It is of the utmost importance to deworm dogs since it can be risky if this is not done. The most frequent parasites in dogs are usually ectoparasites, or external parasites (pugas, ticks, lice, mites) and internal parasites (intestinal parasites, blood and more), if a dog has an infestation of parasites that is not treated, It can lead to mild or serious health problems.
When to deworm a puppy for the first time?
The ideal is that we vaccinate the puppies before their first vaccination is, this means that it is recommended that it be done between 20 days of life and the first month of birth. Before making a decision in this regard, you should first consult the veterinarian about the right time to do the first deworming and also how it should be done.
One of the most common questions that puppy owners ask themselves is:How often is a puppy dewormed?? In general, the first deworming of puppies is done using specialized liquid medications for their ages and weights, which must be administered according to medical indications, in some cases the first dose will be given, which will be repeated after 15 days and then monthly until the puppy is 6 months old.
Another way to do it is, depending on the product, that all doses will be given on a monthly basis.
We all know that it is recommended that puppies be separated from their mother when they are at least 8 weeks old, so many people adopt baby dogs that are that age, but have never been vaccinated or dewormed . When this happens, the new owner can start deworming immediately if required and indicated by the veterinarian, then the puppy will be vaccinated.
One of the most frequent questions that dog owners ask themselves is: Why should they be dewormed before vaccinating and not the other way around or at the same time? Well, this is due to a very simple reason, what happens is that the puppy, while nursing, receives antibodies that protect them from various infections or diseases, however, they will not be protected from being able to contract different parasites, either internal or external.
Studies show that puppies can even acquire parasites that the mother has in her body, so early deworming is important.
This is the main reason why it is necessary to deworm before vaccinating, since the puppy will always be more prone to contracting parasites than diseases while it is breastfeeding. Another typical question is the one referring to the period that we should wait between deworming and vaccination, this question will be answered by the veterinarian, since it will depend on the medicine that we give the puppy and the most optimal for the little one.
When the puppy reaches 6 months of life, it is recommended that an estimated time be established in which the deworming routine will be created. Some veterinarians advise that it be done monthly, others establish it every 2 or 3 months, this will depend to a greater extent on the environment in which the pet lives and spends it, while it is in an environment where it is more at risk of contracting parasites, the routine will be much more followed than when you live in a less prone place.
How often to deworm an adult dog?
As with puppies, the constancy of deworming will depend on how and where the dog lives, so the veterinarian will be the one who indicates how often it should be done. It is not recommended that the owner be the one to make this indication, as he could do it incorrectly and harm his pet. Now the question is:How often do dogs get dewormed?? Well, this will depend on many factors.
If a dog lives in a more natural way, that is, it constantly goes out for walks to natural parks or its houses are near forests or open areas, it will be much more exposed and therefore, it is at greater risk of contracting parasites than a dog. that lives in urban areas and departments, that is why these dogs will be dewormed monthly, while the one that lives in urbanized houses may be dewormed bimonthly or quarterly. Although the most common is that it is always carried out on a monthly basis.
Let us remember that animals can not only get fleas or ticks when they go for a walk or walk outside, but they can also contract internal parasites, especially those dogs that are used to eating grass or drinking water from open places. This can happen even when living in urbanized places, since no place is free from having any type of parasite outside. This is one of the main reasons why dogs should be constantly dewormed.
How to deworm a dog? – Internal and external deworming
As we well know, dogs can not only contract ectoparasites, but there is also a high risk that, when leaving the house, they will contract intestinal or internal parasites. These are more than enough reasons for our pets to have a routine of internal deworming which must be fulfilled according to the instructions of your veterinarian.
There are many ways in which dogs can become infested with internal parasites, it can be if they eat something in the street that is not healthy, when they eat grass, drinking water from open places and even from puppies while they are nursing. The most common internal parasites that are normally found inside dogs are those that live in the intestines, those of the lungs and those of the heart, the latter two being the most dangerous.
All these internal parasites are very common, but in order for them not to be harmful, the puppy or adult dog must be under a strict deworming schedule. One of the most common ways in which dogs contract parasites is through the waste of other dogs, this is because, through them, some worms or eggs are expelled that can enter the body of a dog. if he has contact with infested feces.
It should be noted that the eggs of the parasites can survive for 5 years in the open and without being inside a host. Another of the most common ways of contracting them is when our dogs are hunters, because if they catch an infested prey, it is most likely that they will also contract these parasites.
Now let's talk a little about how to deworm a dog and the different ways in which we can combat another of the most common parasitic infestations in dogs. Yes, we are talking about external parasites or ectoparasites, within these we find fleas, ticks, lice and mites. There are various specialized products for the elimination of these annoying parasites that are very frequent in dogs, especially those that go out to play in parks or accompany their owners to walk along paths or other natural environments.
- Pipettes: this is a liquid product that comes in a container very similar to an ampoule or pipette, hence its name, it is placed on the skin between the neck and the head of the canine, in this way it will be absorbed and distributed throughout the body . This product should be used monthly, bimonthly or quarterly depending on the brand and the environment where the dog lives. These pipettes can come in presentations for puppies, dogs of small, medium, large and giant breeds, it is mostly administered depending on the weight of the canine.
