Top 10 Best Dewormers for Dogs

That all depends on the the age and size of the canine, and the severity of the infestation. Your vet may prescribe a liquid dewormer for dogs, or one that comes in a tablet or a paste. Your vet might also recommend an over-the-counter medication. .

After a worm infestation, your pup may be lacking nutrients, or may have developed a bacterial imbalance in their belly. Consult your vet about probiotics, stool softeners and enzymes for dogs to see if they recommend putting your pup on a supplement regimen.

The 10 Best Dewormers for Dogs

Durvet Liquid Wormer 2x – Best for Puppies

Both higher-ranked products on this list are suitable for puppies, but if you’re only needing to deworm a young dog, we’d recommend Durvet Liquid instead.

It’s gentle but effective, and safe to use on pups as young as two weeks old. There’s also enough in each bottle that you can easily handle the three initial doses that most young puppies need.

Not only will it eliminate any existing worms in your dog’s body, but it will also prevent reinfestation, so you can let your pup roam around outside without worrying that he’ll come home with unwanted guests again.

It comes in liquid form, which gives you a few options in terms of dosing. You can try to squirt it directly into your mutt’s mouth, mix it into his food, or even put it in a bottle if he’s not yet fully weaned. A lot of dogs don’t care for the taste, though.

Be aware, however, that it often doesn’t kill worms inside your dog — it just forces them out. So, you’ll likely see worm-ridden poop in your yard for a few days after dosing, but that’s better than knowing those little jerks are crawling around in your dog’s intestines.

Durvet Liquid is a good option for dogs of any age, but it really shines when given to puppies. It’s not as good overall as the two products above it, but it should be your go-to when dealing with baby furballs.

Cons

• Forces worms out instead of killing them
• Dogs don’t like taste

Pros

• Liquid form gives several dosing options
• Generous amount per bottle
• Excellent for puppies
• Prevents reinfestation

Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer – Best Value

Safe-Guard is a little more complicated to administer than the SENTRY above, but it’s worth the trouble, as each dose lasts for six months. Even better, it costs less up front, so while it may not be our #1 pick overall, we do feel that Safe-Guard is the best dewormer for dogs for the money.

Instead of chewable tablets, this treatment comes in granule form that you mix into your dog’s food. If your dog has an especially powerful nose (or just a suspicious streak), this can make giving him the treatment a pain, and there’s not much you can do if he refuses to eat it.

You also must give it to him for three consecutive days for it to work, and you’ll have to know his current weight to determine the proper dosage.

Luckily, most dogs don’t even seem to notice it’s there. You can feed it to puppies over six weeks old, and it’s also safe for pregnant dogs and those with heartworms.

It certainly removes parasites, too, as it uses fenbendazole, the same active ingredient found in many prescription dewormers.

Safe-Guard isn’t the easiest dewormer to use, but it’s incredibly powerful and surprisingly inexpensive, so we feel the hassle is a small price to pay for such an effective product.

Durvet Triple Dewormer

There are 12 tablets inside each order of Durvet Triple, so that should offset some of the sticker shock you might experience upon first seeing the hefty price tag.

That doesn’t mean that each box equals a one-year supply, however. The number of tablets you give your dog varies based on his weight, so if you have a big pooch, one order might only last you a few months. Luckily, the proper dosage is easy to figure out.

It’s only for medium to large pups, too, so don’t give this to puppies or your Pomeranian. However, there should be enough here to take care of the biggest of dogs.

Each dose will take care of seven different kinds of parasite — mainly strains of tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms.

Durvet Triple is a very good dewormer, but the price and the fact it’s not suitable for all dogs prevent it from cracking the top three in this category.

Cons

• Not for dogs under 25 lbs.
• Costly up-front

Pros

• Eliminates 7 kinds of parasite
• Easy to figure out proper dosage
• Supply lasts for multiple months
• Good for larger breeds

SENTRY HC Dewormer – Best Overall

You only have to give your dog SENTRY HC once a month, but that’s all you need to knock out tapeworms, hookworms, ringworms, and more. There are two tablets per package, so if you don’t get all the parasites the first time around, you’ll have another bullet in the chamber.

The tablets are chewable, and dogs seem to at least tolerate the taste, so you shouldn’t have a rodeo on your hands when it comes time to give Fido his monthly dose.

You can give SENTRY to both puppies and full-grown dogs. Just be aware that if your dog has a sensitive stomach, you may have a mess to clean up the next time he uses the bathroom. It shouldn’t cause any lasting issues and it will kill worms even if it causes diarrhea, but still…diarrhea.

SENTRY HC is the quickest, easiest, and surest way we’ve found to eliminate a broad range of worms in your dog’s digestive tract, and as such, it’s a clear choice for pick of the best dog dewormer overall.

Cons

• May cause diarrhea

Pros

• Easy to administer
• Suitable for both puppies and adult dogs
• Kills 7 kinds of worms
• Two months’ supply
• Chewable tablet

Bayer Quad Chewable Dewormer

Bayer Quad Chewable gets its name from the fact that it kills four common parasites: tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. It’s incredibly effective at eliminating those pests, but many of the dewormers ranked above it can take out a few more as well, which is why it slots in at #5.

