Puppy deworming schedule

Enter your puppy's date of birth to get every deworming, the start of its monthly heartworm and flea preventive, and its fecal and heartworm tests, all dated.

Tim de JongUpdated October 2, 20266 min read

Your puppy

Puppy's date of birth

Parasite plan

CAPC recommends year-round broad-spectrum protection for every dog

Monthly preventive starts at

American Heartworm Society: as early as the label allows, no later than 8 weeks

Next on the plan

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Enter your puppy's date of birth.

Based on the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) and American Heartworm Society guidelines. Your vet chooses the products and doses; never give a dewormer or preventive meant for a heavier dog.

Puppy deworming schedule by age

This is the plan the generator builds for a puppy whose monthly preventive starts at 8 weeks, the latest age the American Heartworm Society recommends. Deworming starts at 2 weeks and repeats every 2 weeks until the monthly product takes over, as the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) advises.

Age	What happens
2 weeks	Deworming: dewormer
4 weeks	Deworming: dewormer
6 weeks	Deworming: dewormer
8 weeks	Start preventives: first monthly heartworm and intestinal worm preventive; flea and tick protection if not already started; Fecal test: fecal test (1 of at least 4 this year)
12 weeks	Fecal test: fecal test (2 of 4)
16 weeks	Fecal test: fecal test (3 of 4)
26 weeks	Fecal test: fecal test (4 of 4)
8 months	Heartworm test: first heartworm test
1 year 2 months	Heartworm test: second heartworm test, then once a year

From the 8-week start, the preventive is given once a month, every month, for life. The fecal test dates are our spacing: CAPC asks for at least four in the first year, and these line up with the usual puppy vaccine visits, so you won't need extra trips.

Why do puppies get dewormed at 2 weeks old?

Because many are born with roundworms. CAPC explains that roundworm larvae cross the placenta and infect puppies before birth, and those puppies start passing eggs at 2.5 to 3 weeks old. Heavy infections can kill very young puppies, so treatment begins at 2 weeks and repeats every 2 weeks to catch each new wave of worms as it matures. The mother is treated at the same time.

If you got your puppy at 8 weeks or later, ask the breeder or shelter for its deworming record and bring it to the first vet visit. Dates the generator marks as past are the ones to check.

When should a puppy start heartworm prevention?

The American Heartworm Society recommends starting a heartworm preventive as early as the product label allows and no later than 8 weeks. Puppies under 7 months don't need a heartworm test first, because it takes at least 6 months for an infection to show up on a test. Instead, they are tested 6 months after the first visit, again 6 months later, and then every year.

The dose goes by body weight, not age, and puppies grow quickly, so your vet will step up the product size as your puppy grows. The puppy weight calculator gives you an idea of how big it will get.

When can a puppy start flea and tick prevention?

CAPC's advice is to start flea and tick products as soon after birth as the label allows and keep going for life, all year round. Each product has its own minimum age and weight, which is why the generator shows it alongside the first monthly preventive rather than on a fixed date. Some monthly products cover heartworm, intestinal worms and fleas in one dose. Once fleas settle in a home, CAPC warns they can take several months to bring under control, and every pet in the house needs treating.

Why does my puppy need fecal tests?

Dewormers don't cover every parasite, and young dogs pick up infections easily. CAPC recommends a fecal test at least four times in the first year and at least twice a year in adult dogs. Bring a fresh stool sample to each visit.

What if I can't give a monthly preventive?

CAPC's first choice is year-round protection. When that isn't possible, its fallback is a dewormer every 2 weeks until 2 months, monthly until 6 months and every 3 months after that. For a puppy born on January 1, that means 10 dewormings in the first year. Choose "Dewormer only" in the generator to see your dates. This plan doesn't protect against heartworm, so talk to your vet before choosing it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I deworm my puppy myself?

You can buy dewormers without a prescription, but it is better to let your vet choose. Products differ in which worms they cover, doses go by weight, and a fecal test shows what your puppy actually has.

How do I know if my puppy has worms?

Often you can't. CAPC describes puppies infected before birth as failing to thrive and gain weight, with a poor coat and a pot belly, but many infected puppies look fine. That is why the schedule deworms every puppy from 2 weeks and adds fecal tests rather than waiting for signs.

Can people catch worms from a puppy?

Some dog parasites can infect people, which is why CAPC calls their control essential. Deworm on schedule, pick up feces straight away on walks and daily in the yard, and cover sandboxes so they don't get contaminated.

Does my puppy need heartworm prevention in winter?

Yes. The American Heartworm Society recommends heartworm preventive 12 months a year, even in states with cold winters, because mosquito seasons vary and infected mosquitoes can come indoors. It also recommends a heartworm test every 12 months.

Should the mother dog be dewormed too?

Yes. CAPC advises treating nursing mothers for roundworms at the same time as their litters, and keeping pregnant and nursing dogs on broad-spectrum parasite control. If you're a breeder, plan the mother's treatment with your vet before the litter arrives.