Deworming schedule for dogs and cats
How often to deworm puppies, kittens and adult pets, why worms matter for your family too, which pets need it more often, and the signs to watch for. A general guide to discuss with your vet.
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Worms are common in dogs and cats, and some of them can infect people, especially children. Regular deworming keeps pets healthy and protects the family. This is a general guide based on widely used veterinary recommendations; the right product, dose and interval depend on your pet's age, weight, lifestyle and health. Ask your vet before treating, and always dose by weight.
Why deworming matters
- Roundworms are very common in puppies and kittens, who often catch them from their mother. Their eggs survive in soil for a long time, and can infect children who play outdoors.
- Hookworms feed on blood and can cause anaemia in young animals.
- Tapeworms come from swallowing fleas or eating raw meat, offal or prey. Some tapeworms that dogs pick up from raw offal can cause serious cysts in people.
- Whipworms in dogs can cause long-running diarrhoea.
Many pets with worms look perfectly healthy, which is why deworming is done on a schedule rather than only when you see a problem.
Puppies and kittens
| Age | Puppies | Kittens |
|---|---|---|
| Early weeks | From 2 weeks old, every 2 weeks | From 3 weeks old, every 2 weeks |
| Until weaning | Every 2 weeks until about 2 weeks after weaning | Every 2 weeks until about 2 weeks after weaning |
| Up to 6 months | Monthly | Monthly |
Nursing mothers are usually treated at the same time as their litter. If you get a puppy or kitten from a breeder or shelter, ask when it was last dewormed and with what, and take that to your first vet visit.
Adult dogs and cats
For most adult pets, deworming at least four times a year, about every three months, is a common starting point. Some pets need it monthly. Your vet may suggest a stool test instead of, or as well as, routine treatment.
Pets at higher risk
Talk to your vet about more frequent treatment, or a product that covers tapeworms, if your pet:
- hunts, scavenges or roams outdoors unsupervised
- is fed raw meat or offal
- has fleas, or lives with pets that do
- lives with young children, older people or anyone with a weak immune system
- is a working, farm or guard dog in contact with livestock
Signs of worms
- Worms or rice-like segments in the stool or around the bottom
- A pot belly in puppies and kittens
- Diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss or a dull coat
- Scooting along the floor
- Pale gums or weakness in young animals
These signs can have other causes too, so see a vet rather than guessing.
Good habits at home
- Pick up dog stool promptly, and clean litter trays daily.
- Wash hands after handling pets and before eating, and teach children to do the same.
- Keep up with flea control, since fleas carry tapeworm.
- Don't feed raw offal unless your vet has agreed a plan for it.
- Write down each treatment with the date and product, or ask your clinic to record it and remind you.
Clinics using Vetlyn can record deworming and send reminders when the next dose is due. Need advice or a prescription? Book a vet on Pawzaar, or find dewormers from clinics in the Pawzaar pharmacy.