Natural remedies for treating worms in dogs offer a gentle alternative to traditional deworming medications. These remedies work in a less aggressive manner, reducing the risk of side effects like diarrhea, lethargy, and vomiting that can accompany deworming.
By including natural remedies in your dog’s worming routine, you can adopt a healthier and more balanced approach to treatment.
1. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are one of the well-known home remedies for worms in dogs. They carry an amino acid named cucurbitacin, which is purported to have antiparasitic properties. It is believed to keep worms from latching onto your dog’s intestinal lining.
How to use this natural remedy for worms in dogs:
Whole pumpkin seeds have a tough outer shell. Feeding them to your dog may lead to choking or intestinal blockage. We recommend grinding plain dried pumpkin seeds into a fine powder before sprinkling them into his meals.
The ideal dosage of this natural dewormer for dogs is ¼ teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight. If your pooch weighs 30 pounds, he can have up to ¾ teaspoons of ground pumpkin seeds daily.
Consistently give it to him 1 to 2 times daily until he has expelled all intestinal parasites.
Potential side effects:
- Pumpkin seeds are fatty food. Overfeeding them to your dog is discouraged as it will cause gastrointestinal distress. If eaten frequently in extensive quantities, obesity may develop.
2. Wheat Germ Oil
Research shows that the intake of wheat germ oil has an antiparasitic effect on the digestive tract. Although this natural dewormer for dogs does not eliminate intestinal worms, it makes the gut an undesirable place to live for them.
As a result, their ability to grow, replicate, and attach themselves to the intestines of dogs is hindered.
How to use this natural remedy for worms in dogs:
For every 10 pounds of body weight, dogs should be given ½ teaspoon of wheat germ oil. For instance, a 20-pound pooch can have up to 1 tablespoon of this natural remedy for worms in dogs.
Make sure to use a product specifically made for canines. Avoid wheat germ oil made for human use as it may contain harmful or toxic ingredients.
Potential side effects:
- Wheat germ oil has high-fat concentrations. Ingesting it in large quantities can result in diarrhea and stomach discomfort.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric is equipped with antiseptic and antimicrobial components that help mitigate symptoms of worms in dogs.
It acts as a stomach protectant against inflammation and relieves gastric issues related to intestinal parasites, including nausea, bloat, and stomach pains.
How to use this natural remedy for worms in dogs:
On its own, turmeric has low bioavailability, meaning this spice is not easily absorbed into your dog’s body. Combining 1 teaspoon of turmeric with a pinch of black pepper and 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil greatly increases its absorption rate.
The suitable amount of turmeric paste to treat worms in dogs depends on the dog’s body weight:
- 1- to 10-pound dogs: 1/16 to ⅛ teaspoon
- 10- to 20-pound dogs: ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon
- 20- to 50-pound dogs: ¼ to 1 teaspoon
- 50- to 100-pound dogs: 1 to 2 teaspoons
- Over 100-pound dogs: 2 teaspoons
Administer turmeric paste to small dogs daily for up to 1 week. For larger breeds, it should be given daily every other week for up to 2 months.
Potential side effects:
- Long-term intake of turmeric paste can lead to stomach ulcers, kidney stones, and gallbladder obstruction. It’s important to limit the use of this home remedy for worms in dogs to no more than 2 months.
- Canines with pre-existing health issues that we have mentioned above should not be given turmeric.
- This natural dog dewormer may cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate. Thus, avoid administering it to diabetic dogs.
- Turmeric has blood-thinning agents that can interact with certain types of drugs. Do not use it on medicated canines unless the vet approves.
4. Neem Leaves
Neem leaves are natural antifungals with deworming properties that slow down the reproduction of worms in dogs. Topical application also helps in keeping common carriers of parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes at bay.
How to use this natural remedy for worms in dogs:
Rinse dried neem leaves thoroughly and pat them dry with a towel. Use a coffee grinder or food processor to turn them into fine powder.
The recommended dosage of ground neem leaves for dogs is as follows:
- Miniature breeds: 150 milligrams
- Small breeds: 300 milligrams
- Medium breeds: 500 milligrams
- Large breeds: 800 milligrams
- Giant breeds: 1,000 milligrams
Neem leaves have a bitter taste, so mix them with your dog’s food to mask their off-putting flavor. Use this natural remedy for worms in dogs twice a day for up to a month, alternating each week.
