The most common parasites in dogs are fleas, ticks and internal worms, which can affect different parts of the dog's body animal. All of them produce in the infested dog a series of annoying symptoms for him, in addition to causing derived problems such as the development of diseases, the reduction of the functions of the affected organs and, in the worst cases, death. Likewise, many of the parasites that affect dogs can be transmitted to humans, so taking care of the he alth of our furry friend is also taking care of ours and that of the people who live in the home.
To avoid the presence of the above parasites, it is important to deworm dogs, but how often? And the puppies, when should they be dewormed for the first time? We answer these and more questions in this article on our site, so keep reading to find out how often to deworm a dog and how to do it.
When to deworm a puppy for the first time?
Puppies must be dewormed before their first vaccination, so it must be done between their first 21 and 30 days of lifeIt will be the veterinarian who will advise us on how to deworm a puppy for the first time although, in general, because many are still breastfeeding or are making the change to solid food, the use of antiparasitic syrups or specific drops for puppies every month until they reach six months of age, or every 15 days at the beginning and then every month.
If you have just adopted a puppy that has not been dewormed and is more than two months old, since separating it before the mother is contraindicated, you should know that you can already deworm it by administering the product recommended by the specialist. Then, you should start the vaccination schedule when the vet tells you.
Why do you have to deworm the puppy first and then vaccinate? The answer is simple, through mother's milk the puppy acquires some protection and immunity against certain diseases. However, this protection does not serve to prevent or combat parasitic infestations; in fact, through it the puppy can contract intestinal parasites. In this way, and especially depending on where he lives, the risk of suffering from the presence of external or internal parasites is greater than that of contracting diseases. For this reason, vets always recommend deworming first, then starting theshot schedule for puppies. Regarding the waiting time between the administration of the antiparasitic and the first vaccine, it will depend on the product used, so it will be the same veterinarian who tells us when to go to vaccinate.
Once the puppy is six months old, it is essential to set up a deworming schedule with your veterinarian, which can be monthly or more spaced, depending on the lifestyle of the animal and its place of residence.
How often to deworm an adult dog?
A dog is considered an adult from approximately one year of age, and as happens with puppies, to know how often to deworm an adult dog it is necessary to consider its style of life and place of residenceHow often to deworm a dog? Both dogs that live in natural environments, surrounded by forest or fields and, therefore, with a higher rate of external parasites (fleas and ticks), as well as those that reside in urban areas, should be dewormed every month or more spaced depending on the product used, the first option being the most accepted. However, external parasites are not the only ones that affect dogs, since they can also be harmed by internal parasites, present in both natural and urban environments. For this reason, despite living in a city, to prevent and combat the presence of internal parasites, veterinarians recommend monthly deworming,especially in cases of risk such as families with children or the use of garden areas for walking their pets.
Now, how to deworm a dog? Is it necessary to administer an antiparasitic for external parasites and another for internal ones? Below we present the most common products.
How to deworm a dog? - Internal and external deworming
As we have mentioned, dogs not only have external parasites such as fleas or ticks, but they can also be affected by internal parasites , so it is important to know how often to deworm a dog and how to do it.
Through different routes, such as sniffing the ground, eating something infected or even through mother's milk, dogs can be infected with internal parasites such as intestinal worms , the lungworms or the heartworms Although all of them are common, the most common are round intestinal worms, which can affect up to 12% of adult dogs and 30% of puppies. The most recurrent are Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina and, in most cases, contagion usually occurs through the feces of infested dogs. Through them, the eggs are expelled, which have the ability to remain alive for up to five years and can penetrate a he althy dog simply by sniffing these excrements. Contagion is also possible by hunting an infested rodent, sniffing infested soil, etc. In puppies, the transmission of worms usually occurs through breast milk or even during pregnancy if the mother is infested (in the case of Toxocara). For all these reasons, if you are wondering how often a dog is dewormed, it is recommended that every month you administer the antiparasitic product recommended by the veterinarian.
On the other hand, we all know how extremely easy it is for our dogs to get fleas or ticks when they play in a park or are in contact with other animals. To avoid these annoying inhabitants there are several methods:
- Pipettes: this is a liquid that is deposited in the area of the withers of the dog. They last approximately one month, depending on the brand, and we can apply them every time the effect wears off. There are special pipettes for puppies from two months.
- Collars: these are collars with active ingredients to eliminate fleas and ticks. Depending on the model they can last between two and eight months, after that time we can put another one without problems.
- Shampoo: with a normal flea shampoo we can wash our dog whenever necessary, although its effectiveness is merely momentary. It eliminates the fleas and ticks that he has but it will not protect him from new inhabitants, so it is simply a complementary method to the others.
- Spray: Kills fleas and ticks instantly. Its effectiveness and frequency of use will depend on each brand.
To combat internal parasites there are syrups as well as pills and chewable tablets, each with a different duration depending on the chosen brand. However, to avoid administering two antiparasitic products to the animal, it should be noted that the double monthly protection is also available, in the form of a chewable tablet, which allows the dog to be protected both internal and external parasites. So, don't hesitate any longer, deworm your pet and ask your veterinarian about this antiparasitic method that is easier to administer and much more effective.
Why is it important to deworm a dog?
The presence of intestinal parasites, especially when the infestation is severe, can cause the dog symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Weightloss
- Loss of appetite
- Decay
- Diarrhea
Lung worms cause respiratory symptoms and heart worms impair blood flow, reducing blood pumping through the arteries and finally a heart failure.
Fleas and ticks, in addition to causing itching and skin signs such as wounds, scabs or rashes, can transmit a number of diseases to dogsmore or less serious, such as babesiosis, Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis. Likewise, some dogs show symptoms of allergy to flea bites.
For all of the above, deworming the dog following the veterinarian's instructions on how often to deworm a dog is essential, since antiparasitic products prevent possible infestations or, in the case of external parasites, cause their elimination before infecting the animal with any pathology.
