Taking care of a puppy doesn’t only involve feeding, grooming, and training. You need to consider many more factors to make sure you’re giving your puppy the best care it needs.

Ensuring your puppy is in good health is vital to keep it well and happy. Deworming is an essential part of keeping your dog healthy and happy. 

You need to know how to deworm a puppy by following a schedule. Here are the answers to some common questions about deworming a puppy.

What Is Puppy Deworming?

Deworming is the process of ridding a puppy of worms. Dewormer is administered as a medicine to the mouth or in a shot.

Worms are one of the main reasons for gastrointestinal issues in puppies. Failure to deworm a puppy could also lead to malnutrition and stunted growth.

Therefore, it is essential to deworm your puppy regularly.

How Do Puppies Get Worms?

Puppies get worms from various sources, including the following:

• Eating dead animals.

• Preying on infected animals.

• Eating worms through contaminated feces

• Swallowing worms infested by fleas in the puppy’s body while grooming.

• Contacting or swallowing slugs and snails leads to cases of lungworm.

• Ingesting worm larvae in the mother’s milk or receiving them transplacentally before birth.

Intestinal worms common in puppies are roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, and whipworm.

What Are The Symptoms Of Worms In Puppies?

Not all infected puppies will show any signs of having worms. Following are the symptoms that most other dogs show when they have worms.

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stunted growth

• Dull coat

• Weight loss

• Weakness

• Potbellied appearance

• Coughing (especially for severe roundworm infection and less commonly for lungworm infection)

• Stools that contain blood, mucus, or worms

These symptoms don’t necessarily mean that your puppy has worms, and you should consult a vet to get it confirmed. They can indicate other health problems, such as parvo in puppies.

How To Deworm A Puppy By Following A Schedule

Puppies must be dewormed every two weeks until they are eight weeks old. After that, you must deworm them again at six months of age. At this point, you can switch to an adult deworming schedule that consists of a worming treatment every six months.

Deworming is a simple process where your vet will supervise the puppy wormer administration for 1 – 3 days and repeat in 2 – 3 weeks.

You need to speak to your vet regarding a puppy wormer prescription. It is not advisable to get over-the-counter wormers because they contain inefficient active ingredients and incorrect dosages.

How To Administer Dewormer 

There are several ways in which you could administer dewormers. Dewormers can be administered orally or through injectable shots.

Oral dewormer medication includes chewable dog treats, liquid, pills, food additives, and pastes. An injectable shot must be administered by a vet and should not be tried at home.

What Happens After Deworming A Puppy

You may notice dead worms in your dog’s stools after deworming treatment. Sometimes the worms may move slightly, but they will die eventually. Your puppy might even experience diarrhea soon after treatment.

If your puppy has a severe worm infection, it might become quite ill after deworming. All the parasites die at once, leading to inflammation in the lining of the intestines, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

These symptoms will go away naturally, and your dog will be alright in a few days. 

Ipetguides.com provides a detailed guide on what to expect after deworming and how to take care of your dog after treatment.

Side Effects Of Deworming A Puppy

Anti-parasite drugs are generally safe for your puppy if you follow the correct dosage and your vet’s recommendations. They rarely cause any problems to puppies.

However, your puppy might encounter mild side effects after deworming treatment, including the following:

• Gastrointestinal upset

• Loss of appetite

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

Other than a mild case of the above, you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong with deworming your puppy.

How Long Does It Take For A Dewormer To Work?

You must take your puppy for deworming treatment a few times to kill the eggs and larvae in its body. How many rounds of treatment your puppy needs and the length of the treatment differs based on the parasite and the size and severity of the infection.

For example, treatment for roundworm infection typically lasts four weeks. 

Are Puppy Worms Contagious For Humans?

Most of the worms found in puppies are transmissible between animals and humans. Therefore, if your puppy has parasites, it could pass them on to you, and you might experience the following symptoms:

• Intestinal pain

• Diarrhea

• Secondary health problems in the digestive, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems

The following individuals are at higher risk of infection by a contagious puppy than others.

• Seniors

• Children

• Pregnant women

• Cancer patients

• Diabetics

• Anyone with a compromised immune system

How To Check For Worms In Puppies?

Some large parasites are visible, and you can see them in your puppy’s stools or around the anus. Other parasites are not visible, and only a vet can determine them.

Even if the parasites are visible, a vet should examine a stool sample to determine precisely what parasite infection your puppy has and recommend the best course of treatment according to the infection.

What Happens If You Don’t Deworm Your Puppy?

Intestinal worms are typically not fatal but could be a nuisance if left untreated. They can show the following changes in your puppy:

• Intestinal upsets

• Lack of appetite

• Coat issues

• Poor nutrient uptake

• Poor growth

• Organ damage

Therefore, following a proper schedule is essential to deworm your puppy. Even if your puppy is dewormed, it’s still at risk of becoming infected again. 

So, you must have them on a regular flea/tick/heartworm preventative to protect them from future infections from common intestinal worms.

Conclusion

Deworming a puppy by following a schedule is essential to keep it healthy and happy. Make sure to schedule an appointment with your vet for regular deworming of your puppy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Deworm A Puppy On A Schedule?

You should deworm a puppy starting at two weeks, every two weeks, until it is eight weeks. After that, you can treat them again at six months. Dewormer is available as oral medication and injectable shots.

What Time Of The Day Should You Deworm Your Puppy?

It is best to deworm your puppy before it sleeps at night.

Can You Give Food After Deworming Your Puppy?

Your puppy may have a little appetite after deworming. However, you must give your puppy its usual food, especially its favorite food, so it will start eating gradually.

How Long Will A Puppy Poop Worms After Deworming?

Your puppy might poop worms for up to a week after deworming.