Puppy Worming Tablets: Everything you Need to Know

Getting a puppy is a truly exciting experience but we know there’s a lot to think about all at once. Though parasites and common worms are a nasty thought, protecting your pup is an important part of pet ownership and can help your dog stay safe and healthy.

Fear not as we’re here to discuss everything you need to know about puppy worming tablets such as:

• Why worming tablets are important for puppies

• The best worming tablets

• Can worming tablets cause diarrhoea in puppies?

• Can worming tablets make puppies sick?

• Tips for administering worming tablets to puppies

• And lots of other useful information

There are lots of different types of pesky parasites and worms that can infect puppies such as the common roundworm, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. To help you become a master at spotting worms in dogs, we’ve written a guide which you can find here! 

It’s very easy for any kind of dog to pick up worms if they’re in the right environment making them the intermediate host. Worms can be contracted and spread through faeces, fleas, other infected animals, and from mother to pup through the placenta or milk. 

Leaving untreated worm infections in puppies can lead to disastrous consequences such as permanent damage to the internal organs.

Regularly worming your puppy with worming tablets can help to prevent infection and nasty symptoms such as diarrhoea, weight loss, vomiting, and lethargy. But how do they work? 

The active drug substance within the tablet first reaches the digestive system where it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. It’s then spread to the tissues until it reaches the parasites.

Lots of worming tablets available through veterinary practices are known as broad-spectrum wormers which means that they can treat many different parasites at once.

Just like with human medication, there are lots of options on the market when it comes to puppies and their worming tablets. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, unfortunately, so it’s all about finding what works best for your pup. Finding the right worming tablet depends on your pup’s unique circumstances such as their diet, whether they travel abroad, and if they are exposed to certain elements such as the countryside and even children!

However, to save you the headache, we’ve compared the most popular wormer products for puppies. (Please note: there is not a product that can do everything.)

Veloxa

How is it taken? Chewable tablet to be taken every 3 months
What are the active ingredients? Fenantel, pyrantel, praziquantel
What does it treat? Tapeworm and roundworm
Who can use it? Dogs who weigh more than 2.5kg, lactating (but NOT pregnant) dogs
What other medication can it be used with? Advocate
Who is it ideal for? City dogs who don’t frequent the countryside 

Milbeworm

How is it taken? Chewable tablet taken monthly
What are the active ingredients? Milbemycin and praziquantel 
What does it treat? Roundworm, tapeworm, lungworm, and heartworm
Who can use it? Puppies and dogs over 2 weeks old and over 0.5kg (NOT Collies)
What other medication can it be used with? Nexgard, Bravecto
Who is it ideal for? Dogs who swim, have contact with foxes, and who travel abroad

Stronghold

How is it taken? Spot-on monthly treatment 
What are the active ingredients? Selamectin
What does it treat? Ear mites, fleas, roundworm, heartworm, and mange
Who can use it? Puppies and dogs over 6 weeks old (NOT Collies)
What other medication can it be used with? Veloxa
Who is it ideal for? City dogs who aren’t frequently exposed to water or baths

Nexguard

How is it taken? Chewable tablet taken monthly
What are the active ingredients? Afoxolaner
What does it treat? Ticks and fleas
Who can use it? Puppies and dogs over 8 weeks old and over 2kg
What other medication can it be used with? Advocate or Milbemax 
Who is it ideal for? Dogs who frequently swim, those with skin allergies

Advocate

How is it taken? Spot-on monthly treatment
What are the active ingredients? Moxidectin, imidacloprid
What does it treat? Mange, fleas, roundworm, lungworm, and heartworm
Who can use it? Puppies and dogs over 7 weeks old and over 0.8kg
What other medication can it be used with? Veloxa
Who is it ideal for? Dogs with high exposure to foxes, fussy eaters

Advantix

How is it taken? Spot-on monthly treatment
What are the active ingredients? Permethrin, imidacloprid
What does it treat? Sand flies, ticks, and fleas
Who can use it? Puppies and dogs over 7 weeks of age and over 1.5kg, pregnant dogs
What other medication can it be used with? Veloxa, Milbeworm 
Who is it ideal for? Dogs who travel abroad or who live in areas with high tick exposure

Worming tablets, like any medication, can cause possible mild side effects such as diarrhoea and stomach upset.

As the dead intestinal worms leave the system, it’s not uncommon for puppies to experience stomach upset and subsequent diarrhoea. Fortunately, these side effects are only mild and are, therefore, short-lived. 

Diarrhoea typically lasts for around 24 to 48 hours. During this time, offer your furry friend bland foods like chicken and grains of rice to help them keep food in their stomach. Ensure they also have access to water as they’re likely to feel dehydrated.

Other side effects of puppy worming tablets are vomiting and gastrointestinal issues. Again, these should pass within 24 to 48 hours. However, if you are worried about your puppy and the vomiting increases or lasts longer than 48 hours, speak to your vet.

Waggel members gain access to free online vet consultations with Joii. Joii is an online pet care provider that helps pet owners to source effective treatment and advice immediately.

To avoid sickness after taking a worming tablet, some vets may recommend giving food with the tablet. Similarly to when a pup has diarrhoea, it’s best to offer them bland foods such as chicken to help them overcome any gastrointestinal and sickness issues.

Dogs will need worming regularly throughout their lives. Puppies typically require worming every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks of their lives. After this, they’ll need worming every month until they are at least 6 months old. After the 6-month mark, they’ll need worming once every 3 months.

As mentioned above, there are lots of different types but most worming tablets are chewable which makes them easier to administer. They also come in tasty flavours dogs are sure to love such as pork and chicken. Some worming treatments are known as spot-on treatments and aren’t tablets at all but are instead an insecticide that is applied to a spot (such as the neck) to kill off fleas and worms. 

If your tablet isn’t chewable and needs to be swallowed by your puppy, it’s important to make sure they’re relaxed before you begin. This will make the process easier for all involved! The most recommended trick in the book is to hide the tablet in food such as their favourite treat.

If your pup still refuses to take a tablet, your vet will be able to talk you through other techniques such as how to safely and directly give your dog a worming tablet. Don’t try and force your dog to take a tablet as this can be dangerous and cause a risk of choking.

Maintaining a regular worming schedule for your puppy will help them to stay safe and healthy. As every pup is different, it’s best to speak to your vet about the range on offer and the best kind of worming tablet to suit them whether this is through a chewable tablet form or one that requires swallowing.

Remember that some puppies can show side effects after taking worming medication but this should resolve itself in 24 to 48 hours. If your puppy is still showing signs of vomiting, diarrhoea, or lack of appetite after 2 days, speak to your vet or book a consultation with a vet via the Joii app.

Wrapping a tablet up in your puppy’s favourite treat can help it to go down quickly, however, most worming products are now available as palatable tablets that come in a range of meat flavours meaning they can be easily enjoyed by dogs (saving hassle and stress for pet owners).

Worming is a really important part of being a pet owner and if not followed regularly, can place your puppy at risk of permanent damage from nasty infections and intestinal parasite diseases.

If you’re a fan of our helpful puppy advice and would like to read more articles from our blog, we recommend our guides on ticks and how to stop puppies biting. You can thank us later.