The Best Dewormer For Dogs

Written by Estrella Bolton

Sometimes taking care of your pet means getting the right kind of medication. If your dog has one of the many parasites that tend to get filed under the label of “worms”, it’s vital that you get him or her a good dewormer as soon as possible. Doing so, though, is going to require more than just going to the store to pick up the first item that you find on the shelves.

If you want an effective treatment for your dog, you’ll need to make sure that you get the best dewormer for dogs that you can find. We’ve done the hard work by both finding the key features of some of the best brands on the market as well as locating where you can buy this medication for your pet. If you’re looking to keep your dog healthy and free of worms, you’ll definitely want to keep reading.

Best Dewormer For Dogs in 2021

No two dewormers are exactly the same. Though they all do the same job, how they go about the job – and how they will impact your pet – differs from product to product. We’ve looked at some of the best dewormers out there to figure out what makes them tick and what makes some of these brands better for certain dog owners than others.

SENTRY HC 7 Way De-Wormer for Medium & Large Dogs

At the end of the day, the job of a dewormer is to get rid of parasites. Though there are a host of other features at which you might want to look at a dog owner, the end goal is always going to be to make sure that your dog doesn’t stay infested with hookworms, tapeworms, or roundworms. If you’re looking for your very first dewormer, it might make sense to look for something that can get the basic job done quickly and efficiently. One such product is made by Sentry, and does a fine job of getting rid of several kinds of parasites.

This particular type of dewormer makes a lot of sense as the place to start in your search for a good overall dewormer. It not only goes after the most common parasites that you’ll deal with, but it goes after more than once species of each. This means that it is less likely that the parasite infesting your dog is going to be able to shrug off the dose and more likely that the single monthly treatment is going to help to get your dog back to his or her ideal level of health.

It should be noted, however, that this particular dewormer isn’t for every dog. Specifically formulated for bigger dogs, this one isn’t recommended for any dog under twenty-five pounds. Weight limits are particularly important when it comes to products like dewormers, as these are actual medical formulas, and giving your dog the wrong dosage can lead to unpleasant side effects. If you do have a medium or large dog and you are looking for a good dewormer that’s going to do an excellent job of quickly eradicating the most common parasites, though, this really should be one of the products by which you judge all others. 

PetArmor 7 Way De-Wormer (Active Ingredients: Pyrantel Pamoate and Praziquantel) for Dogs

If your dog is under the twenty-five-pound mark, it does make sense to start looking for a dewormer that is a good fit for smaller dogs. There are actually quite a few really fantastic products out there that are meant for little animals, and even a handful that makes a lot of sense for even the toy breeds. If you are looking for a good dewormer that’s going to be a solid fit for your smaller dog, you may want to look at this seven-way dewormer from PetArmor. 

PetArmor’s seven-way dewormer is formulated to work on seven different kinds of parasites. As with most of the dewormers that you are going to find, this means targeting multiple species of the most common types of ‘worms’ – roundworm, tapeworm, and hookworm. The choice to specifically target the subspecies that are targeted by this drug was made because these are the parasites that most commonly infect dogs and the parasites that tend to cause them the most trouble. This makes the product an ideal choice for any pet owner who really is just looking to deal with a very common type of parasitic infection.

The focus on small dogs does make this an interesting choice, but also one that requires dog owners to pay attention to dosage. Because the range here is pretty large, you’re going to give a wildly different dosage to those dogs at the top of the weight scale and those near the bottom. It should also be noted that this formula is safe for dogs who are at least three months old, so it is generally a good fit for those dogs who are out of the early puppy stage but who are still growing. If you’re looking for a good chewable, this might be the best choice for you. 

Bayer Chewable Quad Dewormer for Small Dogs

Unfortunately, even puppies can get worms. It’s not necessarily the kind of thing that most pet owners want to deal with, but it’s a reality that is encountered far more often than you might think. Unfortunately, it can be tough to find any product that is made to deal with parasitic infections and that is still safe enough for puppies. If you are encountering an infestation and you have a puppy that is at least one month old, though, you are in luck – this excellent chewable from Bayer may be just that for which you have been looking.

