Frequently asked questions about deworming medications for dogs
Are vomiting and diarrhea common side effects of deworming medications for dogs?
Yes. Its not uncommon for your pup to experience some stomach upset after taking deworming medication as the dead worms pass through their system. Side effects are typically mild.
Can you get worms from your dog even after you deworm them?
Yes. Roundworms can spread from dogs to humans. If your dog has recently been dewormed, wear gloves when you pick up their feces, and wash your hands well with soap and warm water.
How long will my dog poop worms after deworming?
Typically, your dogs poop will be back to normal within a few days. Dead worms may be present in your dogs poop for up to a week after treatment. If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian.
Deworming treatments start working within a few hours. Studies show deworming medications are 98% to 100% effective at eliminating parasites such as roundworms, which are often present in puppies at birth after being passed through the placenta or mother’s milk. Roundworms can quickly mature in the puppy and then be passed through the stool to contaminate the environment, which is why deworming regularly is essential.
To prevent reinfection from other types of worms, there are a few things you can do in addition to deworming. Scheduled flea prevention will protect your dog from tapeworms. Training your dog to stop eating poop can also protect them from whipworms.
Your dogs caregiver can discuss an individualized plan based on lifestyle, taking into account factors like how much time they spend outside and whether they attend doggy daycare or frequent the park.
After being dewormed, dogs and puppies may suffer some mild side effects, including:
Some dewormer medications will dissolve the worms in the dog’s intestinal system, while others will paralyze them. In those instances, the paralyzed worms will detach themselves from the intestinal tissue and may eventually be found in the dog’s vomit or stool.
The cost of dewormer for dogs varies depending on which treatment is needed. Many deworming medications are available by prescription. Over-the-counter products are also available and may be less expensive. Depending on your location, some animal clinics offer low-cost deworming products for those in need.
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A dog who has been dewormed is not automatically covered against re-infestation. You must administer the deworming medication exactly as directed for the full duration of treatment. Youll also need to clean and maintain your dogs environment and your home.
Always wash your hands after administering the deworming product, and teach children the importance of hygiene as well. Keep your yard and any area your pup frequents free of dog feces by picking up after them immediately.
Worm infestations cannot always be prevented. Dogs are exposed to worms from a variety of sources, including infected fleas, an infected dogs feces, and soil infested with parasite eggs.
Keeping your dog on a deworming schedule is the first line of defense against the spread of worms. Maintaining your dog’s general health by ensuring they get a wholesome, nutritious diet and plenty of exercise will also protect them from parasite infections and other diseases.
Side effects during pregnancy or lactation
There are antiparasitic drugs that are able to cross the placental barrier and cause embryotoxic, teratogenic, or mutagenic effects in embryos or fetuses. Similarly, there are drugs that are excreted through the milk and can be toxic to nursing puppies.
Therefore, only antiparasitic drugs that have been shown to be safe in pregnant or lactating dogs should be used during pregnancy and lactation. As long as the safety of the drug is not established during pregnancy, it should only be used in accordance with a benefit-risk assessment by a veterinarian.
If you want to learn more about deworming in lactating or pregnant dogs, do not miss this other article about deworming my pregnant dog.
The Deworming Process after a Few Days
Depending on what kind of worms your dog has, you may or may not see worms in their stool in the days following a deworming treatment. Most deworming products treat roundworms, hookworms and whipworms by paralyzing and killing the parasites; tapeworms are killed and broken up into smaller segments. Some intestinal worms, like hookworms and whipworms, are so small that you won’t see any worms in your dog’s stool at all.
You may be surprised to still see live worms in your dog’s feces after deworming them, but this is normal. While this can be an unpleasant , it’s actually a good thing — it means the worms are no longer living inside your dog! Additionally, you may see dead worms in your dog’s stool for a few days following treatment, or your dog may have diarrhea as they digest the dead worms. Most of the time, regardless of what you see in their stool, recently dewormed dogs behave like normal.
Puppies and other dogs may require repeat deworming treatments a few weeks after their initial treatment. This is often based on the type of worm and product used. For questions about a deworming schedule for your dog, speak to your veterinarian.