Mochi's Clinic

Deworming Dogs and Cats: How Often and Why

Keeping your furry friend parasite-free is key to their health and your family's. Here are all the official guidelines explained simply.

This is general information: if you have any health concerns, consult your veterinarian.

Which Organization Should We Follow

To know how to properly deworm dogs and cats, it's best to turn to expert sources. In Spain, we follow the recommendations of ESCCAP Spain, which is the European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasite Control.

It is an independent, non-profit organization composed of specialists in parasitology and public health. Their guidelines set the ideal pace for protecting our pets all year round.

• Independent experts in parasitology
• Focus on animal and public health
• Recommendations adapted to our region

How Often is Internal Deworming Necessary

The old habit of deworming your pet once or three times a year is no longer sufficient. Nowadays, a frequency of at least four times a year, meaning every three months, is recommended by default if your dog or cat has outdoor access or a standard risk.

If you're looking for total protection to completely avoid patent infections, the only effective option is monthly antihelminthic treatment. Additionally, certain factors require increasing the frequency to a monthly regimen or performing fecal analyses every four weeks.

• Living with children under five or immunocompromised individuals
• Animals that consume raw meat, offal, or hunt prey like rodents and birds
• Working dogs, rescue dogs, police dogs, competition dogs, or those living in kennels

How to Protect Puppies, Kittens, and Pregnant Females

The youngest members of the household need very specific care from their first weeks of life to prevent serious health problems.

For puppies, internal deworming starts at two weeks of age. It is repeated every fourteen days until two weeks after weaning, and then continues monthly until they are six months old. For kittens, we start at three weeks, repeat every two weeks until weaning, and continue monthly until they are six months old.

Pregnant and lactating female dogs are treated with macrocyclic lactones on days forty and fifty-five of gestation, or with daily fenbendazole from day forty until two days after birth, plus during lactation from the first day of the puppies' lives. For pregnant cats, a single dose of emodepside spot-on is applied about seven days before the estimated due date.

• Kittens: start at three weeks with bi-weekly repetition
• Gestation and lactation with carefully measured protocols depending on the species

External Parasites and the Dangers They Transmit

Fleas, such as Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis, are the most common ectoparasites and act as vectors for tapeworms like Dipylidium caninum. Ticks, on the other hand, thrive according to the temperature and the temperate and warm climate we have in Spain.

We must also pay close attention to mosquitoes and sandflies. These insects are the dangerous vectors of well-known diseases such as leishmaniasis and dirofilariasis, also known as heartworm.

• Fleas and their link to tapeworms
• Ticks active in temperate climates
• Mosquitoes that transmit leishmaniasis

Worms and Other Internal Parasites We Should Know About

Among internal parasites, roundworms stand out, specifically Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, which are zoonotic parasites of great importance because they can also affect humans.

We also find cestodes or tapeworms like Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, and Dipylidium caninum. Not to forget other worms such as lungworms (Angiostrongylus), hookworms, and whipworms.

• Roundworms of significant zoonotic importance
• Various types of tapeworms
• Lung and intestinal worms

What Types of Products Exist and How to Use Them Safely

In clinics and stores, you have several options depending on your needs. Tablets are taken orally and typically last between one and three months for internal parasites and some external ones.

You also have topical spot-on pipettes applied to the nape of the neck and long-acting collars for external protection. And remember a golden rule of safety: never apply dog antiparasitics to cats, as substances like certain avermectins or permethrin are highly toxic and lethal to felines.

• Oral tablets lasting one to three months
• Topical pipettes and protective collars
• Extreme caution: never use dog products on cats

«Good thing you take such good care of us in El pueblo de Serranen, I love taking walks in the countryside!»

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