- Necklaces: They are specifically about special collars that contain components that help eliminate ectoparasites, these have a much longer effective duration, since they can last between 6 or 8 months, this will depend on the brand or manufacturer.
- Shampoos: this product was one of the most used before the existence of pipettes and necklaces, still, today many people use them. We must bear in mind that this type of product is only used to eliminate the ectoparasites that are already on the animal, so they do not have any preventive effect. It is recommended that it be used as a reinforcement for other types of products when bathing our pets.
- spray: Like the shampoo, this product does not have a preventive effect, it will only be used to eliminate external parasites that are already on the dog's body. How often it should be applied will depend on the manufacturer.
Now, if we want to know what types of medications exist for internal deworming, we must know that these can come in liquid or pill form, there are even some chewable pills, this helps make intake much easier. It is recommended that the two types of dewormers are not administered at the same time, we mean that internal parasites should not be attacked at the same time as external parasites.
Currently, there are some antiparasitic products that act against both ectoparasites and internal parasites. This helps and simplifies the two types of deworming in a single tablet, and at the same time prevents the dog from becoming intoxicated due to the excessive use of these products. Today, this type of tablet is becoming more and more popular and is recommended more consistently by veterinarians than conventional ones.
Why is it important to deworm a dog?
First we are going to talk about the consequences or symptoms that your dog may have if it is seriously infested with internal parasites:
- Vomiting
- Pain in the stomach
- Abdominal swelling
- Weight loss
- Inapetence
- Decay
- Diarrhea
If not treated in time, these symptoms can worsen and make the animal seriously ill and can even die if they become unbalanced in such a way that their body cannot resist.
The parasites that lodge in the lungs can bring about some respiratory problems that affect our pet to a lesser or greater extent and that cause deterioration in its health. Now, when we refer to heartworms, they can cause the blood flow that goes to the arteries to decrease, causing minor problems that can become severe if they are not treated promptly and correctly. These parasites can even cause the dog to have heart failure and sudden heart attacks.
Well, now speaking of ectoparasites, they can cause strong itching in our dogs, when the animal scratches, there is a risk that it will cause skin lesions that can later become infected, this could cause, our dogs suffer from different skin conditions such as dermatitis, allergies and infections. When we refer to allergies, we mean that there are dogs that are allergic to flea or tick bites, this would aggravate their situation if they are infested.
In some much more severe cases, a dog may contract scabies if the skin lesions become infected and worsen, as this could lead to the mites that cause scabies having more "power" to affect the dog. We must remember that any condition that our dog suffers from will significantly reduce his defenses, so they are at greater risk of contracting other diseases associated with his condition.
That is why it is of the utmost importance that all dogs are properly and recurrently dewormed. Let us never forget that the veterinarians are the ones who should give us the instructions to follow and which medication is the most suitable for our four-legged friend. Let us remember that there are different types of medications that are used for specific parasites and have different effects, since some will serve as preventive, while others will not.
The same happens with products for internal parasites, there are some brands that have different medications that attack a specific type of parasite. Remember that there is a wide variety of internal parasites, both intestinal, heart and even lung, so not all dewormers will serve to eliminate all types of parasites. That is why the veterinarian must first detect what type of parasite our dog has in order to then indicate the most appropriate as a combative treatment.
Natural remedies against dog parasites
Some are currently known home remedies for fleas and ticks that serve to combat the different types of these parasites that can affect your dog:
Apple cider vinegar and water: this is very effective against ectoparasites. The way it should be used is by placing the same amount of water and apple cider vinegar in a container, it can be used at the time the dog bathes, in this way it will penetrate all the fur until it reaches the skin of the animal. However, it can also be used daily in spray form, the dog will be sprayed and then brushed so that the product penetrates inward, in this way it will be constantly repeated until the parasites are eliminated.
Tea tree essential oil: This oil is known as a very good insect repellant, but it also works against parasites. However, you have to be very careful when using it, this is because when it is in its pure state, it can be toxic. The correct and safe way of use is when the oil is diluted, leaving 0.1-1% purity.
Eucalyptus: This is an effective natural repellent that is not toxic to our pets. You should place some leaves or branches under their beds, this will prevent ectoparasites from getting close to them, especially if there are fleas at home or any other external parasite. If the dog has fleas or ticks on its body, you can bathe them with an infusion of this herb, as it will serve to eliminate them and as a repellent so that they do not infest it again for a certain time.
Beer yeast: This is a very good food to combat internal parasites, specifically those that are housed in the intestines. In addition to this, it will serve to leave them with shiny and very healthy hair. Veterinarians even recommend that you add this food to your canine's daily food, as it is very beneficial for its health.
Garlic or onion: Watch out for this! Although there are people who recommend that a small amount of garlic or onion be placed in our dogs' food to combat fleas and ticks in dogs or as a natural antibiotic, the truth is that we do not see it. This is because both garlic and onion are highly toxic to canines, so they should not be ingested. There is a wide variety of natural and commercial medicines that are not harmful and perform an excellent function.
