for puppies to suffer from worms at some point during their first year of life. If your pup has contracted a form of these internal parasites, know that you are not alone! As long as you can get them on an appropriate treatment plan and take a few extra steps to lower their exposure in the future, your pupper will be back to normal in no time.
Now that you know how often to worm puppies, your little guy or girl will be ready to take on the world!