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Worming tablets for dogs
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Deworming tablets for dogs are used to expel helminths from the animal's body cavities.
Indications for the use of anthelmintic tablets for dogs
Antihelminthic drugs are prescribed both for the prevention and treatment of helminthiasis in puppies and adult dogs.
Pharmacodynamics
Deworming tablets for dogs cause increased permeability of helminth cell membranes for ions. Causes muscle paralysis. Are absorbed, as a rule, quickly.
Pharmacokinetics
The maximum concentration can be reached, depending on the drug and individual sensitivity, 30-120 minutes after taking the tablet. The half-life is usually 4-5 hours.
The risk of infection with parasites exists from the very birth of a puppy. Indoor dogs become infected with worms through dirt brought in from the street on shoes. The only way to reduce the risk of infection is prevention. Your pets are especially at risk of becoming infected after an illness or in the spring and fall, when the immune system is not very strong after winter, and the air humidity is high. Sick and elderly animals require your special care. Worms suppress the body even more, making it vulnerable to infections. It turns out to be a vicious circle. The function of controlling normal cell division also lies with the immune system. It is a guard against cancer. Dogs that have never had worms expelled are more likely to suffer from diabetes and arthritis. Parasites lead to intoxication of the nervous system. Worms are more dangerous for a puppy than for an adult dog. Lung parasites often rupture the lungs, intestinal parasites - the intestines.
At the dacha, your dog hunts. And many animals are intermediate hosts of worms. All places where dogs walk are covered with helminth eggs. They come out with feces and live in the ground for 6 years or more. Parasite eggs are also in water, so if a dog drinks water from a puddle, the infection has already occurred. And if you give your dog fish and offal, the risk increases several times. You should not allow your dog to drink from a puddle or eat feces. Wean your dog off picking up everything from the ground. You can read how to do this in articles on specialized websites. In any case, the dog needs training.
Helminth larvae can develop in blood-sucking insects, not only fleas, but even mosquitoes. Puppies become infected even before birth through the placenta. You must treat helminthiasis properly. The first deworming is best done at 4 weeks. Adult dogs are given prophylaxis 3 times a year. Overdose is life-threatening for the dog, follow the instructions!
You can tell for yourself that your dog has worms by its behavior and appearance. Helminthic invasion reduces the dog's immunity. Symptoms of helminthiasis are not always clearly expressed. Worms damage the intestines and circulatory system of the dog, and can even lead to its death due to intestinal rupture. Some species settle in the brain, liver, and skin of the animal. An infected puppy grows poorly, is constantly ill, and suffers from allergic reactions. Sick dogs have matte fur, do not shine, a swollen belly, an enlarged liver, very pale mucous membranes, and little mobility. Discharge from the eyes and an unpleasant odor from the mouth are possible. The dog gets tired and refuses to eat or, conversely, eats too much. Changes in appetite should alert you in any case. A swollen tummy of a puppy and attempts to eat inedible things are also signs of helminthic invasion. Diarrhea in a sick dog often alternates with persistent constipation. You may also be alarmed by the fact that the dog has started to scoot on its bottom. Vomiting of helminths may begin. The presence of whole worms or segments in the feces reliably indicates a helminthic invasion.
40% of dogs are carriers of worms. The source of worms is meat, fish and grass. You can't boil or fry meat for a dog. It should be doused with boiling water before giving it to the animal. Do not give raw vegetables, it is better to add them to porridge. Prevention of worms is cheaper than their treatment.
There are 83 types of worms in Ukraine that can affect dogs. Here are some of the most common infestations.
Toxocariasis (ascariasis) is caused by gray worms up to 20 cm long, the eggs of which the dog swallows during a walk. In puppies, they enter the lungs. After swallowing, the eggs develop into larvae. The larvae are carried by the bloodstream throughout the animal's body. Alarming symptoms: exhaustion, vomiting, bronchitis, hiccups, shortness of breath.
Ancylostomiasis - the length of the pathogen is 1 cm, the worms feed on blood, causing anemia. Pyrantel effectively fights this invasion. You should be alerted by general weakness and the detection of blood in the dog's feces.
Dirofilariasis is transmitted through a mosquito bite. The parasite is localized in the heart and can cause the death of the animal.
Echinococcosis is a disease caused by echinococcus, which mechanically damages the intestinal walls with the hooks with which it attaches to them.
Dipylidiosis is caused by the cucumber tapeworm. Its intermediate host is a flea. When a dog kills a flea and swallows it, the larvae penetrate the intestines. Bleeding may begin from it, and the intestines often become blocked.
Ancylostimiasis - manifests itself as anemia, blood in the stool and swelling of the paws.
With cardiac parasites, you may notice that the dog gets very tired after physical exertion, its paws swell greatly, and there are cramps.
