Deworming schedule for puppies and kittens

Puppies and kittens should be dewormed every 2 weeks, starting at 2 weeks old for puppies and 2 to 3 weeks old for kittens, until about 8 weeks old (or 2 weeks after weaning). After that they move to monthly deworming, or a monthly year-round parasite product, until at least 6 months old. The mother should be treated at the same time as her litter.

Almost every puppy and kitten is born with, or quickly picks up, intestinal worms from its mother. That is why deworming starts so early and runs on a schedule rather than waiting for signs. Here is the plan by age, and what to watch for.

Why puppies and kittens get worms so young

Roundworms are the main reason for the early schedule, and they reach young animals in different ways:

• Puppies can be infected before birth: the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) notes that the dog roundworm passes directly from mother to puppies through the placenta, and also through milk.
• Kittens are not infected before birth. They pick up roundworms through their mother’s milk, which is why European guidelines start kittens at 3 weeks rather than 2.
• Hookworms can also infect puppies and kittens young and, in heavy numbers, cause serious blood loss.

Treating every 2 weeks matches the worms’ life cycle: each dose clears the worms that have matured since the last one, before they can lay eggs.

Deworming schedule by age

Two major expert groups publish schedules: CAPC in North America and ESCCAP in Europe and the UK. They differ in the details but agree on the shape.

Puppies

Kittens

The mother counts too. Both CAPC and ESCCAP advise treating a nursing dog or cat at the same time as her puppies or kittens, since she can keep passing worms to them.

If you got your puppy or kitten from a breeder or rescue, ask for the dates and product names of every dose already given, and bring them to the first vet visit. Your vet will pick up where they left off and choose a product suited to your pet’s age and weight. Use only products your vet recommends at the dose for your pet’s current weight; young animals change weight band fast, so weigh before each dose.

Stool tests

Deworming doesn’t catch everything: some parasites, such as giardia and coccidia, need their own tests and treatment. CAPC recommends a stool (faecal) test at least four times in the first year of life, then at least twice a year for healthy adults. Bring a fresh sample to the first vet visits.

Signs of worms in puppies and kittens

Many infected puppies and kittens look perfectly healthy, which is exactly why the schedule matters. When there are signs, they can include:

• A pot-bellied look, especially with thin ribs and spine
• Poor growth or weight gain compared with littermates
• A dull, rough coat
• Diarrhoea, sometimes mild and on and off
• Worms in vomit or poo: roundworms look like strands of spaghetti
• Small, rice-like segments around the bottom or in bedding, a sign of tapeworm

Call your vet the same day if a puppy or kitten has pale gums, weakness, bloody or black diarrhoea, repeated vomiting, or stops eating. Young animals become dehydrated and anaemic quickly, and heavy hookworm infections in particular can be life-threatening.

Tapeworm comes from fleas

The most common tapeworm in dogs and cats is caught by swallowing an infected flea while grooming. CAPC lists it among the problems fleas cause. Routine roundworm treatments don’t always cover tapeworm, and deworming alone won’t stop it coming back if fleas are still around. Keep every pet in the home on flea prevention: see flea and tick prevention for dogs.

Why it matters for your family

Some pet worms can infect people. Roundworm eggs passed in poo become infective in the environment and, according to CAPC, can survive for years in soil and sand. If a child swallows them, the larvae can migrate through the body and, rarely, damage the eyes or organs.

Simple habits keep the risk low:

• Keep to the deworming schedule.
• Pick up poo promptly, in the garden and on walks, and scoop litter trays daily.
• Wash hands after handling poo, litter or soil, and after playing with a new puppy or kitten, especially children.
• Cover sandpits so cats can’t use them as litter boxes.

After 6 months: the adult routine

Adult worming depends on lifestyle and where you live. ESCCAP advises deworming adult dogs and cats at least four times a year when the risk is unknown, and monthly for high-risk pets, such as dogs that scavenge or cats that hunt. CAPC favours a year-round, broad-spectrum monthly product (often combined with heartworm prevention; see heartworm prevention for dogs) plus stool tests twice a year. Your vet will tell you which fits your pet.

Keeping count

Every two weeks, then every month, alongside vaccines, meals and house training: the early months come with a lot of dates. Write each dose and product down, or let an app keep count: PetTrackr puts each worming dose on your puppy or kitten’s daily plan and reminds you when the next one is due. The new puppy checklist and new kitten checklist cover everything else for the first weeks.