How to Deworm a Dog: Safely & Effectively & Natural Ways (2023)

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Worms or parasites are one of the most common problems in veterinary practice in dogs.

When your furry friend is faced with these worms, it is high time to know how to deworm a dog.

Parasites somehow invade most dogs’ lives. Your vet may suspect worms if your dog is vomiting, coughing, chewing, or licking under his tail, short of breath, or losing weight.

The symptoms and treatments depend on the type of worm and where it lives in your dog’s body.

So, how to get rid of dog worms?

Fortunately, the safest and most effective ways to treat worms in dogs with everyday dog foods.

In this article, we will learn how to deworm a dog naturally, but first, you need to know what kind of worms you are dealing with!

Some of the main types of worms that affect the dog are tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.

Common Types of Dog Worms

These are the most common types of worms dogs get.

1. Hookworms

This common parasite has hook-like teeth, which explains the name. They attach to your dog’s intestinal wall and breed thousands of eggs within a few days. Your dog can easily pick up hookworms by walking through wet grass or contaminated soil.

2. Roundworms

You can see roundworms in your dog’s stool. They are very similar to spaghetti. Your dog may look pot-bellied and feel listless. Sometimes roundworms can cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Roundworms live in the small intestine.

Your dog can take the microscopic eggs from the environment or eat infected animals such as birds or rodents.

3. Tapeworms

Another common worm in dogs, tapeworms, usually infects dogs that swallow fleas or animals and eat rodents. In many cases, tapeworms do not cause serious clinical symptoms but are often diagnosed by finding tapeworm segments in the stool or near the affected dogs’ rectum.

4. Whipworms

Like tapeworms, whipworms can also be found in infected soil life. Your dog can lick the ground or stick his nose in – we’ve seen it all happen. Your dog can also get some soil in his food or water bowls. This worm can lead to severe diarrhea, which is always an indication to call your vet.

5. Coccidia

Coccidia is intestinal parasites that normally overgrow young pups from boarding houses or pet shops and can cause diarrhea to various degrees, often with blood. Coccidia is not as easily seen in adult dogs because they seem to have a more innate immunity to these parasites.

6. Heartworms

You may know the monthly prescription of heartworm pills. These are extremely dangerous if left untreated as they fill your dog’s heart and lungs.

Transmitted by infected mosquitoes, they are quite common, so it’s important to keep your recipe up to date and make sure pets have their monthly dose.

Unlike the other worms described, heartworms are detected through a blood test, which will be necessary before starting a heartworm preventive regimen.

The Most Common Symptoms Of Worms

Identifying worms in dogs is not very difficult; here are some of the most common symptoms:

• Coughing: a very advanced symptom usually caused by hookworm infection
• Vomiting: Most dogs will vomit regularly if they develop an infection, sometimes worms also appear in the vomit
• Diarrhea: Prevalent symptom, sometimes worms also appear in the feces
• Lethargy: also common with a worm infection
• Bloating: This is commonly seen in puppies.
• Change in appetite: also very common, most infected dogs can have a sudden increase in appetite because they actually feed the worms.
• Rapid weight loss: from the worms that steal the dog’s nutrients
• Loss of gloss in their fur
• Itching or skin irritation
• (Scooting) Or a dog dragging his ass on the ground is ubiquitous

How to Get Rid of Dog Worms

There are many options available to help you treat worms in your dog, the most common being tablets and spot-on treatments. Once you have found the best dog dewormer for your dog, you can easily administer it.

Here’s what to expect in the first few hours and days of treatment.

The First Hours After a Deworming Treatment

Many deworming treatments start to work immediately.

If you are using a tablet or a chewable deworming treatment, make sure your dog swallows it completely. Some dogs try to spit out the dewormer immediately or even minutes after you give it. Dogs may occasionally vomit shortly after taking the dose and may bring the tablet back up.

The Deworming Process After a Few Days

Different deworming products work in different ways. You may be surprised to see worms in your dog’s feces after they have been dewormed, but you can bet this is normal. Some dewormers paralyze and kill the worms, which may be visible in your dog’s feces after treatment has started to work. While this can be an unpleasant sight, it is actually a good thing because it means the worms no longer live in your pet!

If you are concerned about any of the symptoms your dog shows after treatment, call your vet.

How to Deworm a Dog Home Remedies: 6 Natural Ways

It’s good to know that there are some natural ways to deworm a puppy that can treat and prevent these pesky parasites in your companion.

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are an extremely effective dewormer because they contain an amino acid called cucurbitacin. This paralyzes the worms, making them easy to remove from the intestine.

They can be fed whole as a treat, or you can grind them into a fine powder and add them to the dog’s food. A teaspoon of raw pumpkin seeds (not the salted savory snacks) per 10 pounds of body weight twice a day should do the trick.

2. Carrots

These common orange vegetables are a great source of Vitamin A, and believe it or not, and they can get rid of worms in our canine companions. Coarsely cut roots will scrape the stomach and intestines’ walls as they are digested, removing mucus and any parasites. Carrots can be fed as a tasty treat or added to a meal; they are completely safe, strengthen the immune system, and are an excellent source of nutrients for your pet.

3. Coconut oil

Dried coconut is a vermifuge, which means it can help remove worms from the body. Sprinkle food and give one teaspoon of coconut oil for coccidia in puppies, two teaspoons for medium dogs, and one tablespoon for large breeds. Coconut oil, if fed regularly, can also rid your dog of internal parasites and has many other health benefits

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

In recent years, we have all become aware of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, but did you know that this fermented apple cider can also work as an effective worm treatment for our four-legged friends. It works because, unlike other vinegar, it increases the alkaline levels in the dog’s intestines, making it inhospitable to parasites and worms. Add 1 / 4-1 teaspoon of raw organic ACV to your dog’s water every day, and you may also notice an improvement in coat condition along with several other health benefits.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric Long is considered a superfood; it has been used for generations to boost the immune system and its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It contains four compounds that can help get rid of worms, and it is also repairing the damage caused by these pesky intestinal parasites, resulting in a healthier gut. Since curcumin in turmeric is difficult for dogs to absorb, we recommend combining it with a healthy oil such as coconut oil to make a paste to feed your pup.

6. Chamomile

Chamomile is known for its calming properties, which means it can help with bloating or inflammation caused by internal parasites, in addition to being able to remove roundworms and whipworms. It works best when given as a tincture that can be bought relatively cheaply online or in health food stores. The recommended dose is 0.25 ml – 0.50 ml per 20 pounds of your dog’s weight and is repeated twice a day for two weeks.

FAQs About Dog Worming

Conclusion

As you can see, it is difficult for your dog to avoid worms completely. The worms tend to live in the dirt or are transmitted by fleas or mosquitos, so your dog is likely to come into contact with them under a variety of conditions, so it is so important to know how to deworm a dog naturally.

To protect your dog and your home, you can wipe your dog’s paws when you enter from walks. Even a quick wipe with a damp cloth can help reduce your dog and your home’s exposure to grubs. Besides, you should always wash your hands thoroughly after petting your dog to avoid handing them over to you.

If your dog shows symptoms of loss of appetite, lethargy, extreme diarrhea, or abdominal distention, make an appointment with your vet. A simple test will tell if dog worms are the problem and what type.