The tablets look like little treats and are beef-flavored, so convincing your dog to take his medicine shouldn’t be much of a hassle. They come in different sizes, too, so you don’t have to worry about your little Shih Tzu trying to choke down the same pill you’d give a Great Dane.

This is a pricy treatment, but that should be expected with a medication this effective. It’s also easy to dose, as it’s generally a one-time treatment, so you don’t have to keep readministering it to get the full results.

All in all, the Bayer Quad Chewable does everything you could ask for from a dewormer. It just doesn’t do quite as much as the competition, which is why it can’t rank quite as highly here.

Cons

• Only kills 4 kinds of worm
• Fairly expensive

Pros

• Pill size is appropriate for each size of dog
• Only needs to be administered once
• Extremely effective
• Tablets look and taste like treats

Clear-Max Dewormer

Clear-Max is another natural option, and in fact it uses many of the same ingredients as the FurroLandia above. This one has a few more ingredients, though, including cardamom and pomegranate, and it’s roughly the same price as the FurroLandia.

So why is it ranked one spot below that other natural dewormer, given that it works about equally as well? This one seems to have a more distinct taste, and it’s one that many dogs don’t care for, making it difficult to administer.

Also, this product makes some incredibly bold claims, such as; that it offers lifetime protection against parasites. That’s obviously not true, and you’ll have to keep readministering it to enjoy whatever protection it provides. While shady marketing doesn’t affect the quality of the product, it does make us suspicious.

As best we can tell, though, there’s nothing in here that could harm your pet, and it’s suitable for dogs (and cats) of all ages. Clear-Max should be fine, but we see no reason to reward them for lying in their advertising, so they’ll settle for a spot on the bottom half of this list.

Cons

• Many dogs don’t like the taste
• Company makes suspicious claims

Pros

• Suitable for all ages
• Chemical-free formula
• Also works on cats

FurroLandia 8 in 1 Dewormer

If you’re leery about feeding your pooch pesticides, FurroLandia 8-in-1 is a good alternative. It uses natural ingredients like pumpkin seed, black walnut, apple cider vinegar, and more to force worms out of your dog’s digestive tract.

While we’re always proponents of going natural whenever possible, you should know that this stuff simply isn’t as powerful as those dewormers that use chemicals. However, it’s still potent enough to take care of most mild-to-moderate issues; severe infestations will likely require something with a little more oomph, however.

The idea is that these natural ingredients will improve your dog’s gut health, making it inhospitable to parasites. It works to an extent, but even if it doesn’t kill your dog’s worms, it should improve his digestive tract.

It’s easy to apply the proper amount of liquid using the dropper, and if this stuff has a taste, pets don’t seem to mind it. You can use it on your cat, too, making it a good choice for multi-animal households.

FurroLandia 8-in-1 is a good starting point for chemical-avoidant owners, but don’t be surprised if you end up needing to switch to one of the more powerful options above.

HERBALPET 8in1 Natural Dog Dewormer

As you likely guessed from the name, HERBALPET 8-in-1 is another all-natural option, although this one is quite different from the two above.

This one comes in tablet form rather than a liquid, and you shouldn’t need to administer it nearly as often (indeed, there are only five tablets in each order). It also uses almost completely different ingredients, though there is some overlap (most notably pumpkin seeds).

For all its differences, though, HERBALPET isn’t any more effective, and it’s only suitable for mild cases — and even then, it might only slow down the spread of the worms rather than kill them outright.

Administering tablets may be more difficult than adding drops to your dog’s food, especially if your pup is leery of taking pills. Also, you give one pill for every 22 pounds of body weight, so if you have a large dog, each box is just a one-month supply. The boxes aren’t cheap, either.

The good news is that, to whatever extent it works, it will work quickly, so you shouldn’t have to wait more than a few days to determine whether you need to take more drastic steps.

HERBALPET 8-in-1 isn’t much worse than the two natural options listed above it, but we’d still recommend using something more potent unless you’re categorically opposed to using harsh chemicals.

Cons

• On the pricey side
• Poor choice for dogs that hate taking pills
• Not ideal for large breeds

Pros

• Offers quick results
• Requires less frequent administration

HerbalVet Natural Dog Dewormer

It probably shouldn’t surprise you that our bottom-ranked option is an herbal one. HerbalVet Natural only uses five active ingredients: black walnut, orange peel, lavender flower, wormwood, and clove buds.

Do those ingredients work? The fact that this stuff comes with 10 servings should be a clue. These tablets may reduce the number of worms your dog has, but don’t expect them to solve the problem completely.

To be fair, this stuff markets itself as a “dewormer alternative” and a “cleanse,” so we probably shouldn’t hold it to the same standard as, you know, actual medications. Then again, it clearly wants you to believe that it will eliminate many common parasites when that’s simply not the case.

The instructions aren’t very helpful, and while it comes with a free eBook, that’s not very helpful either. You’re mostly on your own in terms of dosing, but we doubt you can do much harm either way with these.

