All pets require monthly attention to ensure they remain healthy and well. One top-up is their worm treatment, which will stop any intestinal parasites forming.
Worms can be picked up in various ways and then passed to other animals and pets, so it is crucial to stop them from growing. A wormer will be able to protect your dog at any age and is so easy to administer.
These are the best dog wormers and worming treatments around to stop them in their tracks.
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PDSA Approved
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PDSA Approved
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Best For Puppies
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Best For Puppies
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Best For Pregnant Dogs
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Best For Pregnant Dogs
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These WormScreen Tablets for Dogs are recommended by the PDSA and treats mixed infections of both roundworms and tapeworms.
WormScreen Tablets for Dogs are for oral use only and can be given directly or with food. They’re an Authorised Veterinary Medicine, and the recommendation is 1 tablet per 10kg bodyweight, but the tablets can be split to dose correctly.
These tablets can both cure existing infections or be given every three months to keep the parasites at bay.
The Drontal Tasty Bones are one of the most popular across the UK for canines who are already feeling the effects of internal worms, or for anyone who doesn’t want to risk remembering a monthly treatment.
Available in a pack of 2 or 6, it is a veterinary strength solution for the treatment of round and tapeworms in dogs and puppies. How many you need will depend on the weight of your dog, and for heavy roundworm cases, a repeat dose should be given after 14 days.
They contain Praziquantel, Pyrantel Embonate and Febantel – the active ingredients to fight the parasites – and are beef flavoured. Administered orally, they can be given in treats or in food which is nice and easy.
They’re the strongest tablets available to buy online without a prescription and often recommended by vets in the majority of roundworm cases.
A chocolate flavoured syrup (don’t panic – completely safe) for the effective treatment of roundworms in puppies from 2 weeks old.
Young puppies are born with worms from their mother in milk and close contact, so it is vital they are protected. This is a multi-use pack, so there is enough in there to treat both mothers and their litter in one.
It can also be used on older dogs if they have a bit of an aversion to taking tablets, or you struggle to hide them well. The syrup comes in a pump, so can be given directly in their mouth or mixed with food.
Measuring out servings is a case of just checking their weight. It is a great price to say it can help multiple pets, and they will love the taste so you won’t have any struggles. Puppies should be retreated at 2-week intervals and then every 2-3 months.
Treating or preventing worms in pregnant dogs is a complicated subject. Not all wormers are suitable and using the wrong one could cause many issues.
When dogs are pregnant, a wormer called Fenbendazole must be given daily from day 40 of pregnancy until 2 days after the puppies are born. This should stop the puppies then getting worms.
Panacur granules contain Fenbendazole. There are different sachets available depending on body weight, and they’re easy to mix in to food which is essential given the importance for both mum and babies.
This is a veterinary strength granulate for the treatment of roundworm and tapeworm for dogs of any age.
It contains the all-important Fenbendazole, and a single dose should fight off any existing worms in adult dogs. For those under six months old, a dose over three consecutive days does the trick. It can then be readministered 2 to 4 times per year as natural reinfection with worms can re-occur.
More regular treatment for those in kennels or who live with multiple other animals is advised over every 6 to 8 weekly intervals.
A one-dose tablet which will tackle worms and ensure they are free of them.
Choose from three sizes, depending on the weight of your dog. Then, one tablet should be given whole with about one-fifth of the daily food ration in the morning when the dog’s stomach is empty. The rest of the food should be given in the evening.
It kills both roundworms and tapeworms, and each tablet has the active ingredient of Nitroscanate which is the antiparasitic. You can use it when you suspect your dog has worms or as a preventative every three months or so.
Another vet-strength paste as recommended by professionals and available to buy at a lower cost online.
It can be given for three consecutive days for puppies, or as a single dose for adult dogs. It should be reapplied two to four times per year as per the vets guidelines, and as with all Panacur products, it also works really well at curing existing worms.
The paste comes ready in a syringe so is given orally, a perfect alternative to a tablet or mixing in with food if they can detect medication a mile away. It is tasty (according to Panacur themselves), so dogs should lap it up!
These crunchy little daily treat biscuits are 100% holistic, making them our best natural wormer, and offer all-round intestinal control for a thoroughly healthy dog.
This can be a great option if you would rather give your dog a daily treat which they are unaware actually works to help boost their health. It means you don’t have to buy extra medication or treats for them.
