Top Dewormer for Dogs Options

Top Dewormer for Dogs Options

There are plenty of excellent deworming options when it comes to choosing the correct treatment method for your dog. The best dewormer method really depends on your specific dog and its individual health. If your pet is a large adult dog and it frequently struggles with intestinal worms, it'll need different treatment methods than a young small puppy dog. 

How Parasites Can Infect Your Pet

Parasites can alter your dog's health in severe ways. The most common types of infection parasites that dogs encounter are tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms, and each of these parasites can affect your dog's health in a different way. There are plenty of different types of parasites that can affect your dog's health than just these three. A flea, mite, heartworm, and tick are definitely some of the most common issues in an infected dog. However, there are plenty of different types of subspecies of each of these intestinal worm types. It can become difficult to understand each subset of the species and learn where they come from directly. Instead, it's much more manageable to understand the most common types of these insects that affect a dog's health and learn how these issues appear as symptoms in your pet. Once you understand where the most common of these parasites come from and what their most common symptoms are, then you can really understand how to protect your dog and prevent repeated infections from occurring. 

Roundworms often live freely in your pet's intestines. They don't require an intermediate host, but they can spread from dog to dog pretty easily. These parasites live in a dog's feces and can spread if the feces is digested in any way. This is why it's so important for dogs with parasitic infections to be cleaned up regularly. Even if they are going to the bathroom in a yard only they have access in, eating grass near these parasitic larvae can cause repeat infections. Roundworms can sadly stunt a puppy's growth or cause digestive issues, usually leading to a lot of gas forming in your dog's bowel.

Hookworms are another common type of intestinal parasite that has a significant effect on a dog's overall health. These parasites attach themselves to the small intestine and will feed on your dog's blood from there. This can lead to severe anemia. When dogs experience severe anemia, they can develop eczema and secondary bacterial infections because the result of the worms burrowing. Hookworms can burrow through a dog's skin, which can cause open wounds or bacterial infections on your dog's skin. 

Whipworms are small worms that live in your dog's large intestine, and they cause a lot of irritation and inflammation. The symptoms of whipworm infection are most present in your dog's bowel movements. Whipworm can cause dogs to suffer from spouts of diarrhea, bloody stools, and weight loss. 

Another common worm that affects many dogs is tapeworms. Tapeworms require intermediate hosts to live. This means that these parasites cling onto fleas, birds, or some species of rodents to complete their lifecycle, and dogs can't get tapeworms directly from a dog or cat but only from one of these intermediate transferring species. 

One of the most life-threatening parasitic infections is heartworms. Heartworms are spread by mosquito bites, which can inject heartworm larva into your pet's bloodstream anytime mosquitoes feed on their blood. When the larvae mature, they ultimately travel to the heart and often reside in major heart vessels and in the lungs. The infections can cause fatigue, couching, and poor physical health and might result in death. Heartworm disease can be life-threatening and can cause significant damage to the heart and lungs even after treatment is successful. 

Intestinal parasites are only somewhat life-threatening because most parasites will weaken your dog's health but not cause severe enough harm to be fatal. Parasites need a host to live, so they do just enough to maintain their host's life. Often these parasites are contagious to other animals and even humans. 

Since they inhabit places like the GI tract, larvae and eggs can be passed in the feces. This means these larvae can inhabit the soil around the feces and pass themselves into other dogs or children through accidental ingestion. This will always result in a subsequent infection. Animals that are debilitating or already suffer from weakened immune systems are much more likely to suffer severe intestinal parasitism. 

Signs of Parasite Infections

There can be many signs of parasitic infections. Many signs are directly correlated to the specific type of infection, although the general consensus is that pet owners will notice a change in their dog's physical health and digestion health. 

Many dogs with parasitic infections suffer from malnutrition, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia. Any bloody diarrhea in your dog is definitely a cause for concern. Often dogs that suffer from these infections don't show signs until they're already seriously infected and then are significantly sickened. 

Sometimes a tell-tale sign of a parasitic infection is a pot-bellied appearance. Usually, fecal testing for larvae is the only actual way to diagnose these infections. 

