The most common parasites in dogs are fleas, ticks and internal worms, which can affect different parts of the animal's body.All of them produce a series of annoying symptoms in the dog, in addition to causing derived problems such as the development of diseases, the reduction of functions of the affected organs and, in the worst cases, death.Likewise, many of the parasites that affect dogs can be transmitted to humans, so taking care of the health of our furry friend is also taking care of ours and the of people living in the home.
To avoid the presence of previous parasites, it is important to deworm dogs, but how often? And the puppies, when do you have to deworm them for the first time? To these and more questions we answer in this article of Animals and Pets Online, so read on to discover how often to deworm a dog and how to do it.
When will you deworm a puppy for the first time?
Puppies should be dewormed before their first vaccine, so it is necessary to do between their first 21 and 30 days of life .It will be the veterinarian who will advise us on how deworming a puppy for the first time although, in general, because many are still breastfeeding or are making the switch to solid food, the use of antiparasitic syrups or specific drops for puppies is usually indicated each month until reaching six months of age, or every 15 days at the beginning and then every month.
If you have just adopted a puppy that has not been dewormed and is over two months old , since separating it before the mother is contraindicated, you should know that you can already deworm it by administering the product recommended by the specialist.Then, you should start the vaccination schedule when the veterinarian tells you.
Why do you have to deworm first to the puppy and then vaccinate? The answer is simple, through breast milk the puppy acquires some protection and immunity against certain diseases, however, this protection does not serve to prevent or combat parasitic infestations; in fact, through it the puppy can get intestinal parasites.In this way, and especially depending on where he lives, the risk of suffering from the presence of external or internal parasites is greater than that of contracting diseases.For this reason, veterinarians always recommend deworming first and then starting the vaccination schedule for puppies.On the waiting time between the administration of the antiparasitic and the first vaccine, it will depend on the product used, so It will be the same veterinarian who tells us when to go to vaccinate.
Once the puppy is six months old, it is essential to establish a deworming schedule together with his veterinarian, who It can be monthly or more spaced, depending on the lifestyle of the animal and its place of residence.
How often to deworm an adult dog?
A dog is considered an adult from approximately one year of age, and as with puppies, to know how often to deworm a dog it is necessary to consider their lifestyle and place of residence .Both dogs that live in natural environments, surrounded by forest or field and, therefore, with a greater index of external parasites (fleas and ticks), such as those residing in urban areas, must be dewormed every month or in a more spaced depending on the product used, the first option being the most accepted, however, external parasites are not the only ones that affect dogs, since they can also be harmed by internal parasites, present in both natural and natural environments.For this reason, despite residing in a city, to prevent and combat the presence of internal parasites, veterinarians recommend monthly deworming , especially in cases of r I risk like families with children or the use of landscaped areas for the walk of their companion animals.
Now, how to deworm a dog? Is it necessary to administer an antiparasitic for external parasites and another for internal ? Here are the most common products.
How to deworm a dog?-Internal and external deworming
As we have said, dogs not only have external parasites such as fleas or ticks, but they can also be affected by internal parasites, so it is important to know how often to deworm a dog and how to do it.
Through different routes, such as sniffing the ground, eating something infected or, even, through breast milk, dogs can become infected with internal parasites such as intestinal worms, lung worms or heartworms.all of them are common, the most common are round intestinal worms, which can affect up to 12% of adult dogs and 30% of puppies.The most recurrent are Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina and, in most cases, contagion usually occurs through the feces of infested dogs, since through them the eggs are expelled, which have the ability to remain alive for up to five years and can penetrate a healthy dog with the simple made by sniffing these droppings.Contagion is also possible by hunting an infested rodent, sniffing infested soil, etc.In puppies, the transmission of worms usually occurs through breast milk or even during pregnancy if the mother is infested (in the case of Toxocara ).For all these reasons, it is recommended that the antiparasitic product recommended by the veterinarian be administered every month.
On the other hand, we all know how extremely easy it is that our dogs get fleas or ticks when they play in a park or are in contact with other animals.To avoid these annoying inhabitants there are several methods:
- Pipettes: it is a liquid which is deposited in the area of the dog's cross.They last approximately one month, depending on the brand, and we can throw them every time the effect of the same is passed.There are special pipettes for puppies from two months.
- Necklaces: they are collare s with active ingredients to eliminate fleas and ticks.Depending on the model can last between two and eight months, after that time we can put another without problems.
- Champus: with a normal flea shampoo we can wash our dog whenever necessary, although its effectiveness is simply momentary.It eliminates the fleas and ticks that it has but will not protect it from new inhabitants, so it is simply a complementary method to others.
- Spray: eliminates fleas and ticks at the moment.Its effectiveness and frequency of use will depend on each brand.
To combat internal parasites there are both syrups and chewable tablets and tablets, each with a different duration depending on the brand chosen.Now, to avoid administering to the animal two antiparasitic products, it should be noted that the double monthly protection is also available, in the form of a chewable tablet, which allows the dog to be protected so much of internal parasites as well as external parasites.So, do not hesitate, deworm your pet and ask your veterinarian for this method easier to administer and much more effective antiparasitic.
Why is it important to deworm a dog?
The presence of intestinal parasites, especially when the infestation is severe, can cause symptoms such as:
- Vomits
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal inflammation
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Decay
- Diarrhea
Pulmonary worms cause respiratory symptoms and those of the heart damage blood flow, resulting in reduced blood pumping to the arteries and, finally, heart failure.
Fleas and Ticks, in addition to producing itching and skin signs such as wounds, scabs or rashes, can transmit to dogs a number of more or less serious diseases, such as babesiosis, Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis.Also, some dogs have symptoms of flea bite allergy.
For all the above, deworming the dog following the veterinarian's instructions is essential, since antiparasitic products prevent possible infestations or, in the case of external parasites, they cause their elimination before infecting the animal with any pathology.
This article is merely informative, in Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How often to deworm a dog? , we recommend that you enter our Deworming section.
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