How often do you de-worm your dog?
Now that winter is coming and I’m not using monthly tic/flea/worm meds I asked the vet how often, if at all, I should be de-worming. She said to do it monthly unless finances were an issue. (I will spend what I need to for my dog so I felt vaguely insulted) I had to come back with my dog to have her weighed for the meds.
When I went back my normal vet was there and asked why I was de-worming? He said it is unnecessary unless she was eating dead animals at the park and stuff all the time.
He said I only need to de-worm if she has worms
I trust my vet who said don’t worry unless it’s a problem, but that was conflicting from what the other vet in his office said.
Just wondering what others do
I live in Alberta Canada and have a 10 month old basset
Filed under: Dog Worms Symptoms
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
I live in Ontario, Canada and only de-worm using a monthly preventative tablet from May until November on my vet’s advise. I don’t use any other wormer during the winter.
I deworm when I first get a dog, because I get shelter pets.
Then I only deworm if I see worms in poop, or if the dog starts eating me out of house and home like it’s starving (because it has worms).
I do it every 3-6 months, and any time I have puppies. I’m out in the country, and even though they are fenced I assume they’re going to get worms, so I’d rather treat them regularly. But once a month seems a bit much to me.
Depends on the dog. If a puppy, every 2 weeks till it is around 2 months. Adults dogs dont normally need it unless a problem. Verify with you vet for the most accurate answer and for what your dog needs according to size, breed and age.
Over-deworming isn’t the best idea, as dewormers are pesticides and aren’t great for a healthy dog.
I get fecals done with heartworm testing in April, once the six months of heartworm meds are done at the start of November and once more in January. If either dog has worms, both dogs and my cat get dewormed. Otherwise, they don’t get dewormed at all.
They do only need to be dewormed if there are worms.
Every month- I use Revolution year round.
Heartgard Plus also prevents/treats hookworm/roundworm, and I give that once a month, year-round.
But if their heartworm medication didn’t include it, I wouldn’t de-worm unless they actually had worms.
I give Interceptor year round once a month. It works in the prevention of heartworm disease, and will deworm for Hookworm, Roundworms,and Whipworms.
The vet checks a stool sample once a year with every exam to make sure things are in the clear, and if he has loose stool that was persistant I would also check a stool sample…only if those came back positive would I actually use a specific dewormer.
Intestinal parasites can still be contracted even in the winter months, so I feel its safer just to have year round parasite control.
According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, dogs should be on a monthly preventative for intestinal parasites with zoonotic potential (the ability to infect humans). This refers to roundworms and hookworms.
Most major monthly heartworm preventatives (Heartgard Plus, Interceptor, Sentinel) also double as roundworm/hookworm control. I believe even Revolution is labelled in Canada to control roundworms. So if your heartworm prevention also has activity against roundworms and hookworms, and if you are using it all year-round (which is a good idea even in colder climates), then you don’t need to do anything else unless there’s a problem.
Because these guidelines are relatively new (within the last decade or so), some older vets aren’t aware of them. And because the deworming agents are bundled up with heartworm medication, many vets forget to think about that as a dewormer. But both vets could be right. You are probably already deworming monthly (per CAPC guidelines) with your heartworm prevention like the first vet wanted, and you don’t need additional meds unless there’s a problem like your regular vet said.
Ideally, you should have your vet check a stool sample to screen for problems at least once a year (but two or more times is better), and deworm as necessary based on the results.
DogChannel.com advises that dogs should receive a monthly multipurpose heartworm preventive, all year round.
I have been told otherwise by a vet clinic, every 3-4 months. Do you live in the city or country. In the country I believe it would be easier for a dogs the come across dead wildlife or even to catch something. We live in the country and the vet said 3-4 months so I think if you are in the city every 6 months would be fine. If I were you I would speak with both vets and tell them that they are both saying different things maybe you can get to the bottom of this. GOOD LUCK!