The animals we live with can harbor different parasites, both external and internal, so it will be very important to have a schedule of deworming since childhood. By starting this routine early, we can avoid growth problems and/or gastrointestinal disorders, among other things. An infested puppy can not only infect other animals, but also humans.
In this article on our site we will delve into the puppy deworming schedule, explaining the most convenient and efficient routine. Even so, we recommend that you always consult your trusted veterinarian, who will advise you based on the specific needs of your puppy.
External parasites in puppies
They are the best known or feared by the owners since they live outside the body of our little ones and being visible, we fear that they will infect the environment and even ourselves. Within this group we find fleas, ticks and mosquitoes Here we explain a little more about them:
- Fleas are as annoying for the animal as for the owners. Its bite is observed as small pimples and very itchy or itchy. They are quite small and we do not always find them in animals, sometimes in environments, especially in carpets, armchairs or cracks in the walls. As you can imagine, it is very difficult to eliminate fleas in puppies if we do not pay attention to the complete hygiene of the house. Each adult flea can lay up to 100 eggs a day and, furthermore, they are not seasonal, we find them all year round. Some dogs may suffer from allergies to flea bites, which are very common in German shepherd dogs, or dermatitis with skin infections that are difficult to heal.
- Ticks are quite unpleasant in the eyes of owners and very harmful to carriers, our puppies. They can be found throughout the year but their population usually increases between autumn and spring, so at this time we must reinforce protection. It is important to remove ticks correctly if we do not want a part of their body to remain attached to your puppy's skin, causing a greater infection.
- Mosquitoes are often forgotten, but we should not underestimate them as they are vectors of numerous diseases and, although they are not occasional hosts in our puppies can become seriously ill with leishmania, filaria, etc.
The most common symptom of the appearance of parasites in puppies is continuous scratching, although in the case of ticks it can happen more unnoticed. It will be important to check our puppy's fur and dermis on a regular basis, especially in areas such as the neck, armpits or groin, in search of any anomaly.
Intestinal parasites in puppies
As its name indicates, intestinal parasites will inhabit the interior of our puppy's body. We can call them "worms" and they will be differentiated into 2 large groups: flat and round. You can get to know them better below:
- Within the group of flat worms or tapeworms we find the well-known Dipylidium caninum or Taenia hydatigena, among many others.
- Within the roundworms we find Ascaris, Trichuris, Toxocara, etc.
Very parasitized puppies show symptoms such as nervousness, apathy, diarrhoea, coordination problems, etc. However, if the parasite load is low, these symptoms may not be very evident.
The adult parasites discharge their eggs to the outside through fecal matter and is a source of contagion for other individuals of the same or different species, even humans. If there are children in the home where the dogs live, they are the most susceptible to contracting diseases from their pets, since they usually have a lot of contact with them to play or on the same floor.
How to deworm puppies?
Now that you know the most common parasites that can affect puppies, it is important that you know the puppy deworming calendar:
Puppy internal deworming
We can start the deworming schedule for puppies when the little one is between 21 and 30 days old with paste, tablets or syrup to internal parasites according to their weight. The products to be used are specific for puppies.
We can repeat at 45 days for greater control, especially animals that come from highly parasitized mothers. This routine should be started before starting the vaccination plan so that your defenses increase and your immune system does not have to work to fight the parasites, but rather, in full swing to receive the first vaccine.
The following deworming will be at the discretion of the veterinarian but as a general rule it is usually repeat at 6 months and then every 2 months in animals that they live in contact with grass or rural spaces or every 3 months if they live in the city.
External deworming of the puppy
In the case of external parasites we have several methods, among which we can choose and starting when the animal has already been properly vaccinated to be able to go outside and contact other environments. We have shampoos, pipettes (which are placed externally), sprays, home remedies, flea collars, etc. But this will be for control over the animal. On the other hand, we must control the environment with proper disinfection, especially if we suspect the presence of fleas.
