Caring for your dog isn’t limited to feeding, grooming, and walks to the grocery store. It can also involve a lot of trips to the vet and administering precautionary care, including the best dog dewormers. There are hundreds of dewormers on the market, all with different features and dosages.
But which ones are the best?
This guide provides you with exclusive information on how to choose the best dog dewormer for your pet, as well as our top five picks.
In A Hurry? Here Are Our Top Picks…
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Best Dewormers on the Market
We’ve put together a list of the five best dog dewormers to help guide your decision. You can rest assured of their convenience and effectiveness for your furry family member.
See our top picks below!
1. Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer
- 5-count bottle of tapeworm dewormer for dogs
- Easy, effective way to remove common tapeworms from dogs
- Tablets may be crumbled and mixed with food or taken by mouth
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Does your pet suffer from a tapeworm infection? Do you notice irregularities in your dog’s behavior, such as vomiting and diarrhea? The Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer is an easy solution, and you can buy it over-the-counter without a prescription.
This product comes in tablet-form and is effective in treating your beloved canine and freeing them of common tapeworms. It’s recommended for use in dogs that are at least 4 weeks old.
You won’t have to fear the difficult process of administering medicine, as this dewormer can simply be crushed into your dog’s food or taken by mouth. One treatment is all that’s needed for each deworming treatment cycle.
The dosage, however, depends on the weight of your dog:
- 1/2 tablet for dogs up to 5 pounds
- 1 tablet for dogs 6-10 pounds
- 1½ tablets for dogs 11-15 pounds
- 2 tablets for dogs 16-30 pounds
- 3 tablets for dogs 31-45 pounds
- 4 tablets for dogs 46-60 pounds
- 5 tablets (which is the maximum to be administered at any one time) for dogs over 60 pounds
Specifications
- Presentation: 5 tablets – each containing 34mg praziquantel
- Product Dimensions: 3.25 x 2 x 2 inches, 0.88 ounces
- Manufacturer: Bayer Animal Health – Pets
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easily administered tablets
- Convenient, one-time single dosage
- Can be crushed and mixed with food
- No prescription needed
- An Amazon’s Choice product
Cons
- Used only for tapeworm treatment; not a broad-spectrum dewormer
- Not suitable for puppies under 4 weeks of age
2. Panacur C Canine Dewormer
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Considering the variety of worms that your dog can pick up while playing out in the mud or at a public park, having a dewormer that’s effective in the treatment of more than one type of worm can be a huge relief. This dewormer by Panacur C takes care of four types of worms: tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.
As long as your pet is at least six weeks old, this is a go-to dewormer.
Administering the treatment doesn’t have to cause you grief either, as it comes in a powdered form that you can simply mix in your pet’s food. The Panacur C dewormer comes in 1-gram, 2-gram, or 4-gram packets that are given once daily for three consecutive days.
Like most dewormers, the dosage is weight-dependent. You’ll find this guide in the medication’s packaging when you make a purchase.
Specifications
- Presentation: 3 2-gram packets
- Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 3.5 x 0.6 inches, 0.63 ounces
- Manufacturer: Panacur C
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Useful for the treatment of a variety of worms
- Broad-spectrum, useful for other parasites too
- Easy administration, sprinkle on food or treats
- Can be used to treat pregnant dogs
Cons
- Requires dedication to daily administration for 3 consecutive days
- Not suitable for dogs under 6 weeks old
3. Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer
- Mix the daily dose with a small amount of your dog’s usual food. Your dog should eat all of the medicated food. If feeding dry dog food, it may need to be moistened to aid mixing
- Repeat the daily dose for 3 days in a row (each packet is a daily dose depending on your dog's size)
- If dog's weight is in-between suggested dosing sizes, it's safe to use the next higher size. For example a a 15lb dog should be treated with the 2gm packet
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Once again, we have ourselves a broad-spectrum dewormer that safeguards your dog against common worms. The Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer contains one main component (fenbendazole) that has proven effective in the treatment of tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, and is absolutely safe for dogs that are at least six weeks old, including pregnant adults.
Most medications usually involve a sensitivity to health conditions such as pregnancy, but not this one. Note that the product also contains just one active ingredient, alleviating concerns about your dog ingesting numerous chemical compounds through medicine.
The Safe-Guard dewormer comes in powdered form and can easily be mixed with your dog’s food or treats, so you can expect ease of administration. The treatment lasts for three successive days and the dosage is weight-dependent, as with many other dewormers (22.7 miligrams per pound).
There have been reported adverse reactions (vomiting) to the medicine in 1% of dogs, but this does not discredit the benefits of the drug overall. The dewormer is not known to interact with other drugs, but talk to your vet if you have any concerns before administering it.
Specifications
- Presentation: 3 2-gram pouches
- Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.5 x 5.5 inches, 0.07 ounces
- Manufacturer: Safe-Guard
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One of the least expensive dewormers
- A broad-spectrum dewormer
- Easy to administer packets
- Proven to be safe for dogs, even pregnant ones
Cons
- Requires dedication to daily administration for 3 consecutive days
- More than one packet may be required for larger dogs
4. Durvet 2X Liquid Wormer for Puppies and Adult Dogs
- prevents reinfestation
- controls both hookworms and large roundworms
- palatable flavor that dogs love
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dogs are sure to pick up parasites while playing outdoors, and oftentimes there can be a re-infestation even after the initial parasites have been dealt with. This dewormer by Durvet could be considered another silver bullet for your dog’s worm and gastrointestinal parasite problems.
