The Best Dog Dewormers

Looking for the best dewormer for your dog? Well, you have come to the right place.

Let’s face it – dogs have a habit of chewing and licking everything within reach which is why getting a dewormer for your dog is essential. It doesn’t matter whether your dog is young or old—they’ll get worms sooner or later.

Worms make your dogs uncomfortable. You will notice them scratching all over, increased appetite but no weight gain, lethargy, and sometimes even blood in their stool. When a dog has worms, they aren’t much fun to be around. And who can blame them?

The 6 Best Dog Dewormer Brands in 2022

This product is a broad-spectrum dewormer that works against all major types of worms. It is one of the easiest to administer; it comes as a powder that can be sprinkled on top of your dog’s food. Note that you need to verify your dogs’ weight to figure out how much to use.

Key Features:

• Cures tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms
• Easy-to-feed granules
• Suitable for puppies above six weeks, pregnant bitches, and dogs with heartworm infection
• A three-day treatment with long-term results
• Three, 3-gram pouches; each treats 40 lbs.
• Newly designed packaging

8in1 Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer is a highly effective worm treatment solution. Once you are through the three-day treatment, you should not have to deworm your dogs for at least six months. This product can also be given to puppies and pregnant dogs with no side effects at all.

As mentioned earlier, it is one of the easiest drugs to administer, with the dog’s weight determining the amount of drug per dog. The packaging may look different from what you may be used to, but inside, the product is still the same. Get bigger sizes for bigger dogs, or if you have a lot of dogs.

Heartworm disease is one of the deadliest infestations your dog can go through. It is difficult and almost always expensive to cure. The best way to cure your dog is to prevent an infection in the first place—and the best way to do this is by using Heartgard Plus Chewable Tablets for Dogs.

Key Features:

• Kills heartworms and larvae, hookworms, and roundworms
• Chewable tablets
• Safe for puppies above six weeks
• Easy monthly dosage that can be combined with other medication
• Beef flavor that dogs cannot resist
• Excreted out of the system within three days
• No side effects reported

Heartworms are one of the worst type of worms that dogs can have. Their treatment is very traumatic to dogs and often involves hospitalization. With Heartgard Plus Chewable tablets, you can prevent infestation to your puppies and save them the torture of treatment and other complications associated with heartworms.

Thanks to their dog-friendly beef flavor, your pup will devour the chewable tablets without any problems. The dosage is given monthly, making it easier to administer and combine with other prescriptions that your dog may be taking. One of the best things about Heartgard Plus is that there are no reported side effects for your puppies and adult dogs. And in just three days, the drug will be removed entirely from your dog’s system.

Bayer Quad Chewable dewormer is another broad-spectrum dewormer that works well with all types of worms. If you are not sure of the kind of infestation that your dog has, this is probably the best choice for you. It is also an excellent product for your regular deworming procedure, and it is safe for both puppies and pregnant dogs.

Key Features:

• Eliminates roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and hookworms
• Easily administered, chewable tablets
• Dog-friendly beef flavor
• Doesn’t need a prescription
• Isolated cases of side effects
• Effective for common types of worms

Bayer Quad Chewable tablets are made with FDA-approved ingredients such as pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, and febantel. It has a real beef flavor that dogs cannot resist. You can give your dogs the tablets to chew or crush them and add to their food. There have been a few cases of vomiting and blood in stool with Bayer Quad Chewable tablets, but those are isolated cases.

Being a broad-spectrum dewormer, it should quickly get rid of all common worms. You can either do a self-diagnosis or give your dogs the dewormer every few months as a preventative measure. You don’t need a prescription, and your dog’s weight will determine the dose.

Interceptor Plus Chewable Tablets for dogs is another heartworm treatment solution that eliminates roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. This product is a prescription dewormer that requires a visit to the vet for a checkup before purchasing.

Key Features:

• Kills heartworms and heartworm larvae, tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms
• Prescribed by a vet
• May have side effects on some dogs
• Chewable Chicken-flavored tablets
• Monthly dosage ( Effective within six months of use )
• Prescription drug

Interceptor Plus Chewable tablets have a unique chicken flavor that’ll send your dogs crazy. It is one of the most effective treatments for five major types of worms. If you suspect your dog has tapeworms, you should visit your vet to get a prescription. Notably, this is one of the few drugs that need a prescription to buy it.

Although it is safe for puppies above six weeks old, some dogs may have a reaction to it. Some of the symptoms to watch out for include diarrhea, vomiting, stool in blood, depression/lethargy, anorexia, convulsions, excessive salivation, and weakness. If you notice any of these symptoms after administering the drug, you should see your vet immediately. It also should not be used on lactating dogs.

Need something that’ll kill fleas as well as remove heartworms and other common worms? You should try Trifexis Chewable Tablets. It is effective prevention and treatment for heartworms and other common worms as well as flea infestation.

