Worming Puppies When Your Puppy Has Worms

Worming Puppies

A major aspect of your puppy’s lifetime health is their flea and worming regime. Puppies are particularly vulnerable to contracting worms and may even be born with worms already in their system. Worm prevention from two weeks old is essential for maintaining your puppy’s health.

Types of Worms in Puppies

Dogs are prone to intestinal worms, including:

Hookworms

There are a number of ways dogs can become infested with hookworm, including coming into contact with larvae infested soil, or ingesting the larvae in food or water.

Tapeworms

Usually transmitted by fleas. Segments of tapeworm, similar-looking to grains of rice, may be noticed in your pup’s faeces or around their bottom. In some instances, your pup may vomit up segments of tapeworm.

Roundworm

Infection can occur by ingesting infected faces. Infected dogs can even transmit it to their pups via the mammary glands during feeding.

Puppy Worm Symptoms

Common symptoms of worms include:

• Scooting (otherwise known as when your dog drags their bum along the ground)
• Change in appetite
• Dull coat
• Round, bloated belly
• You might even see worms in your buddy’s faeces.

Left untreated, your puppy may experience the following as a result of intestinal worms:

• Loss of condition
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• In extreme cases, death may occur as a result of the above symptoms.

Puppy Worming Treatment

While worms can be debilitating for your puppy, the good news is that they are also very easy to prevent. Administering an ‘all wormer’ treatment, available in either a paste or a tablet, will protect your pup from all types of intestinal worms including roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm; some of which can transfer from dogs to humans (just in case you were second guessing whether it was worth it!).

How Often Should I Worm My Puppy?

Your puppy’s worming schedule should look like the following:

Age Range	Treatment Recommendation
2 – 12 weeks	Liquid wormer every 2 weeks
12 weeks – 6 months	Worming tablet every 4 weeks
6 months +	Worming tablet every 3 months

Heartworm in Puppies

Heartworm is a parasite that is spread by mosquitoes and lives in your pooch’s heart and lungs. If left untreated, this parasite can be fatal. Contrary to popular belief, Heartworm is present in certain locations in New Zealand that have optimal weather conditions to harbour the disease, so prevention is key.
Puppies can be treated for heartworm from as young as six weeks old.

How to Treat Puppy Heartworm

Prevention comes in the form of:

• Yearly injections
• Monthly tablets, chewables and spot-ons