Steps to Take to Get Rid of Parasites

There are many steps owners have to take to help their pets overcome these parasites. Treatment options usually vary based on the infection and the severity of that infection. Situations caused by hookworms, ringworms, or tapeworms can usually be treated much easier than heartworm disease. 

Anti-parasitic medication can be prescribed by vets, as can antibiotics. Although these things can be effective, they may only be temporarily effective since reoccurring infections happen often. This is because so many types of parasites lay in a dog's waste, so if you don't clean up after your pet often enough, they are likely to accidentally walk near to ground they released these larvae on and get reinfections.

The best way to prevent reinfection is to provide dedicated care. This care can come in many forms. First and foremost, you need to be sure you're grooming your dog regularly. That way, if any parasites burrow in your pet's skin, you'll immediately notice the red patch. You might not know what the cause of this irritation is immediately, but knowing any changes in your dog's skin is an excellent way to stay on top of any parasitic infections. Secondly, it's important to wash your dog regularly and clean up after their feces every time they go to the bathroom. Even if they go in an area in the woods, it's safest to ensure you clean up after them to prevent other animals or rodents from keeping these parasites alive. Make sure to use doggy poop bags as well as gloves when cleaning up since many of these worm parasites can also infect people.

The Best Parasitic Prevention Methods

There are tons of parasitic prevention methods, and you may be able to partake in more than one way to try to take the best care of your pet possible. 

Good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly, is a great way to ensure none of the larvae from these parasites travel onto you. It's also very important to bathe and brush your dog regularly. You'll want to prevent your dog from going into any high-traffic dog areas. Areas that are more commonly populated by other animals, such as sandboxes, dog parks, walking paths, or other community areas, are more at risk of infecting your dog with these parasites. If your dog already has regular treatment and doesn't suffer from infections like this at all, then you don't have to worry. However, suppose your pet is commonly infected with these parasites. In that case, it's only neighborly to keep your pet away from these spaces to prevent any of your dog's infections from spreading to other dogs and animals.

The easiest and least expensive way to regularly provide treatment for deworming is by participating in routine deworming treatment. Periodic deworming treatment is most appropriate for dogs that have high reinfection risks.

If you see any intestinal parasites or signs that your dog is suffering from parasites like this, you need to make sure you treat their issues immediately. 

You may be familiar with flea, tick, and heartworm prevention pills as a dog owner. Controlling these things can help prevent other types of parasites from affecting your dog. For example, certain types of tapeworm can only infect dogs through fleas, so preventing fleas from affecting your dog is an excellent way to fight the risk of them developing this tapeworm. You can prevent heartworm by using heartworm prevention medicine. The best deworming options are usually medications or at-home treatment drugs that can treat, control, and prevent any of the previous worms or parasites listed. Many of these things are available to purchase at your local pet store.

Top Dewormer for Dogs Options:

1. Durvet 2x Liquid Wormer, 2 oz, For Puppies and Adult Dogs

This specific dewormer is great for dogs of all ages, and this can be used on adult dogs, senior dogs, pregnant dogs, and puppies that are as young as two weeks old. The double-strength liquid dewormer effectively kills large roundworms and hookworms. 

Durvet 2x liquid wormer prevents reinfestation by controlling hookworms and roundworms. This product is easy to administer thanks to its palatable flavor because most dogs eat it up on its own. Pet owners don't have to withhold food prior to eating, and they can usually watch their dock lick their dose from their bowl willingly. Give one full teaspoon of this product for every ten pounds of body weight. 

2. PetArmor 7 Way De-Wormer (Pyrantel Pamoate and Praziquantel) for Dogs

PetArmor is a well-known brand that is considered vet-quality. Its chewable flavored deworming tablets are excellent at getting rid of seven species of parasites. This targets two types of roundworms, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, two types of tapeworms, Dipylidium caninum and Taenia pisiformis, and three types of hookworms, Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala. 

These tablets are fit for small dogs and puppies between the weight of 6 to 25 pounds. You can administer this tablet to puppies 12 weeks or older, as long as they meet the six-pound minimum weight requirement. 

