The Best Dog Dewormers for Your Pet (2022)
Does your dog have tapeworms, roundworms or other parasites?
If you're a dog parent, you know that a persistant cough or decreased energy could be a sign that your dog has heartworms. In fact, there are many other types of infesting worms that inside your dog: roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and many more! How you do you find a solution for your dog? Luckily there are many solutions and we've rounded up the best canine dewormers to remove, treat, and, just as important, prevent.
Panacur C Dewormer
Best For Small Dogs
Panacur C is the best overall canine dewormer.
It treats most of the main types of parasitic worms: Tapeworms, Roundworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms. It’s also used by veterinarians to treat other types of parasites.
Simply mix it with your dog’s food and let it work its magic.
Pro
- Can be mix with a small amount of the animals' usual food
- Requires only 3 dosings
Con
- Vomiting found in about 1% of dogs
Bayer Quad Dewormer for Dogs
Easiest to Use
Bayer is one of the most trusted brands in pet products. Their Quad Dewormer removes pesky tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms from your pup.
This broad-spectrum anthelmintic dewormer is one of the most effective on the market.
Pro
- Requires only 1 dosing
- Removes common tapeworms and hookworms
Con
- Not for use on puppies less than 3 weeks old or under 2 pounds
Merck Safeguard® Canine Dewormera
Best Overall
Safeguard works on a host of parasitic worms that may infect your dog. It is also a broad-spectrum dewormer, which means you don’t have to buy multiple products to treat different worms.
Pro
- FDA approved
- Easily mixes into food
Con
- Not for puppies less than 6 weeks old
Sentry HC WormX for Dogs
Best Flavored Tablet
WormX by Sentry is one of the most effective deworming remedies.
It features ingredients found in the leading veterinary dewormers, and it comes in chewable tablets that are easy to administer in dog food or as a treat.
Pro
- Flavored chewable tablets
Con
- Need to store at controlled room temperature 15-30°C (59-86°F)
Durvet Liquid Wormer
Best Liquid Dewormer
This liquid wormer by Durvet is an excellent choice for small dogs or puppies who struggle to take tablets or chews.
It works against roundworms and hookworms and is safe to use on puppies as young as two weeks old.
Pro
- Safe on puppies as young as two weeks
Con
- Dog might be reluctant to accept because of flavor
HomeoPet WRM Clear
Best Natural Solution
Offering a drug-free approach to treat tapeworm, hookworm, roundworm, and whipworms, this homeopathic liquid aids in the recovery of worm infestations, and also reduces the chance of re-infestation by suppressing egg production.
Pro
- Natural solution to flush worms out with killing
Con
- Takes 2 weeks to reach full potential
Gastrointestinal parasites
Gastrointestinal parasites (worms) are surprisingly common in pets, but especially in dogs.
Ingestion of the parasite can lead to an uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening infestation.
Thankfully, most cases can be quickly and easily remedied with deworming medicine.
In this article, we’re going to break down how dewormers work, how to choose the right one, and the best dewormers for dogs.
How Does a Dewormer Work?
Dewormers typically come in the form of tablets or chewable (oral medications), but there are liquid forms as well that are great for small dogs and puppies.
Most worms target the intestinal tract, and they include tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Heartworms are also common and affect the heart and arteries.
Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms target the stomach and intestine. The dewormer either dissolves the worm itself or paralyzes it and causes it to release its sucker and fall through the intestinal tract. The worm is excreted in the dog’s stool.
This treatment does not kill larvae living in the animal’s body, so the administration must continue until the larvae evolve into adults and are treated.
Heartworms infect the heart, lungs, and arteries. Various heartworm treatments are used to kill the adults and larvae, and heartworm preventative medicine is commonly given as part of a dog’s supplemental diet.
How Long Does It Take to Work?
Deworming time varies based on the severity of the infestation and the specific dewormer used. However, most dewormers can remove the infestation within 2-3 weeks.
How to Choose the Right Dewormer
The most important thing to do when looking for a dewormer is to find a medication that treats the specific type of worm your dog is infested with. For example, a medication that combats roundworms might not affect tapeworms or hookworms. Luckily, many dog dewormers treat multiple types of parasites.
It’s also imperative that you consult your veterinarian beforehand to correctly diagnose which worm is inhabiting your pup.
The right dewormer is one that treats the specific worm your dog is infected with and treats it efficiently and effectively.
Worms can cause nasty infections, but hopefully, this guide has given you everything you need to know to help your dog fight them. Don’t forget to contact a veterinarian to confirm which worm is inhabiting your dog before administering any treatment.