Key Features:

• Removes fleas, heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tapeworms
• Easy-to-administer chewable tablets
• Savory beef flavor
• Might have some side effects
• Monthly dosage
• Prescription drug

Trifexis chewable tablets have a beefy flavor making it very easy for dogs to consume them. If you want an even easier way of administering it, you can crush the tablet and sprinkle it over the dog’s food or snack. This method is an effective way to deal with fleas and worms at the same time. Being a monthly dosage, you can easily combine it with other prescriptions.

Although safe for puppies above six weeks, you should be careful not to give to breeding dogs. The drugs could pass from the mother’s milk to the puppies. Although not common, some dogs could have a reaction to Trifexis Chewable tablets. You need to monitor for the following symptoms and call your vet immediately: vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and decreased appetite, among others.

Looking for a broad-spectrum dewormer for your dogs without the need to visit a vet? Try out Durvet Triple Dog Wormer. It comes in two types: The first is for small and medium dogs, while the other is for large dogs. This product is an effective broad-spectrum dog dewormer that removes typical dog worms such as hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.

Key Features:

• Eliminates tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms
• No prescription needed
• Broad-spectrum dewormer
• Has no side-effects
• Made with pyrantel pamoate and praziquantel

With its chewable, flavored tablets, this is an easy-to-use dewormer you can administer yourself. If your puppies don’t chew well yet, you can crush the tablets and mix them with soft food.

There aren’t any side effects for adult dogs. However, you should monitor your puppies for vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody stool. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your vet immediately. Durvet Triple Wormer, like many dewormers, isn’t recommended for breeding dogs. There hasn’t been a reported case of side effects, but it’s better safe than sorry. When giving the doses, make sure you weigh your dog first.

The Dog Dewormer Buying Guide

If you have been looking for the best dog dewormer, you may have noted a large number of brands out there that claim to deal with worms. There many companies that purport to treat all kinds of worms with no side effects. But the easiest way to find the best dog dewormer is by following our buying guide. We have a list of steps that always work for us.

#1: Get the right drug for the right worm

There are lots of worms out there, and it is essential to get the right medication for each of these. Some of the most common worms include

• Tapeworms
• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Whipworms

All have different strains. When getting a dewormer for your dog, make sure that it can cure the different strains of worms for the above types. This applies to broad-spectrum as well as specific dewormers.

For cases of heartworms, get the right prescription for your dog. Heartworm medication is not sold over the counter—you need a prescription from the vet.

#2: Get the right medication for your dog’s size

There are different medications for different dog breeds and sizes. The dosage and drug may be different for large breed compared to small breed dogs. The age of the dogs also plays an important role when choosing a dewormer for your dogs.

Additionally, puppies and breeding dogs need a different dosage compared to normal adult dogs.

#3: Broad-spectrum vs specific dewormers

If you don’t know the kind of worms that your dog has, always go for a broad-spectrum dewormer. While a worm-specific dewormer may be effective against that specific worm, it may not eliminate other types of worm your dog may have.

The best way you can use a worm-specific dewormer is by getting a test done on your dog, or if your worms have become resistant to the broad-spectrum dewormer. Heartworms require a more specific medication, and the treatment is usually prolonged compared to regular worms.

#4: The reviews are hardly ever wrong

Most people tend not to trust user reviews, especially when it comes to their pets. Who can blame them? The little guys are like family. However, reading a review can save you the time and cost of experimentation. Some dogs react badly to particular medications; it won’t cost a thing to read a few reviews before buying.

#5: Chewable, liquid, or granules?

There are so many ways to skin a cat…and so many ways to deworm a dog. You can use chewable tablets, liquids, or granules that you mix with food. The most effective way when you have lots of dogs is to use liquids or chewable tablets. This ensures that every dog gets the right dosage. If you only have one dog, you can go for granules to mix with food.

Basic Symptoms of Worms in Dogs

If you are keeping any breed of dog, one of the most critical skills you need to build is to identify symptoms of a worm infestation. Once you get used to it, it is not that hard. These symptoms include:

• Worms and worm eggs – The most apparent indication that your dog has worms is the presence of worms or worm eggs in their fur, vomit, and stool. It’s essential to monitor their stool now and then to check for the presence of worms or worm eggs. If you see tiny grain-like things in your dog’s stool, these are most likely tapeworms. You can take a sample to your local vet.
• Abnormal scratching – Is your dog rubbing or scratching its behind? If so, it’s time you took it to a vet. This behavior is another indication of a worm infestation—especially when your pet doesn’t usually scratch itself that much.
• Bloating – Have you noticed your dog or puppy having a bloated tummy? Get them to a vet to check whether it is a result of an infestation.
• Lack of appetite – Worms tend to reduce a dog’s appetite. If they are not eating as much as they usually do, it could be time to see the vet for deworming.
• Loss of weight and weakness – Is your puppy not playing as much as it used to? Is your dog getting skinnier by the day? He or she could have worms.
• Blood in stool or diarrhea – Have you noticed blood in your puppy’s or dog’s stool? Is it suddenly having loose stool or diarrhea? Get your dewormer ready, because it could be a case of the worms.

There are some dogs that won’t show any of the above symptoms when suffering from a worm infestation. This means that you should be taking your dog to the vet often to get a thorough examination. They’ll always be checked for worms and other problems.

