How often should I deworm a puppy?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Every two weeks from two weeks of age, then monthly. TroCCAP, the tropical companion animal parasite council, starts puppies at 2 weeks, repeats every 2 weeks until 8 weeks with the mother treated at the same time, and then deworms monthly. Europe's ESCCAP gives a similar start and monthly treatment up to 6 months where infection risk continues.
Puppies need this because roundworms pass from the mother before birth and through her milk. Your vet chooses a dewormer labelled for puppies, by age and weight, and writes each date on the vaccination card.
What is the puppy deworming schedule, week by week?
The two main guidelines side by side. They agree on the first eight weeks.
| TroCCAP (tropics) | ESCCAP (Europe, 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| First dose Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites | 2 weeks of age | 14 days after birth |
| Up to weaning European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) | Every 2 weeks until 8 weeks | Every 2 weeks until 2 weeks after weaning |
| The mother European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) | Treated at the same time as the puppies | Dewormed at the puppies' first treatment, 2 weeks after delivery |
| After weaning to 6 months European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) | Monthly | Monthly up to 6 months where risk continues, such as puppy playgroups |
| Adult dogs European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) | Monthly | At least 4 times a year where risk is unknown; monthly or monthly faecal tests in higher-risk homes |
TroCCAP's monthly advice for adults reflects heavy parasite pressure in the tropics. ESCCAP adjusts by risk. Your vet will place your dog on that range.
Why does deworming start at two weeks?
Because puppies are usually infected before they can be treated any earlier.
TroCCAP explains that roundworm (Toxocara canis) larvae can rest in a female dog's tissues and reactivate during pregnancy, passing to the puppies through the placenta and later through her milk. Heavy infection before birth can cause pneumonia and sudden death in young puppies. That is why the first dose comes so early and the mother is treated too.
Worms in a puppy are not always visible. Heavy burdens cause poor growth, stunting, a poor appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting, and TroCCAP describes affected puppies standing with their legs apart and a pot-bellied look. Hookworms, common in the tropics, can cause bloody diarrhoea, anaemia and death in puppies.
Rescued street puppies and puppies from unknown litters have often missed the early doses. Tell your vet what you know of the puppy's history at the first visit so the schedule can start from where the puppy really is.
How do you make deworming work?
- Use only a dewormer your vet chooses, labelled for puppies of that age and weight. TroCCAP specifies a registered product labelled for use in puppies. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
- Weigh the puppy at each visit. Puppies grow fast, and the dose follows weight (your vet's job, not a guess).
- Pick up faeces every time, at home and on walks. Roundworm eggs can survive in the environment for years. European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP)
- Treat every dog in the home on the vet's plan, including the mother if she is with you. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
- Keep flea control going, because dogs catch the flea tapeworm by swallowing fleas. International Cat Care
- Write each deworming date on the vaccination card, next to the vaccines, so none is missed (Petym's practical advice).
When does a puppy with worms need a vet urgently?
If Bloody or black diarrhoea, pale gums or weakness.
See a vet the same day. Hookworms can cause anaemia and death in puppies, and bloody diarrhoea can also mean parvovirus. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
If Coughing or fast breathing in a very young puppy.
See a vet. TroCCAP notes heavy roundworm infection before birth can cause pneumonia. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
If A swollen belly, vomiting worms, or a puppy that is not growing.
Book a vet visit soon; the puppy probably has a heavy burden and needs a proper schedule. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
Can worms from a puppy infect your family?
Yes, which is the other reason to deworm on time. TroCCAP says people, children most of all, can be infected by swallowing roundworm eggs from the environment, and the migrating larvae can damage the eye. CDC also lists young children among those most at risk of toxocariasis. A review of Indian studies estimated that about 11% of soil samples from public places contained Toxocara eggs.
ESCCAP's advice reflects this: in homes with small children under about 5 or 6 years, or with elderly or immunocompromised people, it suggests monthly deworming or monthly faecal tests, depending on the vet's risk assessment. Washing hands after handling puppies and picking up faeces promptly matter as much as the tablets.
Going away soon? Tell us your dates.
A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
Questions owners ask
When should a puppy be dewormed for the first time?
- At about 2 weeks of age. TroCCAP starts puppies at 2 weeks and ESCCAP at 14 days, because roundworms pass from the mother before birth and in her milk. If your puppy is older and was never dewormed, your vet will start now and set the next dates.
How often should I deworm my puppy after 3 months?
- Monthly, in both main guidelines, at least until 6 months of age. TroCCAP, writing for the tropics, continues monthly into adulthood. ESCCAP adjusts adult frequency by risk, with at least 4 times a year where risk is unknown. Your vet will set the plan for your home.
Can I deworm and vaccinate my puppy on the same day?
- Often vets give both at the same visit, and Indian vaccination cards usually have space for deworming dates. Whether to combine them for your puppy is your vet's decision, based on its health that day.
Should I deworm a puppy that looks healthy?
- Yes. Worms do not always cause visible signs, and puppies are usually infected from the mother before birth. That is why the guidelines use a schedule rather than waiting for symptoms. A healthy-looking puppy still needs every dose.
Can I use a home remedy instead of a dewormer?
- We did not find any veterinary guideline that recommends a home remedy for worms in puppies. TroCCAP and ESCCAP name only registered dewormers labelled for the animal's age. Garlic, a common suggestion, is toxic to dogs. See our answer on home remedies for worms.
Keep reading
Free tools for this
Words on this page, explained
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites: Canine guidelines: roundworms (opens in a new tab)
- European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP): GL1: worm control in dogs and cats (7th edition, June 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites: Canine guidelines: hookworms (opens in a new tab)
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About toxocariasis (opens in a new tab)
- International Cat Care: Fleas and flea control in cats (opens in a new tab)
- Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports (2021); abstract read on the University of Nottingham VetSRev listing: Risk of zoonotic toxocariasis from soil contamination of public places in India: systematic review and meta-analysis (opens in a new tab)