For topical use as an insect repellant, dilute 1 drop of neem essential oil with 10 drops of carrier oil of your choice. Since it has a strong smell, apply it on your dog’s collar than on his body, so you do not need to wash it off his coat.
Potential side effects:
- Long-term use of neem potentially damages the liver and kidneys of dogs. Do not use it for more than a month on your canine companion.
- Applying undiluted neem essential oil to your dog’s coat may cause skin irritation.
- The neem plant is off-limits to pregnant dogs because it can cause miscarriage.
- Intake of neem, along with certain medications, poses the danger of drug interaction. Consult the vet before administering it to dogs prescribed with medicine.
- Neem has hypoglycemic properties, meaning it can lower blood glucose levels in dogs. Using it on pooches with diabetes is discouraged.
5. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented drink loaded with different strains of probiotics. It does not remove worms in dogs.
However, kefir help maintains the gut microflora of dogs and keeps their digestive process normal. Improving immune health is also one of its many health benefits.
How to use this natural remedy for worms in dogs:
Create homemade kefir for your dog by following this recipe:
What you need:
- 2 cups plain coconut water
- 2 tablespoons active kefir grains
Procedure:
- Place the kefir grain in a large clean glass jar and pour in the coconut water.
- Gently stir to mix the 2 ingredients.
- Cover the container using a cheesecloth and secure it with a rubber band.
- Allow the kefir to ferment for 1 day at room temperature and away from sunlight. The fermentation process should not go beyond 2 days.
- Strain this natural dewormer for dogs in an airtight container once it becomes dense and develops a tangy taste.
Give small dogs 1 teaspoon of kefir per day. Medium breeds can have at least 1 to 2 tablespoons daily, while large breeds can have 2 to 3 tablespoon maximum every day.
Introduce kefir to your dog in small amounts. Begin with ¼ teaspoon and then slowly work your way up if he does not exhibit adverse reactions.
Potential side effects:
- Drinking kefir excessively may upset your dog’s stomach and cause diarrhea. Always follow the recommended dosage to avoid such problems from occurring.
FAQs About Worms in Dogs
1. What causes worms in dogs?
A variety of factors can cause intestinal worms in dogs. Worms infect puppies at only 2 to 3 weeks of age via the mother’s milk. Coming into contact with or ingesting infected fleas, ticks, and other potential carriers of worms is another possibility.
Contaminated soil and feces may contain roundworm larvae, which stick to the coat of puppies or adult dogs and get ingested while grooming.
2. What do worms look like in dog poop?
Each common type of worm in dogs has a distinct appearance. However, because of their microscopic size, not all of them are visible in dog poop, like hookworms.
On the other hand, roundworms in dogs have a spaghetti-like appearance in stools. Whipworms in dogs are like thin threads with a fat end. Tapeworm sheds segments, which look closely similar to grains of rice.
To get proper identification of worms in dogs, a stool sample needs to be submitted. The vet will run it under a microscope to its species.
3. How do dogs act when they have worms?
A lack of appetite is a behavioral symptom of worms in dogs that will gradually become apparent. Scooting or rubbing their rear on the ground also indicates the presence of intestinal parasites.
4. What are the signs of a dog having worms?
The most common signs of worms in dogs are a dull coat, weight loss, diarrhea, and vomiting. Severe cases of intestinal parasite infestation cause affected canines to have fits of coughing and a distended belly.
If left untreated, these parasites will infiltrate the vital organs of canines, such as the eyes, brain, and lungs. There is also the risk of excessive blood loss. All of these health complications can be fatal.
5. Can dog worms be contagious?
Some types of worms are solely transmitted from dog to dog. Others can be passed on to humans, such as roundworms. Maintaining proper hygiene plays a big role in preventing intestinal worm transmission.
Always wash your dog’s belongings once every 2 weeks. Clean up his poop immediately to keep it from becoming a breeding ground for worms. Bathe him once a month and give him a thorough wipe-down after exploring outdoors.
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your dog. Lastly, do not skip administering natural treatment and preventatives for worms in dogs.
Summary
Natural remedies can be useful for dealing with worm infestations in dogs, particularly if used early on in the infestation.
Check out our Diet & Recipes section for additional natural home remedies for various common canine ailments.
