When to Worm a Dog After Giving Birth

Sometimes referred to as deworming, worming is a term applied to two very similar processes. These processes are either prevention or treatment of parasitical infestations:

• Prevention: certain antiparasitic drugs are given to the dog to repel parasites and prevent an infestation occurring in the first place. It is recommended since dogs can become infected by pathogens provided by the parasites, some of which are difficult to treat or manage.
• Treatment: if a dog has already been infested with a certain parasite, medications are used to kill them. Additional treatment may be required to treat any diseases which have been transmitted by the parasite.

The parasites against which a dog will be wormed can be internal or external. Although we use the term worming, worms are usually only found internally in dogs, often in the gastrointestinal system. External parasites commonly include ticks and fleas, so they are often referred to as flea and tick control. This means different antiparasitic products are used, including tablets, pipettes or even medicated collars.

You are able to deworm a pregnant dog. However, the type of medication which can be used will vary according to the dog's individual needs. Some medications may not be suitable for dogs during their pregnancy. We will need to speak to a veterinarian to determine which treatment is necessary. This is especially the case if the dog has an infestation since doing nothing can put the gestating puppies at risk.

Generally speaking, you can worm a dog when they are nursing puppies after giving birth. The same as deworming a pregnant dog, this will need to be determined by the veterinarian. The type of antiparasitic drug which is used will need to be determined by the veterinarian to ensure it is appropriate for use in lactating dogs. If we decide on our own, there is a possibility we use a product which is harmful to the mother or puppies.

Ideally, your dog should be dewormed before becoming pregnant to avoid any problems during gestation. If this has not been possible for whatever reason, we recommend the following:

• Infestation: if your dog has already been infested by internal or external parasites, you will need to go to a veterinarian immediately. They will be able to assess their specific needs and administer a dynamic treatment which will safeguard mother and puppies.
• Prevention: if you want to protect a dog from possible infestation, your veterinarian will prescribe one of the products we explain in detail below.

It is vitally important to go to a professional as soon as you know or suspect that the pregnant or nursing dog has parasites, whether external or internal. Keep in mind that they could be transmitted to the puppies through the placenta or breast milk, causing serious problems and even fatality. It will be necessary to act quickly if any type of parasite is detected in either the mother or the newborn.

Discover some of the common intestinal parasites in dogs with our related guide.

It is important to recognize whether your pregnant or lactating dog has a parasitic infestation. For external parasites, you may see the parasite walking on or embedded in their coat. You will not be able to see internal parasites in the same way, but you can see physical evidence if there are worms or eggs in their stool.

When we are unable to see the parasite directly, we may be able to suspect the presence of parasites due to the effects it has on the dog's organism. In these cases, we may see the following signs:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Apathy
• Weight loss
• Swollen and hard abdomen

While these symptoms can indicate the presence of parasites, they may also be linked to various other health problems. In these cases, we will need to speak to a veterinarian for diagnosis. These symptoms will also only appear after the infestation has progressed, so it is important we act as quickly as possible.

The answer to when you can deworm a dog after giving birth is at the moment you notice or suspect that she may have a parasitic infestation. In doing so you can stop the infestation developing further, as well as treating any parasitical diseases which may have been transmitted.

Ideally, we will need to go to a veterinarian to determine the best antiparasitic medication to be used in each case. As we have mentioned before, the mother can transmit parasites to the puppies through breast milk, so they will be exposed to continuous transmission of certain parasites.

Parasite prevention and treatment depends on whether they are external or internal:

• External parasites: application of pipettes or collars.
• Internal parasites: quarterly or monthly administration of a combination of praziquantel and another antiparasitic drugs such as febantel or pyrantel. They are usually sold in veterinary clinics or in specialized stores, but remember to always consult a professional before giving to your dog.

If your dogs has an infestation, it is vital they are wormed. This will prevent the parasites passing on to the puppies, as well as any harm they may cause the mother dog.

Some guardians may wonder if they should wait until the puppies are weaned before providing preventive deworming treatment. While both mother and puppies are vulnerable to parasites, it is generally considered best to wait until the puppies are weaned before applying preventive medications such as pipettes. Since the puppies have yet to develop their immune system, these drugs can pose certain risks.

We can better control the dog's environment when they are nursing their puppies. For this reason, we should be able to provide protection against certain parasites. However, if there is an increased risk, preventive deworming treatment may be advisable. This is a risk assessment which should be carried out with your veterinarian.

Discover more about the importance of these treatments with our article explaining why it is necessary to deworm your dog.

There are different types of antiparasitic drugs. These are administered to treat or prevent external parasites such as fleas, lice and ticks and internal parasites such as worms and protozoa. The final decision should always be made by a veterinarian or a similar animal health professional.

Once the appropriate antiparasitic medication has been selected, you may directly administer preventive medication to your dog yourself. Parasitical infestation treatment may need to be administered by the veterinarian, but follow up treatments may be carried out at home.

• For external deworming: pipettes or collars are normally used. To apply pipettes to the dog, the ointment is dropped onto a patch of skin between their shoulder blades. Move the fur aside and apply as much as indicated in the instructions. Rub the area so the medication is spread around better. Learn more about this process with our article on how long after flea treatment can you bathe a dog?
• For internal deworming: tablets are often used to deworm dogs, both internally and externally. Some dogs will not enjoy being fed these tablets. You can try hiding it in a piece of their favorite food before offering it to them. Always making sure that the dog swallows the medicine. Another way could be to crush the tablet, mix it with water and then add the contents to an oral syringe. We can introduce it directly to the dog's mouth.

In the event that puppies are also infested, veterinary treatment is required. Pipettes are generally not used on newborn puppies, but antiparasitic sprays may be offered. This product is applied to your hands and then rubbed against the puppy's body, always following the veterinarian's instructions. It is not recommended to apply any antiparasitic drug to puppies less than a month old. If you have doubts about whether you can use tablets to deworm puppies, it is best to consult your veterinarian.

Learn more about how long after deworming a dog are the worms gone?

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to When to Worm a Dog After Giving Birth, we recommend you visit our De-worming category.