Q. At what age should I deworm my puppies?
A. All puppies should be de-wormed starting at 2 weeks of age, and every two weeks until they are about 3 months old. At that time, they should be put on some kind of preventative that will control heartworm, fleas, ticks and worms.
Almost all puppies develop some kind of intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, due to their close confinement and lack of hygiene. The worms are present in their stool, and they re-infect each other when they ingest stool while licking their feet or fur.
The most effective dewormers are prescription strength, and are only available from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian should consider dispensing enough doses so you can deworm your puppies at home, and only come in for scheduled exams and vaccinations. Your veterinarian may also want a stool sample to make sure the medication is working as intended.
Best,
Jon Geller, DVM
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