Are worms dangerous for dogs?

Worms in dogs can cause quite a number of serious complications. This is especially true when they are not treated early enough, and each type of worm has its own series of complications that come with it.

The most serious type of worm infestation is the heartworm. As the name suggests, these live in the dog’s heart and blood vessels and is caused by bites from infected mosquitoes. A severe heartworm infestation can lead to the death of your dog. It usually affects the heart, lungs, and surrounding organs. Since it is a condition affecting the heart, it often causes a decrease in blood to the brain and may cause occasional loss of consciousness.

While not severe to adult dogs, roundworms can be lethal to puppies. These parasites feed off of dogs’ intestines. These are also one of the most common worms in both adult dogs and puppies. It is recommended to treat for these worms regularly to avoid complications, especially in puppies.

Just like roundworms, hookworms can also be lethal to puppies. They cause malnutrition, and gone unchecked, ultimately death to the puppies. They feed in the small intestines, sucking blood. Hookworms from dogs can also affect humans, especially children, leaving scars.

These are just a few of the problems your dogs can experience, in addition to the other aforementioned symptoms that characterize a worm infestation.

How to deworm a dog

The first step to deworm a dog is to identify the type of worm infestation your dog has. As discussed, there are many types of worms. Some can be killed by broad-spectrum dewormers while others require specialized medication. If you are not sure the kind of worms your dog has, the best course of action is to visit your vet.

Your vet will carry out all the tests and tell you the specific worms that your dog has. They will also go a step further and prescribe some specific medication for your dog if it has complicated conditions, such as heartworms.

When getting ready to administer the medication for your dog, always make sure to read the label. There are specific ingredients that kill specific types of worms, so make sure that you get a dewormer that has all the elements necessary to eradicate your dog’s worms. In most cases, they’ll indicate the type of worms that the drug kills.

The next step after getting your dewormer is to determine the dog’s weight. In most cases, the dosage is determined by age and weight or a combination of both. You can then proceed to administer the right dosage for your dog. Broad-spectrum dewormers work out of the box effectively against the common worms without needing to visit a vet.

Care should be given to young puppies below the age of six weeks. Most dewormers set a limit of 6 weeks, with others going as low as four weeks. Whichever the case, closely monitor the puppies for any reaction to the dewormer and call a vet immediately if anything goes wrong. The same applies to breeding dogs.

Once you get rid of your dog’s worms, you need to keep them away for good. This is only possible by improving your dog’s hygiene and keeping it away from wild animals and other infected animals and their feces. A monthly visit to the vet for parasitic prevention meds will also do wonders for your dog, especially in the case of heartworms, which can have a traumatic effect on your dog.

You should also be careful when you are checking your dog for infections; some of the worms can be transmitted to humans. This applies to roundworm eggs and tapeworms, so make sure your children stay away from infected feces.

For effective control of worms, adult dogs should be dewormed at least twice a year.

How does a dewormer work?

It’s rather a simple process that eliminates the threat without affecting your dog in any way. Worms attach themselves by biting their hosts. The most effective way of stopping them is to stop the biting.

Most dewormers work on the nervous system of the worms. It makes them lose their grip on the host, causing it to slide down the intestines to the anus. This, however, only works for tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms, as they are located in the intestines.

When it comes to heartworms, the story is different. To kill the adult worms, an arsenical dose is calculated that will not cause any problems to the dog. This dosage effectively kills the adult worm in the blood vessels, heart, and lungs. Young heartworms or larvae are destroyed by a dose of Ivermectin. This process prevents larvae from developing into grown worms. Cases of severe infestation require surgery to remove worms from clogged arteries, lungs, and heart.

The treatment option for heartworm infection is usually very traumatic, which is why most pet owners are advised to embrace preventative measures rather than expensive treatments.

How long does it take a dewormer to work?

Treatment lengths for worm infestations depend on the kind of medication you use and the type of worms your dog has. For ordinary worms such as tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms, you can expect results within a couple of hours. You will know the dewormer is working when you see a lot of worms in your dog’s feces. The effects of the dewormer will likely last a couple of days as well to get rid of all the worms in your dog effectively.

To keep them out, you need to treat your dog for worms at least twice a year. Alternatively, you can get a monthly preventative dose.

For heartworms, treatment may take a couple of months to be completely effective. The monthly dosage helps to eliminate and keep heartworms and their larvae at bay. Severe cases are immediately treated with a combination of surgery and prescription drugs.

Worms are a terrible thing for your dogs to endure. Not only do they cause discomfort, but they can also lead to death in small puppies. Getting the right medication is important to fully cure and treat any worm infestation. Not only have we included a list of symptoms to be on the lookout for, but we have also provided a review of some of the best products for different kinds of worms.

By following our buyer’s guide, getting the right medication for your dog’s worms is now a walk in the park. We have made sure you will know the different types of worms, their effects, medication, and effects on both pets and humans. Take preventative measures today and say goodbye to your pet’s uncomfortable days or expensive vet treatments.