Deworming dogs and cats: how often to ask your vet

Parasites are one of the most common health problems in dogs and cats, and some can pass to people too. The good news is that they’re easy to prevent. The question almost everyone asks is how often. The honest answer: it depends on your pet, and your vet decides.

Internal and external

• Internal parasite prevention: against intestinal worms such as roundworms or tapeworms, and in some areas heartworm.
• External parasite prevention: against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, which besides biting can carry diseases.

Why there’s no single frequency

The European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) recommends matching the frequency to each animal’s risk. Your vet will consider things like:

• Whether they go outside, into the countryside or to places with other animals.
• Whether they hunt or eat prey, scraps or raw meat.
• Whether they live with young children or people with weakened immunity.
• Where you live and the time of year, especially for ticks and mosquitoes.
• Their age: puppies and kittens need more frequent treatment at first.

When no individual risk assessment has been made, ESCCAP guidelines suggest treating adult dogs for internal parasites at least four times a year. Your vet may recommend more or less depending on your pet.

What to ask your vet

• How often do they need internal and external treatment, given their lifestyle?
• Which product suits them and how do I give it?
• Do we need to protect them against anything specific in our area, such as heartworm or leishmaniasis?

The hard part is remembering

With schedules of one, three or six months, it’s very easy to miss a date. Note the day you treat them, the product and when the next one is due, and set a reminder. If you give the treatment at home, mark it as done so nobody repeats it.

This guide is for information only. The product, dose and frequency are always your vet’s call.