It’s important that we don’t wait to see signs of worms or ill health before worming our dogs. Regular worming is part of responsible dog ownership to protect our pets, ourselves and others. How often a dog should be wormed depends on a number of different factors. Experts recommend treating dogs for intestinal worms at least four times a year. However, more frequent treatment may be needed in certain cases, for example if you have children, if there are pregnant women, elderly or immunosuppressed individuals in the home, or if your dog has had fleas. Always follow the advice of your pet healthcare professional who can recommend the frequency that works for your dog’s circumstances.

There are 4 common ways your dog can pick up intestinal worms:

1. By swallowing infected fleas while grooming
2. By ingesting worm eggs from a contaminated environment (toys, grass, soil, etc.)
3. By eating or scavenging carcasses of other infected animals (mice, rabbits, birds, etc.)
4. From the mother to her puppies, either across the placenta before they are born, or via her milk when nursing

We shouldn’t wait until we start seeing signs of worms as infections have to be quite severe before signs let us know there’s a problem. Signs of worms can include weight loss, bloated tummy, diarrhoea, vomiting and dogs scooting their bottoms along the ground, but these signs are not specific to worm infections – they can indicate other issues. Worm eggs are microscopic, but you might see worms (looking like spaghetti) or worm segments (looking like grains of rice) in your dog’s stool or around their bottom. Find out more about symptoms of worms in dogs.

Yes. People can get infected by some worm eggs present on their dog’s fur or in the environment, which can cause serious diseases. Roundworm larvae can travel through the body and cause blindness in severe cases, especially in children. That’s why it’s important to worm your dog regularly, even if you can’t see any worms or your dog looks healthy. Regular worming of your dog can help reduce the chance of this happening and help you protect your whole family.

No, dogs can pick up worms at any time throughout the year. Worm eggs can survive in the environment for several years and infect your dog anywhere they explore.