When, how and why to worm your dog
The worming process isn't always straightforward. In the past, adult dogs were wormed regularly, but this is no longer recommended. It's common for dog owners to have questions about when their dog should be wormed and what symptoms indicate that the dog needs worming. Here we answer what applies to worming a puppy and worming an adult dog.
Worming a puppy
A puppy is wormed during its first weeks of life, often against roundworms but sometimes using broader-spectrum preparations. Therefore, always ask the breeder if the puppy has been wormed and against what. Depending on the preparation used and when the breeder wormed the puppy, you as the puppy buyer may sometimes need to worm the puppy after you have taken it home.
Worming adult dogs
An adult dog is only wormed if there are signs of parasitic disease, not regularly. There are many different symptoms that can be a sign that an adult dog has worms. A clear sign that the dog has worms (endoparasitic manifestation) is that worms are visible in the dog's faeces. You may see larger worms in the dog's faeces or sometimes what looks like small grains of rice.
If you see worms in your dog's faeces, you can worm your dog yourself. You can also take a stool sample to find out what type of worm your dog has; kits for which are available from pharmacies.
Other symptoms that may be signs of worms, but which may also be signs of other diseases, include vomiting, diarrhoea, dry and lacklustre fur, and weight loss even though the dog is eating as usual. If your dog has any of the above symptoms and you suspect that it has worms, you should take your dog to a vet for further examination before worming the dog.
It's common for dog owners to think that their dog has worms when it drags its bottom along the ground or licks its bottom, but this is not a typical symptom of worms, although many dog owners believe it is. If your dog has any of these symptoms, you should not treat the dog by worming but instead take it to a vet for examination. This way, the dog can get the right care quickly if a disease or other problem is behind the symptoms.
