Deworming puppies: when to start and how often
A breeder asks how to deworm a newborn Beagle litter. She wants to do it "when they get their first vaccine".
Which roundworm deworming schedule is most appropriate?
chevron_right Show answer and explanation
A. From 2 weeks of age, every 2 weeks until 2 weeks after weaning, then monthly until 6 months of age
Correct. This is the ESCCAP schedule: start before the first worms from transplacental and transmammary larvae become patent, and repeat because anthelmintics do not act on migrating larvae.
B. One dose at 8 weeks, at the first vaccination
Too late: by then the puppy has been shedding eggs and contaminating the environment for weeks, and a single dose does not remove the larvae that are still maturing.
C. From 6 weeks of age, every 3 months
A three-monthly interval is an adult-dog schedule; in puppies the worm burden and reinfection via milk require much shorter intervals.
D. Only if a faecal test at 8 weeks is positive
In puppies infection is almost universal and can cause signs before eggs appear in the faeces; they are dewormed routinely without waiting for faecal results.
lightbulb Key takeaway
Puppies: every 2 weeks from 2 weeks of age; kittens: every 2 weeks from 3 weeks (no transplacental transfer). Deworm the dam at the same time as the litter, because she sheds eggs during lactation.
References: ESCCAP Guideline 01: Worm Control in Dogs and Cats (6.ª ed., 2021)
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.