Guide: worms in puppies
Worms in Puppies: Types, Signs and the Deworming Schedule
Worms in puppies are so common that vets assume every puppy has them. Roundworms and hookworms can pass from mother to puppy before birth or through her milk. That is why deworming starts at two weeks of age and is repeated every two weeks. With routine treatment and a monthly preventive, worms are easy to control.
The four main worms in puppies
| Worm | How puppies get it | Typical signs |
|---|---|---|
| Roundworms | From the mother before birth or through milk, or from eggs in soil | Pot belly, dull coat, vomiting, diarrhea, poor growth |
| Hookworms | Through the mother’s milk, through the skin, or by swallowing larvae | Pale gums, weakness, dark tarry stool |
| Tapeworms | By swallowing an infected flea while grooming | Small rice-like segments near the tail or in the stool |
| Whipworms | From eggs in contaminated soil | Watery or bloody diarrhea and weight loss |
Details are from the Merck Veterinary Manual and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (Merck, CAPC).
Signs of worms in puppies
- A round, swollen belly on a thin puppy
- Diarrhea or vomiting, sometimes with visible worms
- A dull, rough coat
- Slow weight gain
- Pale gums and low energy
- Scooting, or rice-like specks under the tail
However, many puppies with worms look perfectly well. Therefore, stool tests matter more than appearances.
The deworming schedule
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends treating puppies at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, and then moving them to a monthly preventive that also controls roundworms. It also recommends testing a stool sample at least four times in the first year.
Mothers are treated as well, since they are the main source. See our puppy vaccine schedule for how deworming fits with vaccines.
Can people catch worms from puppies?
Yes, some of them. Roundworm eggs and hookworm larvae in soil can infect people, and young children are most at risk because they play on the ground and put hands in their mouths (AVMA).
Simple habits prevent it:
- Pick up stool from the yard every day.
- Wash hands after handling the puppy or cleaning up.
- Keep children out of areas where dogs relieve themselves.
- Keep the puppy on its deworming schedule.
Preventing worms in the long run
- A monthly preventive. Most heartworm preventives also control common intestinal worms.
- Flea control. No fleas means no flea tapeworms.
- Clean ground. Daily pickup breaks the cycle, because eggs need time in the soil to become infective.
- Yearly stool checks for adult dogs, or more often if your vet advises it.
What our puppies have had
Every puppy from us is dewormed before it goes home, and the dates are in its vet records. Hand those records to your vet at the first vet visit, along with a fresh stool sample, so the schedule continues without a gap. For other tummy troubles, see puppy diarrhea and giardia in puppies.
Related guides
- Puppy Vaccine Schedule and Deworming: What Is Done Before Go-Home and What Comes Next
- Kennel Cough in Puppies: Symptoms and When to Worry
- Hypoglycemia in Puppies: Signs and Emergency Steps for Small Breeds
- Parvo in Puppies: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment
- Luxating Patella in Dogs: Signs, Grades and Treatment
See all our puppy guides, read about our health testing, or meet our Havapoo puppies for sale and Goldendoodle puppies for sale.
Sources
- Companion Animal Parasite Council. Ascarid (roundworm) guidelines. capcvet.org
- Companion Animal Parasite Council. Hookworm guidelines. capcvet.org
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs. merckvetmanual.com
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Intestinal parasites in cats and dogs. avma.org
Sources were checked on October 7, 2026. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.
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