How Long Will It Take for Worms to Leave My Dog?

One of the most prominent things you’ll learn about when it comes to your dog’s health is deworming him.

It’s probably the first thing a vet will explain to you right after telling you about vaccinations. That’s how essential it is!

Worms are very common for your dogs to get, and it isn’t anything to worry about given the amount of effective deworming options there are.

And you’ve picked one that’s right for your dog, but how long will it take for the worms to leave him?

Let’s find out…

How Long Do Deworming Tablets Take to Work?

Intestinal worm treatments usually come in oral tablet form and are very effective in that they work very fast and you’ll start seeing results almost immediately.

The deworming process starts about 2 to 6 hours after administering the tablets, and that’s when the treatment will start to kill the worms (depending on which treatment you’ve chosen).

You might even notice your dog has already started to pass the worms at around that time. They might even be live – this is completely normal!

As you give your dog the worming treatment, be prepared he might spit it out or even vomit it a couple of hours later. This is something you’ll have to monitor him for the first few hours after giving him the treatment.

It helps to hide the tablet into a treat as a disguise if your dog is fussy about oral medication. This will make him less likely to spit it out!

After a Few Days

Although the treatment works immediately and gives you results the very same day it’s administered, it can take from a few days to up to two weeks for your pooch to be completely worm-free.

This is because it depends on the type of worms your dog has.

As we’ve explained, seeing live worms in your dog’s stool is normal. You actually want that because it means the parasites will leave his body entirely.

But sometimes, worms such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms are paralyzed and killed instead – depending on the treatment your dog has gotten. This might mean you don’t have to see them in stool.

They’re sometimes even too small to notice in your dog’s poop.

Moreover, also depending on the treatment, tapeworms are broken into smaller segments after being killed. Again, this lowers the chances of them being present live in your pooch’s stool.

But altogether, even if it’s been a few days after your dog’s treatments, seeing live worms as they pass stool is normal.

Sometimes a dog would even get diarrhea as they digest the dead worms.

If your dog is still a puppy, there might be a specific worming schedule for him that you have to follow that includes being treated over a couple of weeks, depending on the type of worm and treatment used.

Deworming Schedule

Usually, a puppy deworming schedule starts with your puppy receiving their first treatment two to three weeks before they are weaned.

They should then be given the deworming treatment two weeks later and every two weeks until your puppy is eight weeks old.

This is because, according to WebMD, the first dose kills off the worms in the intestines but leaves out any eggs.

The second dose then ensures that any worms that have hatched since then are killed off.

Your puppy should then be dewormed again at 12 weeks old, and then every month until he is 6 months old.

This, of course, should take into account a vet consultation beforehand!

How Can I Tell If the Wormer is Working?

Signs of a dog with worms could include a pot belly, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, and lethargy.

Your dog might look and act fine, but you could find a lot of worms in their stool or around their anus.

After you’ve treated your dog for worms, you should notice a significant and overall improvement to the health and physical appearance of your dog.

If you notice your dog is still bloated, dehydrated, lethargic, or suffers from a loss of appetite, you might want to check in with his vet.

We’ve talked about live worms in stool being normal post-worming, but if they’re still bright white in color and are moving profusely (as opposed to just a tail flicker), this might mean your puppy has not been dewormed properly.

Tips for Keeping Your Pooch Healthy Post-Worming and Long-Term

There’s a general worming schedule for your puppy or adult dog, but that does not mean they can’t catch worms at any time that would require you to treat them then.

Most dog worming products are great at killing the worms already inside your dog, but they can still get new ones from their environment.

A good suggestion for preventing worm infections is to put them on a monthly schedule, both for prevention and also for treating and controlling an infection that might already be there.

Conclusion

Dog worming treatments are very straightforward.

The best thing about them (after their effectiveness) is that they’ll give you an answer on whether or not your dog is being properly dewormed almost immediately.

It’s important to follow a regular and consistent worming schedule to keep your dog healthy long-term, but it’s also worth taking your little friend for regular vet check-ups to make sure he’s okay.