Deworming a dog is a routine which every dog owner must follow, to ensure good health of their pet. Know more on worm medicine for dogs, in this article.
Dogs are very prone to worm infestation. No matter how clean you try to keep his habitat, he will invariably get a few occurrences of worm infestation during his lifetime. A regular deworming routine enables your dog to remain worm free for a longer time. Worm infestation may cause loss of appetite, stomach upset and lethargy in your dog. There are various worm medicines for dogs depending upon the type of worm infestation. You may consult your vet and ask him to recommend a deworming medication that can get rid of most worms, for routine administration.
Best Worm Medicine for Dogs
There are many common types of worms that infest dogs such as tapeworm, heartworm, roundworms, etc. These worms can be effectively killed with the help of certain dog deworming medications. These medications come in various formulations such as liquids, pellets, chewable tablets, etc. Fenbendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate are the primary ingredients that can be found in most dog worm medications. These two medications are sold under various brand names. Fenbendazole is a broad spectrum medication, hence first choice for dog worms. It can kill several types of worms and is usually prescribed in a three day round by vets. Along with the worms such as tapeworm, it also kills the larvae.
The second type Pyrantel Pamoate is not a broad spectrum worm medicine like Fenbendazole. However, it is considered as a safer deworming medication, hence can be given to young puppies and expectant females. It is a best medication for dog worms that infest gut such as roundworm and hookworms. Pyrantel Pamoate is also sold under different brand names. You may find both these medications in departmental stores in pet section or pet supply stores or even farm supply stores. If you have a difficulty finding these medications, then you might have to check the labels of dog deworming medicines and look out for the above-mentioned ingredients.
Worm Medicine Routine
Deworming medications should be given to dogs from a very early age itself. Puppies as young as two weeks old should be given medications every two weeks, until they are 6 months old. Besides, nursing females should also be given these medications twice a month. Puppies above 6 months old can be dewormed every 6 months. Routine deworming medications are of preventive nature. They do not work for pets that are already infested with some kind of worm. In that case, it is best to rely on any of the above-mentioned OTC deworming medication. However, it is best to consult a vet before administering any medication on your own. Your vet may also like to examine the stools of your pet to find out the exact cause and type of worm infestation. He may then guide you regarding the medication and dosage for the same.
If your pet suffers from recurrent worm infestation, then your vet might want to uncover the underlying cause first before prescribing any medicine. Besides, some worm infestations are more serious than others. In that case, it is best if you get the problem resolved by a qualified vet only, rather than trying various OTC deworming medications yourself. Also, this will prevent any possible side effects of worm medicine.
Deworming your dog on a regular basis is very important to maintain your dog’s good health. However, make sure you get a green signal from a vet regarding the medication you intend to use for this purpose.
