How to treat worms in dogs and puppies
Intestinal worms are most often treated using either a worming tablet (given orally) or a topical wormer (a spot-on treatment that’s put onto the pet’s skin). You can also buy chewable tablets such as FRONTLINE® WORMER. These may be easier to give to your dog than standard oral tablets, and they’re tastier for them too.
Puppies need to be protected from roundworms from weaning age, whereas older dogs need treatment for tapeworms too. Some products also treat for hookworms and roundworms, the other two types of UK intestinal worms.
How often should I worm my dog?
How regularly we should treat our dogs for worms depends on their lifestyle and who they’re lucky enough to live with.
Generally, dogs need to be dewormed at least four times a year – or every three months, in other words. However, if your dog loves to scavenge, or someone in your home is pregnant or an older person, or you have children under 10, it’s important that you treat your dog more regularly – such as once a month. If you’re unsure, check with your vet, pharmacist or animal medicines adviser before you change the frequency with which you deworm your dog.
Whatever worm treatment frequency your dog receives, remember to use the treatment at this interval to stay on top of worms. Gaps between treatments means a worm problem can build up and cause health concerns – and we don’t want that.
How often should I worm a puppy?
Puppies are at risk of these parasites because they can become infected with worms from their mothers. And as they’re only little, they’ll need a worm treatment pattern and product that’s right for their age and body weight.
From weaning until they’re 6 months of age, puppies should be wormed every month. If you have any concerns, you can ask your vet, pharmacist or animal medicines adviser. They will let you know what’s best for your pup.
What else can I do to prevent worms in dogs and people?
-
Regularly clean their food and water bowls
-
Always pick up their poo, as it can contain worms or worm eggs
-
Prevent our dogs from scavenging (if we can) so they don’t pick up worms from other animals
-
Avoid unprocessed raw meat diets – these could contain worm life stages
-
Wash our hands after handling our pets and before eating food
-
Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them, in case there are any worm eggs on them
-
Cover any children’s sandpits when they’re not in use, so animals or wildlife don’t use them as a toilet
-
Wear gloves when gardening, in case there are worm eggs in the soil
What if my dog won’t take tablets?
Dogs will sometimes wolf down a tablet if it’s inside something they’d much rather eat. Or if you want to be sure they’ve taken the tablet, you can now get dog wormers in the form of tasty chewable tablets, such as FRONTLINE® WORMER. It’s easy to give to your dog – some take it like treat, or it can be given with food. And because it kills all intestinal worms found in the UK (that’s roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms), it’s even more convenient.
Why does treating my dog for fleas help with worms too?
Fleas can carry worm eggs, so if our dogs lick a flea off themselves and swallow it, they could be ingesting worm eggs at the same time. That’s why regular flea treatment helps protect dogs from worms too.
If you have a puppy, remember they can only be treated with FRONTLINE PLUS® or FRONTLINE TRI-ACT® when they’re both at least 8 weeks old and 2 kg in bodyweight.
Take your dog’s parasite protection to the next level
FRONTLINE TRI-ACT® has a unique formula that kills faster1 and repels more2 disease-carrying parasites than the next leading competitor brand.
1 Compared to next leading non-prescription competitor brand and when used monthly.
2 Compared to next leading non-prescription competitor brand with repellent activity.
Worms aren’t the loveliest things to think about, but the good news is, taking these steps can make a big difference in keeping our dogs and puppies healthy – and the other members of our families too!
MORE FROM WORMS
Intestinal worms can be harmful to our dogs and to people (especially children), so it’s important to de-worm your poochy pal regularly all year round.
Fleas are out in full force during the summer, hiding in homes, parks and gardens. Learn all the essentials as we teach you how to spot fleas on your dog.
Find out how you can keep your dogs and puppies protected from ticks and keep them happy and healthy, with advice from the pet experts at FRONTLINE
Keeping your dog clean is important for their health. If you're worried about smelliness in your four-legged friend, check out our pet experts' tips on bathing your pup!
Everything you need to know if your puppy has fleas, ticks or worms, or to prevent them.
Getting a new puppy or kitten? This essential guide lists key milestones you need to know including cat and dog vaccinations and when to apply flea treatments.
Join the #PetParentClub
We’ve got an amazing community of dedicated pet parents on our social channels. You’ll find pet care tips and cute pics, plus advice from our pet experts. We can’t wait to welcome you to the club!
