Meddor
The schedule depends on their life
ESCCAP, the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites, sorts dogs and cats into groups by their risk of picking up worms. Here are its recommendations for adults:
| Group | Lifestyle | Deworming |
|---|---|---|
| Dog A | Lives indoors, or goes out without contact with other dogs or parks, and doesn’t eat prey, snails or raw meat | 1 to 2 times a year |
| Dog B | Goes out and has contact with other dogs, parks, sandpits or playgrounds | 4 times a year |
| Dog C | Hunts, eats prey, snails, slugs, raw meat, or just about anything | 4 to 12 times a year |
| Dog D | Hunts or eats prey where the Echinococcus tapeworm is present | Monthly against tapeworms |
| Cat A | Stays indoors | 1 to 2 times a year |
| Cat B | Goes outdoors | At least 4 times a year |
Three situations call for more:
- A dog that eats raw food or hunts: deworming every 6 weeks, or faecal testing every 2 to 3 months. For a cat, at least 4 times a year.
- A child under 5 or someone immunocompromised at home: depending on the risk, monthly deworming or monthly faecal testing.
- Fleas: they carry a tapeworm. Once the infestation is confirmed, one treatment against that worm.
When you don’t know: at least 4 times a year
If your pet’s risk can’t be assessed, ESCCAP recommends deworming, or faecal testing, at least 4 times a year. Studies cited by ESCCAP show that 1 to 3 dewormings a year don’t protect enough. Even deworming every 3 months doesn’t necessarily prevent infection.
Puppies and kittens
Puppies are dewormed from 2 weeks of age, kittens from 3 weeks. Then every 2 weeks until 2 weeks after weaning, then monthly until 6 months. After that, the adult schedule takes over.
The mother is treated at the same time as the young’s first treatment.
Why so often?
ESCCAP gives the reasons for roundworms, the most common worms. Between the moment a pet swallows an egg and the moment the worm starts laying eggs of its own, only a month goes by. Eggs can survive for more than two years in a contaminated environment. And these worms can infect people, young children especially.
Faecal testing as an alternative
For dogs and cats in groups A and B, ESCCAP presents regular faecal testing as a good alternative to routine deworming: you only treat if worms are found. Your vet can do it.
What about flea treatment?
According to ESCCAP, fleas can infest dogs and cats all year round. Tick prevention is advised for the most exposed pets, especially in spring and autumn. How often depends on the product and on their risk: ask your vet.
Frequently asked questions
I missed a deworming: what should I do?
Ask your vet or pharmacist how to pick up again. The tool doesn’t make up for anything: it simply starts again from today.
My cat never goes out: do they need deworming?
Yes, but less often: 1 to 2 times a year, or a faecal test, according to ESCCAP. If they eat raw meat, or live with a young child, their schedule changes.
Which dewormer, and what dose?
That’s for your vet to say: the product depends on the worms targeted, and the dose on your pet’s weight. ESCCAP stresses that deworming should always follow a vet’s advice.
Sources
- ESCCAP, Guideline 1: Worm Control in Dogs and Cats, and its French deworming flowcharts for dogs and cats, 2023: risk groups, puppies and kittens, additional treatments.
- ESCCAP France, “Five good reasons to deworm dogs and cats against roundworms very often” (in French).
- ESCCAP France, “How to protect pets from parasites” (in French): fleas and ticks.