Simply put, most of the dewormers on the market aren’t meant for dogs that are under a few months old. At four weeks, most puppies should be at least at the point where they are comfortable dealing with things like basic chewable treats – something that Bayer takes advantage of with the design of this particular dewormer. It is easy enough to chew that virtually any puppy is going to go wild for it, while still safely formulated in a way that is going to ensure that your puppy is able to get rid of its infestation quickly.

The beef chew also does something that many other deworming treatments aren’t able to do – it makes your dogs happy to take the treatment. A little bit less like medicine than some of the other products on the market, this is a really good choice for any dog that is usually slow to take medication. Designed for animals as small as two pounds and as large as twenty-five pounds, this is an excellent choice for those who have small dogs who might otherwise turn their noses up at more typical types of deworming treatment. 

Durvet Triple Medium and Large Dog Wormer

Chewables are always a good idea when you are looking at dog medication. Not only do they seem much more like treats than medication, but they are somehow a little easier to hide than most of the other options on the market. Whether you toss it to your dog as a regular treat or crumble it up in his or her dry food, it’s fairly easy to take one of these tablets and fool your dog into doing something that is good for him or her. If you’re looking for something simple, you really will love this product from Durvet.

Durvet’s simple dewormer does the same job that most of the other products do, with much the same results. This is a dewormer that comes in a simple tablet form and that does a fine job of getting rid of seven different types of parasites, including all of the usual suspects that tend to make your dog itchy and uncomfortable. With a focus on multiple varieties of worms, this is a quick and easy over-the-counter solution for anyone who can easily identify worms and who knows exactly what their dogs need when a parasite infection has been spotted. 

Honestly, this is the kind of dewormer that should probably just be the textbook example for all of the other products on the market. While it doesn’t have any real special features, it does its job very well and will help your pet to get rid of parasites quickly. If you’re looking for something that you can easily give even a particular finicky dog and that will help with his or her worms, there are really not many choices that you can make that will be better than this one. 

Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer (praziquantel tablets) for Dogs

Sometimes it’s a good idea to look for a product that is specifically targeted towards one kind of parasite. As nice as it is to get a broad-spectrum solution like many of those listed above, you may need to get a little more specific if you already know that your dog has a certain kind of infestation. If you know that your dog has a tapeworm, for example, it may be a good idea to get something like this product from Bayer. 

Bayer’s tapeworm dewormer is designed for dogs four weeks of age or older, finally giving many pet owners a way to treat their very young dogs for tapeworm without having to go to the vet or worrying about other procedures. A fairly simple dewormer, it can be given once to your dog and it will take care of your problem without causing other issues. If nothing else, this is one type of dewormer that tends to win on simplicity alone. 

This dewormer is also fairly easy to give to most dogs. You can give it on its own as a simple treat or mix it up with your dog’s food – both methods work fine and neither will impede the medication. Instead, you’ll get a mostly hassle-free treatment for your dog’s tapeworm and a dog that’s more than happy to get an interesting new treat that will help him or her to feel better much more quickly than you might have anticipated. 

DURVET 12-Pack Triple Wormer Tablets for Puppies and Small Dogs

It’s always a good idea to make sure that you get the right type of dewormer for your dog. Though DURVET’s excellent deworming formula has already been discussed above, that was specifically a formula that was meant for larger dogs. If you have a smaller breed or a younger dog, you are definitely going to need something that is specifically suited to his or her needs. Luckily, DURVET does make a version of that same formula that is meant for dogs between six and twenty-five pounds. 

This particular version of the deworming formula works in exactly the same way as the other version of the formula. That means that it targets the multiple types of common worms quickly and efficiently and that it does so without causing harm to your dog. You’ll absolutely want to pay attention to the dosage instructions, of course, as there is a big gap between the bottom and top weights but otherwise you’ll be able to feel absolutely safe in giving this dewormer to your dog.