One thing we absolutely love about the Durvet 2X Liquid Wormer is that it prevents re-infestation of any parasite of the helminths category.
What does this mean?
Simply, it kills roundworms, hookworms, and other kinds of parasitic worms that often take refuge in your pets’ small and large intestines, causing weight loss, loss of energy, and other related digestive issues.
The liquid dewormer is very easy to administer, and best of all, your pet will have no problems with its flavor whatsoever. It comes in liquid form, so your dog can either lick it from a spoon, from his bowl, or you can blend it in with a small meal.
This dewormer is suitable for puppies, as well as small and large dogs. All you have to do is give your dog approximately one teaspoonful (about 5 mL) per 10 pounds of their body weight. If your dog is very large, one 2-ounce bottle is enough to treat a 120-pound dog.
Since this dewormer comes in liquid form, directions should be followed carefully to receive the best effects. Puppies should receive a dose once a week every two weeks until they reach 10 weeks of age, but adult dogs will generally only require one dose.
Specifications
- Presentation: 2-ounce bottle of liquid
- Product Dimensions: 3.25 x 2 x 2 inches; 2 ounces
- Manufacturer: Durvet
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Suitable for puppies and adult dogs, even pregnant ones
- Prevents reinfestation
- A broad-spectrum dewormer; treats a variety of parasites all at once
- Only one dosage required for adult dogs
Cons
- Comes in liquid form, so accurate measurement is required
- May worsen diarrhea in some dogs
5. PetArmor 7-Way Dewormer for Small Dogs and Puppies
- Dewormer for Dogs: PetArmor 7 Way Chewable De-Wormer for dogs treats and controls 7 species of worms: 2 types of tapeworms, 2 types of roundworms, and 3 types of hookworms
- Vet Quality: These vet-quality tablets are safe for puppies 12 weeks or older, and small dogs 6.0 to 25 lbs
- Dewormer Tablets: PetArmor broad spectrum dewormer comes in chewable tablets, making it easy and convenient to give to your dog
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You’re probably wondering if there’s a dewormer out there that treats an even greater number of worm species.
Wonder no more!
The PetArmor 7-Way Dewormer treats seven species of worm: two tapeworm strains, two roundworm strains, and three hookworm strains. This product comes highly-recommended and is great for small-sized dogs that weigh between 6 to 25 pounds and are older than 12 weeks.
As if being broad-spectrum isn’t enough, the treatment consists of two flavored chewable tablets that can be administered in just one day, making it unnecessary to think of creative ways to mask the drug’s taste to ensure that your dog takes it. Just pay attention and ensure it’s all gobbled up.
We know our dogs can sometimes be a little bit dramatic, refusing to chew the tablets on their own. That’s okay, you can just crush the tablets and mix them with their food or treats and your dog will soon be worm-free!
Specifications
- Presentation: 2 chewable flavoured tablets
- Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 3.75 x 5 inches; 0.49 ounces
- Manufacturer: Sergeants Pet Care Products
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Presented as good-tasting flavored tablets that your dog can chew
- Easy to administer and can be mixed into food
- Convenient single dosage of one or two tablets, depending on the size of the dog
- An Amazon’s Choice product
Cons
- Not suitable for dogs younger than 12 weeks
- Not suitable for dogs larger than 25 pounds
Buyer’s Guide for Dog Dewormers
How often do you deworm your furry friend? Are you aware that every trip to the park and back, as healthy an activity as it may be, exposes your dog to a lot of different possible hazards, and your pet may pick up lots of unsanitary things that can cause severe health problems?
Tapeworms are one of the most common types of worms that affect dogs and are usually transmitted through fleas, which may get ingested by the dog. Tapeworm infections can be recognized through their symptoms, some of which are diarrhea and dragging of the dog’s behind on the floor due to discomfort.
Realizing your dog has worms can be downright scary for some owners, but getting rid of these worms does not have to be equally stressful. In the interest of keeping your fur babies safe and happy, the dog dewormer you choose should take into consideration some vital points.
An effective and practical dewormer should meet the following conditions.
Treatment of the most common worms
Dogs are mostly affected by tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. You may be able to tell that your dog has worms on your own, or your veterinarian may have to make this diagnosis for you. Upon confirmation of what type of infection your dog has, buy a dewormer that treats that specific worm.
Ease of administration
As the sole caretaker to your dog, you’ll likely be faced with situations where you need to administer medication to make your dog better. The deworming options presented here take into account treatment choices that can be handled at home and with ease.
For instance, not many dog owners would be comfortable with having to administer injectables to their dog, either due to a lack of the proper skills, or even fear of the emotions that may accompany pricking their own pet. The treatments mentioned in this guide are all convenient and suitable for the home front.
Affordability
The deworming options listed above present the best bang for the buck, and buyers will be pleased about not having to spend so much money on deworming and vet costs when these easy and affordable solutions are on the table.
Suitability
Dewormers are usually produced with some guidelines regarding age-specificity and weight-dependency. The options presented in this guide cater to both young and old dogs, even including pregnant ones, but make sure you read the product descriptions for the correct dosing procedures.
Conclusion
Want to play assistant vet? While we definitely don’t recommend that you take your dog’s health lightly, we can help you safely treat your dog on your own using this guide to the best dog dewormers. We are confident in the products we’ve chosen, and we hope that you now feel able to make the right choice for your pet.
Note that deworming your dog also protects you from getting infected as well, so we hope to have set you on the path towards a healthy friendship with your furry companion!
