Dog Deworming Schedule Calculator
Build a deworming timeline for a puppy or an adult dog, based on age and how much parasite exposure the dog actually gets.
Next treatment due
Thu, 10 Sept 2026 at 6 weeks
| Age | Date | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wk | Thu, 13 Aug 2026 | Roundworm and hookworm treatment, given fortnightly from 2 weeks of age. |
| 4 wk | Thu, 27 Aug 2026 | Roundworm and hookworm treatment, given fortnightly from 2 weeks of age. |
| 6 wk | Thu, 10 Sept 2026 | Roundworm and hookworm treatment, given fortnightly from 2 weeks of age. |
| 8 wk | Thu, 24 Sept 2026 | Roundworm and hookworm treatment, given fortnightly from 2 weeks of age. |
| 12 wk | Thu, 22 Oct 2026 | Monthly treatment continues until six months of age. |
| 16 wk | Thu, 19 Nov 2026 | Monthly treatment continues until six months of age. |
| 20 wk | Thu, 17 Dec 2026 | Monthly treatment continues until six months of age. |
| 24 wk | Thu, 14 Jan 2027 | Monthly treatment continues until six months of age. |
- Move to adult schedule from
- Thu, 28 Jan 2027
From six months, treat at least four times a year. Monthly is advised for dogs that hunt, scavenge, eat raw food, or live with young children.
Treat the mother at the same time as the litter. Roundworm larvae pass to puppies before birth and in milk, which is why treatment starts at two weeks regardless of how clean the environment is.
How this is calculated
Puppy timing is fixed by the parasite's life cycle. Adult timing is set by exposure risk, which is why the calculator asks about lifestyle rather than applying one interval to every dog.
puppy: 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, then monthly to 6 months
adult: 365 ÷ treatments per year = interval in days Adult frequency by risk
| Risk level | Per year | Who this describes |
|---|---|---|
| Low risk | 4 | Indoor-leaning adult dog, no scavenging, no raw diet, no young children at home. |
| Moderate risk | 6 | Regular walks in public parks, occasional scavenging, mixes with other dogs. |
| High risk | 12 | Hunts or scavenges, eats raw food, lives with young children, or visits kennels often. |
Why fortnightly for young puppies
Roundworm takes roughly two weeks to develop from a swallowed larva into an adult worm laying eggs. Treating every two weeks kills each generation before it can start shedding, which protects both the litter and the household. Once that early wave is cleared, monthly treatment is enough.
Sources
Treat the mother too
Dormant larvae in the bitch reactivate during pregnancy and pass to the litter, so worming the puppies without worming the dam leaves the source in place. Most protocols treat the mother at the same times as the litter.
The public health part
Roundworm eggs become infectious a few weeks after being passed, and they survive in soil for years. Picking up faeces the same day is the single most effective thing an owner does, because it removes the eggs before they can become a hazard to anyone. That matters most where children play.
Common questions
How often should I worm my dog?
Puppies every two weeks from 2 to 8 weeks of age, then monthly until six months. Adults at least four times a year, and monthly if they hunt, scavenge, eat raw food or live with young children.
Why do puppies need worming so young?
Roundworm larvae cross the placenta before birth and pass in the mother’s milk, so almost every puppy is born with them or acquires them in the first days of life. Treatment from two weeks old is aimed at the worms already present, not at preventing new ones.
Is four times a year really enough for an adult dog?
It is the widely recommended minimum, and it is based on interrupting the roundworm life cycle before eggs are shed. Treating only once or twice a year leaves gaps long enough for a full cycle. Higher-risk dogs need monthly treatment instead.
Can dog worms infect humans?
Yes. Toxocara canis eggs shed in dog faeces can infect people, most often young children, and can cause serious eye and organ disease. This is the main reason deworming schedules exist at all, and why picking up faeces promptly matters.
Does one wormer cover every kind of worm?
No. Products differ in whether they cover roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm and lungworm. Tapeworm in particular often needs a specific ingredient, and lungworm prevention is a separate consideration in areas where it is present.
Should I use a faecal test instead of routine worming?
Testing three or four times a year and treating on results is a valid alternative and is preferred by some vets. It catches what is actually there, but a single negative sample does not exclude infection, since shedding is intermittent.