Pregnant Dog With Worms

by Debra
(Hughes springs,tx.)

Reader Question: Do you deworm a pregnant dog before giving birth to puppies?

I have a big dog with worms that is about two weeks away from having her puppies. Can I deworm her now or wait until after she has her puppies?

Suggestion from our Veterinarian Regarding Deworming a Pregnant Dog

Hi Debra,

It is usually a good idea for all pregnant dogs to be dewormed before they have their puppies as deworming can not only protect the mother’s health but also help prevent her from passing worms on to the puppies.

Picking the right product and protocol will depend on what type of worm your dog actually has. Talk to your veterinarian. He or she will probably want to run a fecal examination to identify the worms present in your dog.

Based on these results a safe and effective dewormer can be prescribed. Now is also a good time to talk to your veterinarian about the care the new puppies will need in the upcoming weeks.

Best of luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM