Micheal Said:

Is it safe to give a dog worm medicine if you're not positive he has worms?

We Answered:

you should never give OTC wormers. they are all poisons & you can be treating for something the dog doesn't have & NOT treating for what it does.

sudden weight loss is always cause for concern & an immediate trip to the vet

Stephanie Said:

after my first 6 month cycle of dog worm medicine ends. how long before I start another cycle.?

We Answered:

If you are asking about heartworm medicine you need to give one tablet per month every month so you will need to get more pills from the vet.
You need to give it every month all the time and not take a break from it as if the dog gets bit by a mosquitoe it can get heartworm.

Milton Said:

How often should you give your dog worm medicine?

We Answered:

YES you should be.

read the instructions - you need to give it to him every 1 month, 3 month or 6 months for his entire life - it depends on what type you use.

you should also be using flea/tick treatment monthly like Frontline.
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Troy Said:

Is it too late to give my dog worm medicine at 6 weeks old?

We Answered:

Before worming him yourself you need to take him to the vet. He could have any number of parasites or, with the vomiting, parvo which is a deadly virus for puppies.

Frances Said:

What is a good brand of over the counter dog worm medicine that works?

We Answered:

Actually there are many. Brandnames are not important, but active ingredients are important.
Two of the most common ingredients and most effective ones are Fenbendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate.

If you are not sure of what worms or if the dog hasn't been regularly wormed then Fenbendazole is the chemical you would choose first. It is sold under a few brandnames, one of them is panacur. If you can't find that, then just be sure to read all the labels under ingredients. Fenbendazole kills worms in the gut and migrating larvae including tape worms. Many vets give Fenbendazole in a three day round, others only do it once. You can make your own decision on that.

The second common wormer ingredient is Pyrantel Pamoate. It kills strongids in the gut. It is also sold under many brandnames. It doesn't kill as many types of worms, but is safe for young puppies and expectant females. It will kill hookworms and roundworms.

Just read the labels under ingredients. You might have better luck finding a good wormer at a farm supply store rather than a department store, but they are available in both places. Dogs should be wormed once a month. The Heartguard you get from the vet has two types of wormers in it, one of them is pyrantel.

Of course if you still see the dog passing worms after using these, you would need to talk to the vet about a round of ivermectin. That is more difficult to dose, so you will need dosing advice. But, Yes, it is certainly possible to safely worm your dog with OTC full spectrum wormers.

Someone mentioned praziquantal. That is used for tapeworms, but not others. It is a bit more expensive. If the dog has fleas or had them, then I would use Fenbendazole first. You can do it for three consecutive days, and it will kill tapeworms in the three day cycle. It's cheaper, and has the advantage of being a wider spectrum wormer.

Johnnie Said:

if my dog vomits her worm medicine should I give her another dose right away?

We Answered:

If she vomited it right up, another dose won't be an overdose. But, maybe you need to mix the powder ( I'm hoping it's fenbendazol by Safeguard or Panacur) with canned food instead of water...

Or you could mix it with honey, or Nutrical, or peanut butter and just stick it on the roof of her mouth.

OR you can get your vet to prescribe Advantage Multi for her, that will worm her, as well as killing her fleas, mites, lice and ticks for a month. It's drops on the shoulders, so no worries about throwing it up.

Good luck with your little girl :) Be sure to worm her every 2 weeks for at least 3 months, with wide spectrum wormers to be sure she's clean and they don't come back from eggs.

Elizabeth Said:

what age can you give a dog tape worm medicine?

We Answered:

First, yes it's old enough. does your dog show any signs of tapeworms or any other type of worm or parasite? has it recently been infested with fleas? if you answer no to both questions, then don't give to your dog as it causes the dog to have an upset stomach and is unnecessary. Signs of tapeworms- small white or yellowish things that resemble grains of rice around the dogs anus (butthole) and/or in their bedding. these are not the worms itself, but egg sacks.... sorry, i'm typing with one hand as i have burnt 3 of my fingers on the other hand.