The iv best dog dewormers and parasite prevention medicines in 2021

This article was medically reviewed by Karie Johnson, DVM, veterinarian and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit, a mobile vet service in the s suburbs of Chicago.

Best dog dewormers in 2021

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  • Here are the best dog dewormers and parasite preventives in 2021
  • The best broad-spectrum dewormer for dogs
  • The best tapeworm dewormer for dogs
  • The best oral parasite preventive for dogs
  • The best topical parasite preventive for dogs
  • How nosotros selected products
  • What else nosotros considered
  • Types of worms and their signs and symptoms
  • What you should know virtually parasite prevention for dogs
  • Expert sources

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Intestinal parasites, frequently chosen worms, are microscopic organisms that live inside your domestic dog, where they silently crusade harm. Mutual intestinal parasites in dogs include roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. Some worms, similar roundworms and hookworms, tin can take up residence in humans, besides.

If your dog has worms, you need to eradicate them quickly and prevent them from returning. Deworming medications kill the parasites your dog already has, and intestinal parasite preventives, most of which are given monthly, preclude futurity worm infections. Some products likewise impale fleas, ticks, and heartworms.

Choosing among the many rubber and constructive parasite preventives for dogs can be difficult. After speaking to veterinarians, we chose products based on safety, efficacy, number of parasites targeted, and products' ease of apply. Read more than about how we selected products at the end of this guide.

Unlike drugs kill different worms, then you must ever visit your veterinary for a fecal exam before giving your canis familiaris a dewormer. Your veterinarian can advise you lot on what product might be best depending on your dog's temperament and lifestyle and the parasites that are well-nigh prevalent in your expanse. Many of these treatments also require a prescription from your veterinary. Acquire more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches products.

Here are the best domestic dog dewormers and parasite preventives in 2021

Best wide-spectrum dewormer for dogs: Drontal Plus Gustation Tab, $10.99 from Chewy
No other dog dewormer kills as many different types of worms as Drontal Plus.

Best tapeworm dewormer for dogs : Droncit Tablets, $v.49 from Chewy
A single dose of Droncit safely and rapidly kills tapeworms inside 24 hours.

Best oral parasite preventive for dogs: Trifexis, $120.49 from Chewy
Trifexis treats and controls 3 mutual intestinal parasites, kills adult fleas, and prevents heartworm infection with just one monthly chewable pill.

Best topical parasite preventive for dogs: Reward Multi for Dogs, $113.15 from Chewy
With just ane elementary monthly application, Advantage Multi for Dogs treats, controls, and prevents more parasites than whatever other topical product.

The best wide-spectrum dewormer for dogs

Chewy

No other dog dewormer kills equally many dissimilar types of worms as Drontal Plus.

Pros: Veterinarian recommended, kills four types of worms, safe and reliable, kills all parasites inside seven days, low take a chance for side effects

Cons: Not for puppies younger than 3 weeks old or those weighing less than 2 pounds

Drontal Plus is a safe and effective broad-spectrum dewormer that eliminates multiple types of parasites with i dose. It kills tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms within 7 days. Just offer the Drontal Plus Taste Tab flavored chewable tablet to your dog lone or with a minor amount of food.

Drontal Plus features three powerful active ingredients: pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, and febantel, which together encompass four species of tapeworms, ii species of hookworms, ii species of roundworms, and whipworms.

The dewormer has a very low take chances for side effects and is safe for puppies as young as 3 weeks old and weighing at to the lowest degree 2 pounds. It requires a prescription from your veterinary, and a vet visit is also of import because your dog may accept other parasites that even a broad-spectrum dewormer can't eliminate.

When using a broad-spectrum dewormer like Drontal Plus, your dog may require one or more follow-upwards treatments to brand sure all the worms are eliminated. If your dog has fleas, they should as well be treated with a flea control product to prevent future tapeworm infections.

The best tapeworm dewormer for dogs

Chewy

A unmarried dose of Droncit safely and quickly kills tapeworms within 24 hours.

