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How Often Should You Worm Your Pet?

By Deanne
- March 4, 2024
- 3 MIN READ

Table of Contents

What Is Worming Or Deworming?

How Often Should You Worm Your Pet?

Should You Worm a Puppy or Kitten More?

Ideal Worming Schedules

Intestinal worms are no picnic. They can cause a whole host of health problems in your pets including diarrhoea, tummy pain, weight loss and anaemia. In extreme cases, they can even be fatal. As if that’s not bad enough, they can also do some serious damage to people too! But how often should you worm your pet? The answer depends on various factors, including the type of pet, their age, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. This post explores how often you should worm both cats and dogs. We'll also discuss whether puppies and kittens require more frequent worming and provide some ideal worming schedules to keep your pets healthy and thriving.

What Is Worming Or Deworming?

Worming, also known as deworming, involves administering a treatment to eliminate internal parasites, or worms, from your pet's body. These parasites can include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and more. Worming is crucial to prevent discomfort, health issues, and the transmission of diseases to pets and sometimes even to us humans.

How Often Should You Worm Your Pet?

How Often Should You Worm a Cat?

The frequency of worming for cats depends on their age, lifestyle, and risk factors. Kittens require more frequent worming due to their vulnerability to infestations. They can be dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, followed by regular worming every 3 to 4 weeks until they are 6 months old. After this, they can transition to an adult cat worming schedule.

Adult indoor cats that have limited exposure to the outdoors may require less frequent worming compared to outdoor cats or those that hunt. Generally, adult cats are often dewormed every 3 months if they don't live with kiddos under 4 or the immunosuppressed, eat raw food or hunt. However, if your cat spends time outdoors we would recommend a monthly worming schedule. Tell us about your feline friend here and we’ll provide a personalised worming treatment plan for your cat based on their lifestyle and environment.
How Often Should You Worm a Dog?
Similar to cats, the frequency of worming for dogs depends on their age, lifestyle, and exposure to risk factors. Adult dogs should be dewormed every 3 months, but some factors may require more frequent worming:
- Outdoor Activities - Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, interact with other dogs, or engage in activities like scavenging or hunting would benefit from a monthly worming programme.
- Flea Control - If your dog is not on a consistent flea control programme (like Itch Flea monthly treatment), they may be at a higher risk of tapeworm infestations transmitted by fleas. Find out more about preventative flea treatments here.
- Travel - If you travel with your dog to areas with higher parasite exposure, such as wooded areas or regions with endemic parasites, more frequent worming might be necessary.
Tell us about your pooch here and we’ll produce a personalised worming treatment plan just for your companion to keep their tails wagging all the time!

Should You Worm a Puppy or Kitten More?

Yes! Those precious puppies and kittens require more frequent worming due to their developing immune systems and higher vulnerability to infestations. The initial worming of puppies and kittens should start at a very young age and continue at regular intervals. This helps address the possibility of mother-to-offspring transmission and the presence of worms in young animals. For a more in depth look at puppy worming, have a quick look at this article.

Ideal Worming Schedules

Here are the ideal worming schedules for both adult cats and dogs:

(If your pet has any specific health concerns, it’s always best to consult with your vet)

Adult Cats
- Indoor cats: Deworm every 3 months.
- Outdoor cats or those with higher exposure risk: Deworm every month.
Adult Dogs
- Low-risk dogs: Deworm every 3 months.
- Moderate to high-risk dogs: Deworm every month.
Puppies

2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, then every 3 to 4 weeks until 6 months old.
Kittens

2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, then every 3 to 4 weeks until 6 months old.

The frequency of worming your pet depends on their age, lifestyle, and exposure to risk factors. Regular worming is essential to protect your furry companions from the discomfort and health risks associated with worm infestations. Whether you have a cat or a dog, it's important to follow an ideal, vet approved worming schedule. By staying proactive and informed, you can ensure that your pets remain healthy, happy, and worm-free throughout their lives. If you have any questions, contact one of our experts here!

SHOP WORMING TREATMENTS HERE

Worming Treatment

Does Every Puppy Need Worming?

Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting and joyous occasion. As a responsible pet owner, you want to ensure that your furry bundle of joy grows up healthy and happy. One aspect of puppy care that can't be overlooked is worming. But does every puppy need worming? Below we'll explore the world of puppy worming, addressing whether puppies need more or less worming than adult dogs, when and how often you should worm a puppy, and even provide a helpful puppy worming calendar to keep your newest family member thriving.

Flea Prevention

How To Prevent Fleas in Dogs and Cats

Fleas, those tiny, relentless creatures, can turn into a major annoyance for our beloved pets. Not only can they cause discomfort with their itchy bites, but they can also lead to more serious health issues if left unchecked. The key to keeping your furry friends flea-free is prevention. In this post we'll focus on why your dog or cat might keep getting fleas, what to do when your pet itches but you can't see fleas, and most importantly, effective strategies for preventing fleas in the first place. Let's get started by creating a comfortable and flea-free environment for your furry companions.

Worming Identification

How to Know If Your Pet Needs Worming

Worming is a crucial aspect of pet care which ensures that our furry companions stay healthy and free from the discomfort of worm infestations. As responsible pet owners, it's important to know when our pets need worming and to understand the signs that may indicate the presence of worms. In this post, we'll explore the subtle signs of worm infestations, discuss specific considerations for both cats and dogs, and address the question of whether worming should be done regularly. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of when to take action to keep your pets worm-free and thriving.