A minimum of two treats per day is appropriate, and most medium dogs will require around four per day.
the daily dose means they are protected all year round as opposed to just one large dose every so often. There are no artificial chemicals either, so the smell is natural and won’t make your hound suspicious.
The only issue is that you must use every day to ensure continued protection, and you should still check regularly for worms and have faeces tested every three months at the vet or via a company to ensure it is working for you.
With ten tablets and dosage of one tablet per 10kg of dog, this is a packet which could see many owners through a years-worth of protection.
It will protect against all of the common forms of tapeworm in the UK: Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia multiceps, Taenia hydatigena, Taenia ovis, Taenia pisiformis, Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum.
As it only does tapeworms, you will have to find another product which also protects against the other common forms. But it can be good if your chosen wormer doesn’t cover tapeworms and you want all-round protection.
Fleas, ticks and worms. The three perils for any dog owner.
Did you know that if your dog has fleas, they will also need to be treated for worms afterwards? So, stopping fleas is actually part of the process of stopping worms, too.
This 3 in 1 can tackle them all at once, so an easy life for you and simple time for the dog. It will also protect against all common intestinal worms found in the British Isles. You get four tablets, and they can be given to all breeds of dogs (and puppies if over 2 weeks old and 3kg in weight), up to 40kg. It will take one tablet per 10kg, so how long the packet lasts will depend.
There are no side effects to report, and the dosage is simple to get right.
Often chewable. Can be given wrapped in meats or cheese, or with food for dogs who aren’t bothered by the extra addition
Usually sprinkled on food or mixed as a liquid and placed with wet food or drink
Often a daily treat, but some can offer lower protection versus tablets and other forms
Can be given directly to the dog’s mouth, placed on a toy or chew to lick off, or in with food or on a treat to consume
Quite rare when referring to worming, but mostly found with spot-on flea treatments which can cover fleas, ticks and worms together
There are some natural treats out there which can protect against general intestinal or internal trouble, although they aren’t a 100% guarantee that your dog won’t develop worms. Natural products don’t need to be tested or approved by vets before going on sale, so it can be a gamble or risk.
There are also a few products out there which can protect against fleas, ticks and worms, although again, you may wish to do all separately to guarantee against infection.
Your vet will talk you through everything, but before choosing a worming treatment, you have to think about:
There are six types of worms which pose a threat to dogs:
But not every type is highly prevalent in the UK. Hookworms, heartworms and whipworms are usually just found abroad, but this could still be important for you to know if you are going travelling with your canine.
Worming treatments may only tackle one worm (usually the most common roundworm). Some may prevent two or more, but they rarely cover all (although this is possible).
If you do want full coverage, you can usually use various worming products to ensure your dog is protected from all forms, but talk to your vet before starting to mix the medication.
You can read our guide to worms in dogs and how to prevent them here.
Most at-home treatments are tri-monthly. They are strong enough to stay in their system for this time, so you don’t need to worry if these are the guidelines on your chosen option.
There are a few exceptions:
It can also depend on the form in which it is administered (some liquids may be monthly for instance), and it can also vary if your dog is pregnant or under a year old. Dogs in multi-pet households and in kennels may need something more frequent too but check with a vet first.
Exact timings will also depend on the brand and your dog breed and size, so always read the information before you use it.
Any missed treatments mean your pup goes unprotected which could be hard to treat, so also try to find a wormer which fits in with your lifestyle. If your dog has recently had fleas, you must usually treat them for worms even if there are no signs.
Not usually. It is a common worry, as it is an internal chemical treatment. But most dogs won’t even have any reaction.
There may be the odd case of sickness and diarrhoea, but this is often because the dosage may have been too strong or it isn’t a format which the dog’s stomach agrees with. This is why it is important to talk to your vet first and get a recommendation based on your dog. Always follow dosage instructions, too.
Most dogs will get worms at some stage in their life, but dog wormer stops the worms developing, growing and therefore becoming dangerous.
It is when the worms grow and stay in your dog for a prolonged time that they become a problem and can be passed on, so while they can’t stop the worms entering the internal system of your dog, they stop them growing and they will eventually disappear.
This is just like fleas – the critters can still land on your dog, but the protection will ensure no further damage is done.
If your dog is infected (or you suspect they are), always see your vet before starting any treatment.
The majority of the tri-monthly tablets and wormers above can cure as well as prevent worms. You may just need to up the frequency of the administration, and keep an eye as the issue progresses.
If the vets do recommend a particular tablet, paste or food supplement, however, buying online is often cheaper!