Pros: Kills four species of tapeworms, works within 24 hours, easy-to-administer tablet, long-trusted brand, affordably priced per pill

Cons: Some dogs may experience salivation, airsickness, or diarrhea after taking; not for puppies less than 4 weeks old

I Droncit tablet works to paralyze and eliminate the four most common species of tapeworms within 24 hours. Its active ingredient, praziquantel, is constructive and safe for adult dogs and puppies four weeks of age and older. The tablet can exist fed whole or crumbled and mixed with food.

The treatment is conveniently and affordably sold per pill, unlike the other tapeworm dewormer we considered, Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer, which contains the same active ingredient praziquantel but is only sold in a five-pack.

Dogs commonly become infected with tapeworms by ingesting fleas. For this reason, it'south important to care for your canis familiaris for fleas to prevent future infections.

The best oral parasite preventive for dogs

Chewy

Trifexis treats and controls three common intestinal parasites, kills adult fleas, and prevents heartworm infection with only one monthly chewable pill.

Pros: Protects against iii intestinal parasites, heartworms, and adult fleas; in one case-monthly handling; safe for dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older weighing at least 5 pounds; tablet is easy to administer

Cons: Does not impale or care for tapeworms, not labeled for use in puppies younger than viii weeks or weighing less than 5 pounds

Our pick for all-time oral parasite preventive for dogs is Trifexis, a chewable tablet that treats and controls hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. It also kills developed fleas and prevents heartworm.

Given once every 30 days, Trifexis uses spinosad and milbemycin oxime to prevent, treat, and control parasites. While information technology does not kill or treat tapeworms, it kills developed fleas, which are responsible for transmitting the parasite. The beef-flavored flavored chewable tablet should be given with food for maximum effectiveness.

Trifexis is safety for puppies every bit young as 8 weeks old and weighing at to the lowest degree 5 pounds. However, puppies less than 14 weeks of age might experience a higher rate of airsickness than older dogs. This parasite preventive requires a prescription from your veterinarian besides as a current negative heartworm test. It should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or breeding females.

The best topical parasite preventive for dogs

Chewy

With only ane simple monthly awarding, Advantage Multi for Dogs treats, controls, and prevents more parasites than whatsoever other topical product.

Pros: Kills and prevents six types of parasites, once-monthly treatment, easy to administer, safe for apply in puppies older than 7 weeks and weighing at least 3 pounds

Cons: Does not impale ticks; not labeled for use in puppies younger than seven weeks or breeding, pregnant, or nursing dogs

No single preventive covers every parasite that could impairment your dog, but Reward Multi comes shut. Containing the active ingredients imidacloprid and moxidectin, the topical treatment prevents 3 common intestinal parasites: roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. It also prevents flea infestations by killing adult fleas before they tin can lay eggs and prevents heartworm and mange mites.

Choosing between an oral or topical parasite production can be a tough conclusion. Sometimes dogs do better with 1 versus the other. "Some animals can't tolerate or take a food allergy to an oral product so they must employ a topical," said veterinarian Melissa Smits, a partner at Fort Morgan Veterinary Dispensary in Colorado. "Or their skin may exist sensitive to a topical so an oral is amend." If there are no tolerance problems, it unremarkably comes downward to owner preference.

Advantage Multi is easy to use: Just apply it every thirty days to your domestic dog'south skin at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades. The liquid medication is absorbed and dries within hours. Unlike with some of the other topical preventives, y'all do not need to wear gloves to employ Advantage Multi. If you get the product on your easily, simply wash them with soap and water. For the offset 30 minutes after awarding, go along dogs from licking the application site, either on themselves or other treated dogs in the house. Children should not affect the application site for two hours afterwards application.

You must obtain a prescription from your veterinarian to purchase Advantage Multi. Equally with all medications that prevent heartworm, your dog needs a heartworm test prior starting Reward Multi and annually thereafter.

How we selected products

While researching and writing this guide, I drew from my 8 years of experience as an assistant in veterinary hospitals and two decades of feel equally a writer and editor in the pet and veterinary fields. I conducted enquiry using the quick product reference guide published past the independent, nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Quango. This helpful reference, which includes all FDA- and EPA-approved parasite control products for small animals, lists each product's active ingredients, how the product is used, and which parasites information technology controls.

