Deworming Cats and Dogs: Methods and Schedule

1 Common Parasites

Roundworm: from undercooked infected food, fecal-oral contact with contaminated soil, or tap water carrying eggs. Zoonotic. Signs include diarrhea, vomiting, blood in stool, a swollen belly, poor appetite, and intestinal blockage.

Tapeworm: from undercooked meat or infected fleas. Zoonotic. Signs are abdominal pain, diarrhea, colitis, vomiting, indigestion, perianal discomfort, and obstruction.

Hookworm: undercooked food, infected larvae via cockroaches or rats, or larvae penetrating the skin. Zoonotic and mainly hits mother cats. Signs are mainly anemia, local skin bleeding, poor appetite, and diarrhea.

Trichomonas: undercooked food or tap water with eggs. Zoonotic. Signs are lethargy, soft stool or diarrhea, and blood.

Coccidia: mother-to-kitten infection or undercooked food. Zoonotic. Signs are blood in stool, anemia, poor nutrition, and dehydration.

Heartworm: spread by mosquitoes. Zoonotic. Signs are coughing, difficulty breathing, asthma-like signs, vomiting, and poor appetite.

2 Deworming Schedule

Regular deworming is essential — ideally treat both internal and external parasites each time, on a monthly schedule. Once a kitten or puppy is about one month old, you can begin internal and external deworming.