At least the pills are small and break apart easily, so hiding them in treats shouldn’t be much of an issue.

HerbalVet Natural may be something to consider giving your dog as a supplement when he’s already got a clean bill of health, but if you’re dealing with an active infestation, save your money and buy something more effective.

Cons

• Uses misleading marketing practices
• Instructions aren’t very helpful
• Does little to stop worms
• Requires many applications
• Included ebook is worthless

Pros

• Tablets are small and break apart easily

GOODGROWLIES Broad Spectrum Dewormer

You might be noticing a pattern here: the natural dewormers are relegated to the bottom of the list. GOODGROWLIES is no exception, as it offers little that the ones above it can’t match, and you must use a lot more of it to see the same results.

Each bottle is two ounces, and you give about a dropper’s worth with each dose — and the bottle is supposed to last a month. That tells you how often you’ll have to be giving your pooch this stuff.

There’s peppermint and apple cider vinegar inside, both of which have powerful odors, so many dogs will turn their noses up at the stuff.

Another thing that we find curious is the fact that there are different dosage sizes for cats, dogs under 20 pounds, and dogs between 20 and 35 pounds, but all dogs over 35 pounds get the same amount. This seems odd and makes us question how effective this stuff really is.

The price isn’t bad, especially considering how much you get. However, you’ll have to administer the GOODGROWLIES GGDEWORMER1 so often that it might not be worth it in terms of your time.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Dewormers for Dogs

If you’ve never had the pleasure of deworming a dog before, it can be intimidating. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to take care of your pup.

How Do I Know If My Dog Needs Deworming?

Unfortunately, most dogs only show symptoms once an infestation becomes severe. These symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, licking below their tail, and losing weight.

Often, though, most people don’t know their dogs have worms until they actually see them. You may spot them in your dog’s poop or even squirming out of his anus.

The fact that many dogs with intestinal parasites are asymptomatic is why many vets recommend regular deworming.

Can Worms Kill My Dog?

Some can, yes. The worst kind are heartworms, which are spread by mosquitoes. However, other worms can also wreak havoc on your dog by robbing him of important nutrients or damaging his internal organs.

How Did My Dog Get Worms?

There are many ways in which a dog could contract intestinal parasites. These include:

• Eating infected fleas
• Eating contaminated waste (dogs love to eat poop — and therefore you shouldn’t let them)
• Eating contaminated food
• Being bitten by infected mosquitoes

How Often Should I Deworm My Dog?

As a general rule, puppies should be dewormed every two weeks until they’re 12 weeks old, then once a month until they’re six months old.

After that, you should deworm your dog every three months, whether he’s showing symptoms or not.

Can I Get Worms from My Dog?

Yes. The most common way is by coming in contact with infected poop, such as by walking barefoot in a yard where your dog defecates. If you suspect you may be infected, see a doctor immediately.

Seniors and small children are most likely to get infected, so any dogs that come in contact with them should be dewormed regularly.

Will Deworming Hurt My Dog?

No, the ingredients in most overthecounter and prescription dewormers for dogs are completely safe.

However, you should know that many worms release toxins when they die, and these could make your dog nauseous or cause diarrhea. These symptoms are generally short-lived, though.

Can a Dog Get Worms Even if They’ve Been Previously Treated?

Yes. Most treatments only last a few months, and once they wear off, your dog will be vulnerable to reinfestation.

How Do I Give My Dog a Dewormer?

• When using a dewormer for dogs, follow the instructions on the package, as it depends on the type of deworming product use.
• Some are liquids, in which case you can add them to your dog’s food or water, or simply squirt them directly into his mouth.
• Others come in tablet or pill form; in which case you have to convince him to eat them. You can do this by wrapping them in meat or cheese, smearing peanut butter on them, or crumbling them and spreading them on his food.
• Many of the tablets are chewable and have flavors like beef or chicken mixed in to encourage your dog to eat them. If that’s the case, it’s important that you store them in a safe place to prevent him from snacking on them when you’re not around.

What are the Most Common Mistakes People Make When Deworming Dogs?

In no particular order, they are:

• Not making sure that their pet has consumed the dewormer
• Not readministering the dose at the recommended time
• Not using the recommended dose
• Only deworming one pet at a time
• Thinking that every dewormer kills every species of worm

While all this information may seem overwhelming, deworming is a simple and fairly easy process. Just remember that the biggest mistake you can make is failing to deworm at all.

Conclusion

SENTRY HC is our pick for the best dewormer for dogs, as it kills seven different kinds of worms. The chewable tablets are also appetizing to dogs, so you won’t have to struggle to convince your pooch to take his medicine.

Our second-favorite product is Safe-Guard, as each dose lasts for six months, saving you from frequent reapplications. It’s also fairly inexpensive and safe for most animals, so it should work for you and your dog.

If you’ve noticed that your dog has worms, it’s important to take swift action — and we hope our reviews have made it clear exactly what action you need to take. Using the right dewormer the first time will save your best friend from a world of pain and discomfort (and save you from getting even more grossed out every time you have to scoop his poop).