It’s also nice to note that this particular dewormer is a flavored chewable, so you won’t have to go through the process of having to trick your dog into taking his or her medicine. Instead, it will function more like a treat and your dog will actually be excited to get his or her treatment. This dewormer is a great choice for those dogs who are fussy with medicine but who still need help with their parasitic infections.

FAQs

Does an Over the Counter Dewormer Work for Dogs?

There are many types of deworming medication that can be bought over the counter. The issue of which one is the very best dewormer for dogs will depend on the specific needs of your pet. In general, the latest generation of canine dewormer medications is the most effective that has ever been introduced onto the market. 

This is because they contain a number of fast-acting and very effective active ingredients. These include pyrantel pamoate, a very safe and effective safeguard against intestinal parasites. Any medication, whether available over the counter or solely by prescription, that includes this ingredient can be considered top class. 

There is no reason to fear that you aren’t getting the best quality product when you buy it over the counter. The fact is that the production of worming medication for your dog has never been at such a high level. Many new products have been developed over the past few years that represent the absolute state of the art in this area. 

For this reason, you should check the world wide web often in order to get the latest news about deworming medication for large dogs, medium dogs, and small dogs alike. The more info that you have on this crucial necessity, the more prepared you will be to act quickly when the problem raises its head. Forewarned is most certainly forearmed. 

How Often Should You Deworm Your Dog?

You owe it to your four-legged friend to make use of the very best dog dewormers to keep them free of these pernicious parasites. This is an activity that should be done on a regular basis to ensure the health and long life of your friend. A broad-spectrum dewormer is easy to administer and will yield excellent results in a very short time.

Deworming for your dog should begin when they are between 20 and 30 days of age. They are still feeding off their mother’s milk so be sure to give it to them in liquid form. After that, you should continue the deworming treatments every 6 weeks of age. This is a treatment that should be administered until they are 6 months old.

As soon as they reach 6 months of age, the treatment should be continued on a more “as needed” basis. The frequency of this treatment will depend on a number of factors. According to the Banfield Pet Hospital, these may include the age and size of your dog. Other factors, such as your dog’s breead and how much time they spend out of doors, should also be considered. 

For some dogs, deworming should probably take place every 2 months or so. This is all the more true if your dog spends the majority of its time outside the house. For others, the time maybe every 3 or 4 months. Regardless, this is one aspect of pet care that should never be neglected. The health of your dog depends on it. 

How Many Deworming Pills Should I Give My Dog?

The number of deworming pills that you should give your dog will depend on a number of different factors. These will include the age, weight, health, size, and breed of your dog. The precise dosage that you should give to your dog for the purpose of deworming them will vary according to the type of medication that you have selected. 

Keep in mind that dogs will need a much lower dosage than puppies. This will generally be much less than you would give to an adult dog. Likewise, dogs that are larger will usually need a bit more of this medication than smaller ones. 

It’s a good idea to follow the dosage instructions on the label of your medication for the best results. This will give you all the info you need to avoid giving your dog too small or too large of a deworming dose. 

Why Are Worms a Problem?

Worms, in general, are useful animals. They do the thankless job of tilling the soil on our behalf. They spread nutrients that help to keep the earth fertile. Without the presence of worms, it would be much harder to grow the essential vegetation that we depend on as a source of food. But not all species of worms serve a useful purpose. 

Many types of worms are parasites. This is to say that they live within the bodies of other animals and feed off the blood and nutrition that should be going to their host. For this reason, they can cause all kinds of illnesses, many of which can result in the death of the animal they are feeding off. 

Parasite worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and others are responsible for the premature deaths of many dogs and cats every year. This is the major reason why you need to get rid of them as soon as you have evidence of their existence. If left untreated, they will ultimately kill your best friend. 

It’s a good idea to continue deworming treatments for your dog on a regular basis. Keeping up these treatments will assure your dog of a long and healthy life. It will save you a great deal of time, money, and energy that you won’t have to expend on frequent visits to the vet. This is one area you need to maintain with great care.