Here are the main attributes I looked for:

  • Safety and efficacy: Only FDA-approved products were considered for this guide.
  • Number of parasites treated: In full general, products that covered more parasites received higher ratings. This did not apply to tapeworm dewormers, which are only intended to treat i parasite.
  • Ease of use: Products received lower ratings if they were more complicated to use than a similar product. An example: Lower ratings were given if gloves must be worn to apply the production or if children and pets need to be kept away from the treated creature for a period of time after awarding.
  • Minimum age/weight: When comparing similar products, college ratings went to preventives that can exist used in younger animals.

What else we considered

  • Bayer Tapeworm Canis familiaris Dewormer: This production contains the same active ingredient (praziquantel) equally our top option for tapeworms, Droncit, merely it's but sold in a 5-pack dissimilar Droncit which is affordably priced per pill.
  • Heartgard Plus: Given monthly, Heartgard Plus (ivermectin and pyrantel) treats and controls heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms. Our peak pick for all-time oral preventive, Trifexis, is constructive against an additional parasite: adult fleas, which are also responsible for transmitting tapeworm. Heartgard requires a prescription from your veterinarian and a current negative heartworm exam.
  • Interceptor Plus: Given monthly, Interceptor Plus (milbemycin oxime and praziquantel) treats and controls roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms and also prevents heartworms. Trifexis beat out Interceptor Plus because it kills adult fleas in addition to preventing three common intestinal parasites and heartworm. Although Trifexis doesn't prevent tapeworms, information technology kills fleas, which transmit tapeworms. Interceptor Plus requires a prescription from your veterinarian and a current negative heartworm exam.
  • Iverhart Max Soft Chews: Given monthly, Iverhart Max treats and prevents heartworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms. Information technology does not forbid whipworms or impale fleas like Trifexis. Iverhart Max requires a prescription from your veterinarian and a electric current negative heartworm exam.
  • Sentinel Spectrum: Given monthly, Sentinel Spectrum treats and controls tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, heartworm, flea larvae, and flea eggs — well-nigh as many parasites as our category winner Trifexis. Trifexis doesn't preclude tapeworms, but we gave it a slight edge because it kills developed fleas, which transmit tapeworms. Lookout man Spectrum requires a prescription from your veterinarian and a current negative heartworm exam.
  • Simparica Trio: Simparica Trio treats, controls, and prevents more parasites than any other oral product, including developed fleas, flea larvae, ticks, heartworm, hookworms, roundworms, mange mite, and chewing lice. However, because intestinal parasites are the primary consideration in this guide, Trifexis gets the nod for preventing three intestinal parasites compared to Simparica Trio's ii. Simparica Trio requires a prescription from your veterinarian and a electric current negative heartworm exam.

Types of worms and their signs and symptoms

Christiane Bongertz/EyeEm/Getty Images

Most dogs will contract abdominal parasites at some point in their lives. Some of the most common worms seen in dogs are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. In adult dogs, parasite infestations may cause mild to moderate digestive symptoms similar vomiting, diarrhea, and gas. However, heavy infestations, especially in young puppies, can lead to astringent issues.

"They tin cause intestinal bug, malnutrition, anemia, growth issues in puppies, and even potential autoimmune issues," Smits said. "Also important is the zoonotic run a risk — potential spread to human family members."

  • Roundworms: These parasites are mutual in dogs, particularly puppies, and are 3- to 6-inches long, shine, and round-bodied. You might non know your dog has roundworms, particularly if they have only a few. In puppies, large numbers of worms may cause a pot-bellied appearance, airsickness, diarrhea, low ambition, irksome coat, and restricted growth. You might also encounter roundworms in your dog'due south stool or vomit. Roundworms are zoonotic, which means they can be spread to human family members.
  • Tapeworms: Dogs pick upwardly tapeworms when they ingest an infected adult flea. Equally the tapeworm grows, segments interruption off and pass in your domestic dog's stool. If you see something in your dog'due south feces that resembles grains of white rice, or yous detect them licking or biting the surface area under their tail, they could have a tapeworm infestation.
  • Hookworms: Hookworms are blood-sucking parasites that attach to the wall of the intestines. These tiny worms are nearly invisible without the assistance of a microscope. Signs of hookworm infection in dogs include anemia, weight loss, bloody diarrhea, boring coat, and growth brake. Hookworms are zoonotic so they can exist spread to homo family members.
  • Whipworms: Whipworms are relatively large intestinal parasites (about a ¼-inch long) that reside in the cecum and large intestine, where they wreak serious havoc. Dogs with heavy whipworms are probable to experience apropos symptoms, such every bit watery, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and anemia.

