When and How Often Should You Deworm a Puppy?

Puppies are typically dewormed starting around 2 weeks of age and repeated every 2 weeks until about 8 weeks, then monthly through at least 6 months on a schedule your vet sets. Doses depend on the product and your puppy's weight, so only use a vet-recommended puppy dewormer.

Nearly all puppies are born with roundworm larvae passed from the mother, and many pick up hookworms through milk or contaminated soil. Early, repeated deworming is standard practice, and it also protects the people who live with the puppy. This guide covers why repeat treatment is needed, a typical schedule, the common worms, the signs, how to deworm safely, how to protect your family and when to call the vet. Track your puppy's other health dates with the vaccination schedule.

Why puppies need repeated treatment

Dewormers kill adult worms in the gut but not the larvae that migrate through a puppy's tissues. Those larvae mature later, so a single dose isn't enough. Repeating treatment every two weeks catches each new wave before it starts shedding eggs. Puppies can also be reinfected from contaminated soil and stool, which is why hygiene matters as much as medication.

Mother dogs are a major source: dormant larvae in her tissues wake up during pregnancy and pass to puppies before birth and through her milk. She should be treated too, as advised by your vet.

Typical schedule (your vet will tailor it)

Your vet may adjust this for breed, weight, local parasite risk and the mother's history.

Common worms and parasites

• Roundworms: spaghetti-like worms in vomit or stool; pot belly; the most common puppy parasite.
• Hookworms: suck blood and can cause anemia and dark, tarry stool. Dangerous in tiny puppies.
• Whipworms: cause intermittent diarrhea and are easy to miss without fecal testing.
• Tapeworms: rice-like segments near the tail; usually linked to fleas or eating rodents.
• Giardia and coccidia: protozoa, not worms, that need different drugs.

A fecal exam helps your vet choose the right product, since no single dewormer covers everything.

Signs of worms

• Pot belly with a thin body
• Poor growth and a dull coat
• Diarrhea, sometimes with blood or mucus
• Vomiting, sometimes with visible worms
• Scooting or licking the rear
• Pale gums and lethargy (blood loss)
• Coughing (migrating larvae)
• Rice-like segments near the tail

Some puppies show no signs at all.

How to deworm safely

• Use a product made for puppies and confirm it's safe for your puppy's age and weight.
• Weigh your puppy accurately on a kitchen scale or baby scale before each dose.
• Follow the label or your vet's directions for dose and timing.
• Ask for a fecal exam at the first visit and as your vet advises.
• Don't use cat, horse or livestock products, and don't split adult tablets on your own.
• Watch for vomiting after dosing, and call your vet if your puppy vomits soon afterward.

Doses aren't given here because they depend on the specific product and your puppy's weight.

Worked example

Scout is a Lab puppy born on March 1.

1. March 15 (2 weeks): first deworming.
2. March 29, April 12, April 26 (4, 6 and 8 weeks): repeat every two weeks.
3. Around April 26: first vaccine visit with a fecal test to check for other parasites.
4. From 3 months: monthly preventive recommended by the vet, combined with heartworm prevention where relevant.
5. At 6 months: vet moves him to an adult plan based on a fecal test and lifestyle.

Put each date in your phone calendar on day one so none is missed.

Protecting your family

Some puppy worms, especially roundworms and hookworms, can infect people, particularly young children. Practical steps:

• Pick up stool promptly and dispose of it safely.
• Wash hands after handling puppies, stool or soil.
• Keep puppies out of sandboxes and kids' play areas.
• Don't let children kiss puppies on the mouth or share food.
• Keep fleas under control to prevent tapeworms.

When to call your vet

Call if your puppy has bloody diarrhea, repeated vomiting, pale gums, lethargy, a swollen belly, refuses food or isn't gaining weight. Parvovirus, which also causes vomiting and diarrhea, is an emergency.