Short answer: Six main routes: (1) eating eggs in contaminated soil (roundworms, whipworms), (2) eating fleas (tapeworms – Dipylidium), (3) prenatal/lactational from mom (roundworms, hookworms), (4) skin penetration (hookworms), (5) eating prey (raccoons, rabbits – other tapeworms), (6) mosquito bites (heartworm).
What you should actually do
- Roundworms: most common in puppies – transferred in utero and via milk; eggs survive in soil years.
- Hookworms: penetrate skin (especially paw pads) and through ingestion; cause anemia in heavy infestations.
- Whipworms: eggs survive in soil years – hard to eliminate from a yard once contaminated.
- Tapeworms (Dipylidium): from swallowed fleas; usually seen as ‘rice grains’ in stool.
- Heartworm: mosquito-transmitted only – not GI; very different treatment.
Year-round monthly preventives (Interceptor Plus, Sentinel, Drontal Plus) eliminate roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm. Many also cover heartworm. Tapeworms need separate praziquantel treatment (built into some preventives like Drontal Plus, NexGard Spectra via milbemycin).
Annual fecal exam recommended even on preventives – no drug is 100% effective and resistance is emerging. Puppies get fecal exams every 2-3 weeks during the deworming series.
Dig deeper
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace a hands-on veterinary examination. Drug doses depend on your dog’s complete clinical picture, concurrent medications, and the exact product formulation. Always confirm dosing with your veterinarian before administering any medication, and contact a 24-hour veterinary emergency service or animal poison control immediately if you suspect a medication overdose or adverse reaction. Editorial standards: every drug dose published on PuppaDogs is cross-checked against multiple authoritative veterinary references and reviewed by PuppaDogs Veterinary Editorial Team before publication.