You can inject water into the mouth with a syringe, removing the needle from it. For puppies, choose a weaker remedy, usually the packaging indicates that the medicine is intended for puppies. You can feed the dog three hours after you have given the medicine. Do not reduce the recommended dose. If it turns out that there are a lot of worms, you must also give a sorbent, for example, Enterosgel, along with the deworming tablets. This will protect the dog from the side effects of toxins of already dead parasites. Often, the rapid death of a large number of parasites leads to poisoning of the dog. Check the health of your pet periodically with a veterinarian. Vaccinate, take care of the coat, teeth and ears. By carrying out prevention in time, you will protect your family and children, and simply the environment, other dogs from infection. Children playing in the park most often become infected with parasites such as roundworms. Sometimes children eat clay, lick their fingers and do not wash fruit - and this is how infection occurs. Ascaris infection is characterized by fever, vomiting, fatigue and swelling of the joints for several years. Some parasites cause difficult-to-treat diseases, and you can prevent them only by choosing the right medicine. Helminthiasis is more dangerous than is commonly believed, because there is practically no organ where helminths cannot live. During their life, they cause chronic diseases.
If previously only folk methods of treatment, seeds and enemas were used, and later - not very effective piperazine, now the variety of tablets for worms is amazing. The first tablets for helminths required a change in diet, now this is not necessary. Veterinary pharmacology does not stand still. All drugs on the shelves of pharmacies and pet stores have a complex effect. The scheme for expelling parasites depends on the drug used. All products have instructions. It is better to weigh the puppy again and recalculate the dose than to lament the death of your pet due to your fault. It is better if you have an assistant. He will hold the puppy while you give the tablet. It is better to crush the tablet into powder using two teaspoons. Make sure that the puppy swallows the medicine and does not spit it out. If you give the puppy a whole tablet, he can put it in his cheek and spit it out without swallowing it. Dogs are very smart. Emulsions are more suitable for small puppies. The room where the puppies are should be cleaned with hot water with salt added. You cannot kiss the puppies or let them lick you. After interacting with the little ones, wash your hands. Teach your children to be clean as well.
Be careful, well-known drugs are counterfeited and not always chalk is used to make the counterfeit. Before buying a medicine, visit the manufacturer's website. Look there to see what the original packaging looks like. Of course, this is in case you have not previously received advice from a veterinary clinic. Deworming tablets for dogs are very widely available, so you can always find a suitable drug for your four-legged friend in a veterinary pharmacy.
Names of worming tablets for dogs
The most well-known deworming tablets for dogs are: Dirofen, MilbeMax, Caniquantel Plus, Drontal Plus, Febtal Combo, Dehinel Plus, Dosalid, Dironet. The dose of Dirofen is 1 tablet per kg of the puppy's weight. The tablet is given in a piece of meat or sausage. If the puppy refuses, the tablet is forcibly placed on the tongue. You can also crush the tablet into powder, pour water over it and give it to the dog using a syringe. There are tablet holders, ask about them at the pet store. The first time deworming tablets for dogs at the age of 3 weeks are given by the breeder from the kennel. Then this responsibility falls on you.
MilbeMax is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of roundworm and tapeworm infestations. For dogs weighing up to 1 kg, half a tablet is enough. Give once with food or by force on the root of the tongue. For dogs weighing 1-5 kg, a whole tablet is needed, over 5 kg but less than 10 kg - 2 tablets. For dogs weighing over 10 kg, MilbeMax for adult dogs is given. For dogs weighing up to 25 kg, one tablet of the drug for adult dogs is enough. For dogs weighing 25-50 kg, 2 tablets are given. Diet and laxatives before administration are not necessary. It can be used in pregnant bitches under the supervision of a veterinarian in exceptional cases.
Rarely, side effects such as depression, paresis, and uneven gait occur.
Envair is a yellow tablet with a specific smell. Febantel, which is part of the tablets, blocks the activity of roundworms. Pyrantel causes spastic paralysis in them. Praziquantel increases muscle activity in tapeworms. Destroys the outer cover of parasites. Do not take Envair together with piperazine. Do not give it to animals with a diseased liver. Overdose can cause diarrhea and blood disorders. Do not give the drug to puppies under 1 month. A quarter of a tablet is enough for dogs weighing up to 2 kg, 1 tablet for dogs weighing up to 10 kg, 2 tablets for dogs weighing 11-20 kg. For the largest dogs, the dose can be 4 Envair tablets.
In case of overdose, the dog refuses to eat food, it has a gastrointestinal disorder. In this case, it is necessary to remove the medicine from the body as quickly as possible. Prazicide is incompatible with piperazine.
We recommend that you consult a veterinarian before giving the drug to your dog. Some tablets are not suitable for a certain breed. Some drugs damage the outer shell, while others destroy the parasite cells.
It is impossible to vaccinate a dog infected with worms, since a weakened body reacts poorly to vaccination.
Deworming tablets for puppies
You can tell for sure whether puppies have worms by their dry and sparse fur. If a puppy has diarrhea alternating with constipation, it is also most likely worms. Puppies can even suffer from convulsions. In puppies, if there are many worms, they can intertwine into a ball. Therefore, after you have given the puppy medicine, make sure that the parasites come out. If this does not happen, give your pet a laxative. You can feed the animal 2-3 hours after you have given it a pill. Vaccination should be done after the worms have been expelled.
For puppies, Drontal Junior is considered a good remedy - a suspension specifically for such babies. It should be administered with a dispenser or with food. It is sweet, so puppies usually like it. The frequency of administration is 2, 4, 8 weeks and 4 and 6 months.
Caniquantel Plus – can be used in puppies of large breed dogs weighing more than one and a half kilograms. It is enough to give the puppy a quarter of a tablet. After two weeks, the expulsion of worms should be repeated.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Worming tablets for dogs" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.