What you should know about parasite prevention for dogs

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Dogs should be on parasite prevention year-round.

Veterinarians recommend a broad-spectrum parasite preventive that treats, prevents, or controls intestinal parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms; heartworms; fleas; and ticks.

"Many adult dogs may be asymptomatic carriers," co-ordinate to Kelley Lay, a relief veterinarian who practices in Nashville, Tennessee. "Parasites are not e'er able to exist seen in feces and so you may not fifty-fifty know the problem is there. This tin lead to infections that linger undetected for a long time."

Veterinarians recommend keeping dogs on a broad-spectrum parasite preventive all year, non but in the leap and summer months. Different parasites are active during different months, and parasite activity varies. Parasites tin can likewise become agile earlier than expected, including during the winter.

"You cannot fully predict or control the environment your dog is in," Smits said. "I alive in Colorado, which overall has a low incidence of heartworms and [has] freezes with no mosquitos in the wintertime. Except, I have killed mosquitos in my house in February. My dogs find rodents in the backyard with tapeworms and potentially fleas. Nosotros just found tapeworms in February."

Your veterinary can aid you choose the best product or combination for your dog.

Although different parasite preventives encompass many unlike parasites, no i production covers every unmarried internal and external parasite that could affect your domestic dog. For instance, one product may cover fleas, heartworm, and abdominal parasites, but not ticks. Some other may embrace fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites, but not heartworm. Talk to your veterinarian to help you decide which product volition be all-time for your dog.

"This is the most important part of having a human relationship with a veterinarian in your expanse," Smits said. "We are trained to know what parasite problems nosotros have in our area are, what lifestyle risks are important to consider, and overall, what is best for an individual pet and lifestyle."

You should e'er take your domestic dog to the vet before giving them a dewormer.

If you suspect your domestic dog has worms, it'due south important to take them to the veterinarian for a physical examination and a fecal test to determine what type of worms they accept.

"Not all intestinal parasites are created equal and there is non a ane-size-fits-all when information technology comes to deworming medications," Lay said. "Your veterinarian will perform the appropriate tests to diagnose which type of intestinal parasites are present, and therefore which medication will appropriately target the problem."

Fifty-fifty though some dewormers exercise not require a prescription, exercise non skip the vet visit since different drugs care for different worms. Although a broad-spectrum dewormer kills several different types of worms, certain unmarried-celled microscopic parasites (protozoa), including coccidia and Giardia, cause symptoms similar to those caused by intestinal parasites, but they are not true worms. They require different prescription medications to treat them.

In addition to conducting a fecal test, your vet can also determine if your dog may have other health issues that demand to be addressed. Depending on the type of worms plant, your canis familiaris might need follow-upward deworming and a follow-up fecal exam to ensure no parasites remain.

Natural dewormers aren't necessarily a meliorate option.

Check with your veterinarian earlier using natural dewormers with your domestic dog. "While 'natural' deworming products may take some outcome on intestinal parasites, I've consulted with numerous clients over the years who have tried them with repeated failure," Lay said. "As well, there's unfortunately nevertheless many unknowns and variables when it comes to many of the natural products."

Lay noted that conventional, veterinary-recommended dewormers are both effective and prophylactic to utilise. "Like whatsoever medication, we tin't assume in that location will be zero side effects 100% of the fourth dimension, but the veterinarian-approved products have been around a long time, have gone through stringent drug trials and studies, and are proven to bear minimal to no risk," she said.

Expert sources

We consulted with two licensed veterinarians for advice regarding the handling and prevention of abdominal parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms likewise equally heartworms and ectoparasites similar fleas, ticks, and mites. Although this information guided the states in our product pick, our experts did not specifically endorse or recommend whatever of the products in this guide.

  • Melissa Smits, DVM, partner at Fort Morgan Vet Clinic
  • Kelley Lay, DVM, a relief veterinarian and student program manager and operational motorcoach at Blue Heron Consulting