How Frequently A Dog Or Cat Must Be De-wormed?

Deworming is an essential part of keeping your pet healthy. With different types of worms lurking there in the environment, contamination becomes quite easy. Pets are in fact more susceptible to ingesting microscopic eggs of the worms because of their frivolous lifestyle. They get muddy, sniff in the soil and eat fecal matter of other pets, all of which are the source of worms. It is therefore imperative to deworm a dog or a cat frequently as their prospects of getting re-infested are generally high.

Though most pet owners already know the importance of deworming, they are unaware of the right way of doing it. This lack of knowledge again lands their pets into trouble. So, here are some general queries regarding pet deworming that will possibly cover all the aspects of worming a pet.

How Often Should I Deworm My Pet?

Well, to get the answer to this question you must first know why puppies and kittens should be dewormed?

The reason is – most puppies and kittens are already born with worms. They inherit these parasites from their infected mothers when they are still in the uterus or during the feeding process, through her milk. Therefore, these young pets require deworming before the immunity they have procured from their mother dissipates.

According to the recommendations of Companion Animal Parasite Council as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC), here is the worming schedule that must be followed diligently.

Dog and Cat Deworming Schedule

Pregnant Mother dog and mother cat (Queens) – must be treated once before mating and once during birthing. Lactating dogs and cats must be treated simultaneously with puppies and kittens.Adult Dogs and Cats must be wormed every 3 months for the lifetime to prevent any re-infestation. For outdoor cats, however, it should be done monthly.

Newly Adopted Pups and kittens – require immediate worming treatment and must be repeated every 2 weeks at least until 3 months.

Can Deworming A Pregnant Dog Reduce Worms In Puppies?

The answer is Yes. Worming a dog or a kitty during pregnancy remarkably decreases the number of worms transmitted to their offspring.  However, worm eggs or adult worms that reside in the muscle tissues of the mother do not get killed by the worming pills. They are, most likely to get transferred to the baby in the uterus hence the necessity to treat the young ones.

Does My Dog Need To Be Wormed If He Is Taking Heartworm Treatment?

Well, heartworm treatments mostly come with intestinal worm treatment as well.  So, in case a dog is already being administered heartworm pills, there is really no need for a separate worm treatment scheduled for every 2 weeks.

Why Should Puppies and Kittens Be Dewormed Every 2 Weeks?

2 weeks schedule is a strategic deworming method defined by the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Worming a puppy or kittens every 2 weeks disrupts the maturation of roundworms thus preventing the parasites to reproduce and pass the eggs in the environment. Procrastinating, for instance, administering the worming treatment in 3 weeks instead of 2 will lend enough time for the worms to mature and continue their lifecycle. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the correct guidelines.

[Read] Best Dewormers for dogs

What Are the Symptoms Of Not Deworming a Puppy?

• Potbellied Appearance
• Stunted Growth
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Bloody Stools
• Digestive Blockage
• Strain In Defecating

When Is The Best Time Of The Day To Deworm A Pet?

Most pet owners frequently ask whether deworming should be done before or after meals. The best answer is to read the label of the product that you are administering for correct directions of use. Worming suspension like  Antezole Liquid Suspension is generally mixed with food or instituted directly into the mouth of the pet and don’t require any feeding or fasting before the treatment. Same goes for the pills as well. Drontal, for instance, doesn’t require pets to fast before its administration.

Can a Cat Overdose On Dewormer?

Every drug comes with a certain amount of risk. Each dose contains a specific concentration of wormer which must be given at a particular time. When these guidelines are not followed, there could be possible side effects of worming tablets even though they are mild in most cases. An overdosed cat or a dog may thus exhibit symptoms like –

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss

In severe cases when the pet has inadvertently ingested lot many doses at a time, it is best to contact the vet immediately. However, when you have been overdosing a pet for a couple of days without realizing it, halting the treatment would suffice.

How Long Does It Take For Dog Wormer To Work?

Wormers generally start their action within a day or two and by almost 7-14 days i.e a week or two all the worms are eliminated from the system. A single dose of a potent dewormer is enough to keep the pet safe for over a month. However, you must administer the next wormer as per the activity of your dog or cat. Cats and dogs that frequently go out require worming every month else once 3 month is perfect for pets that have a balanced outdoor and indoor life.

Can Dog Worms be Passed to Humans?

Yes, unfortunately, roundworms in dogs can cause diseases in humans as well. Infected dogs excrete worms eggs in their feces which can be transmitted to humans during handling of leftover poop. In case of accidental ingestion which may happen if the hands are not washed thoroughly before eating, these worms can cause various infections and troubles in liver, lungs and other vital organs of the body. Hookworms can also infect humans easily because the juvenile forms of these worms can easily penetrate human skin. Therefore, washing hands before you eat must be religiously followed to keep yourself safe of various diseases.

Deworm a pet hence makes not only a pet disease free but keeps you healthy as well. Worms are a part of pet’s life, they are bound to infest your pet anyhow, therefore, it is better to safeguard him in advance. It is also the best way to avoid any unnecessary trouble. So make sure you deworm your pet if you haven’t already, and follow the routine as stated above. You must also gain enough knowledge about the different types of worms that infect dogs or cats to understand their complete lifecycle and the way they infect your pets.