This broad-spectrum dewormer makes giving your dog this treatment easy and convenient. Even though many dogs will eat this pill right from your hand, it's important to watch them for a few minutes after ingesting it to ensure they don't reject the medicine. 

Pet owners can give their dogs this pill by hand or by putting it in their dog food. You can give dogs between 6 and 12 pounds one tablet and provide dogs that weigh between 12.1 and 25 pounds two tablets.

3. SENTRY HC WormX Plus 7 Way De-Wormer For Small Dog

Another excellent deworming option for small dogs is the Sentry brand dewormer for small dogs. This is safe to give dogs between 6 to 25 pounds of weight. Treat these pups once a month with this chewable tablet to see the best result.

One of the best parts of this treatment is that you don't need a prescription to purchase it. This pill successfully targets seven species of worms, specifically roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. 

4. PetArmor 7 Way De-Wormer (Pyrantel Pamoate and Praziquantel) for Dogs

When it comes to deworming dog options, you need to make sure you find the right product for your pet. This PetArmor brand is specifically for dogs that weigh 25.1 pounds to 200 pounds. 

Just as with the small dog variety, this PetArmor tablet treats seven species of worms. It specifically targets two types of tapeworms, Dipylidium caninum and Taenia pisiformis, two types of roundworms, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, three types of hookworms, Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala.

This high-quality product matches vet-quality deworming options. Its tablets offer a broad spectrum of control and are easy and convenient to feed your dog. Flavored tablets make it easier for your dog to accept their pills. You can give them to your pet with or without food, and many dogs have no problem eating these tablets on their own.

When giving your pet these tablets, it's important to ensure they are given the proper dosage. 25.1 to 50-pound dogs require one tablet, 50 to 100-pound dogs should be given two tablets, 100 to 150-pound dogs need three tablets, and 150 to 200-pound dogs will require four tablets. Make sure you watch your dog after ingesting their deworming treatment so you can be sure they don't reject it. 

5. SENTRY Pet Care 7 Way De-Wormer for Medium & Large Dogs

Another option for medium to large sized-dogs is the Sentry brand 7-way dewormer treatment. This product needs to be supplied once a month to be able to successfully kill seven types of tapeworms, hookworms, and ringworms. 

This chewable tablet can kill two species of tapeworms, Dipylidium caninum and Taenia pisiformis, two species of roundworms, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, and three types of hookworms, Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala. 

It's very important to feed them the right amount of treatment for their size, or else your risk not having an effective treatment method. Dogs that weigh between 25.1 and 50 pounds need one tablet, dogs that are 50 to 100 pounds require two tablets, pets that weigh 100 to 150 pounds will need three tablets, and animals that are 150 to 200 pounds will need four tablets for this treatment to be effective. It's important to watch your dog when they eat the tablets to ensure they don't reject them. You can give these to your dog by themselves in your hand, or you can put them in a bowl of dog food. 

Conclusion

The best dog dewormer depends on your dog's weight, age, and other health conditions present. A pregnant dog can't take all of the deworming methods mentioned above. Intestinal parasites can live in a large dog and a small dog, and if you don't provide the right amount of a chewable tablet, these internal parasites can survive for quite some time inside your dog.

Small dogs might have more pot-bellied features than large dogs simply because their size makes this stomach growth much more apparent. Newly acquired dogs are more likely to suffer from dog worms if they come from shelters. Animals that are homeless or abandoned often eat things that give them parasitic worm infestation issues. If you have a small dog, be sure to purchase the type of deworming medication that is safe for that size puppy. Adult heartworm prevention should be stronger than puppy heartworm prevention since adult dogs have physically larger hearts and, therefore, more space for the parasite to live and grow. 

The Majority of deworming prevention comes from making sure your dog doesn't interact with tapeworm eggs or other types of dog worm larvae. Cleaning up after your dog, keeping a close eye on them, and ensuring you clean up their feces if they're infected are all ways to decrease their chance of developing any internal parasites.