Last Updated: 24/08/2026
Puppy Worming Schedule: How Often to Worm Your Puppy
Puppies need worming every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, monthly until 6 months, then every 3 months for life. Our vet explains why the interval is so tight for puppies, the signs of worms to watch for, whether they spread to people, and how to choose the right all-wormer.
Author: Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
Bringing home a new puppy comes with a long list of things to organise, and worming is one of the easiest to let slip. Intestinal worms are common in puppies. Some puppies are even born with worms, picked up from their mum in the womb. The reassuring part is that the routine to deal with worms is simple, once you know it.
Read on to learn the simple, vet-approved timetable for worming your puppy from their first weeks through to adulthood.
Why Do Puppies Need Worming So Often?
Puppies can be carrying worms before they are even born. Roundworm larvae can cross the placenta while a puppy is still in the womb, and hookworm can pass through mum’s milk during feeding. So a puppy can arrive in your home already carrying worms.
Puppies also explore the world with their mouths, and their immune system has not yet learnt to keep parasites in check. That combination is why the worming interval is much tighter than it is for an adult dog. For the full breakdown of the four worm types and how dogs pick them up, see our detailed guide to worms in dogs.
What Is the Puppy Worming Schedule?
The routine is simple once you know it. Australian vets recommend intestinal worming on this timetable:
- 2 weeks to 12 weeks of age: worm every 2 weeks
- 12 weeks to 6 months: worm once a month
- 6 months and older: worm every 3 months, for life
Once your puppy graduates to the adult routine, our guide to how often you should worm your dog covers maintaining it.
A tip that saves a lot of forgotten doses: set the dates as recurring phone reminders the day you bring your puppy home, and write them alongside your puppy's vaccination schedule so you have one timeline for everything. Worming is easy to remember for the first month and surprisingly easy to lose track of after that.
How Would I Know If My Puppy Has Worms?
Common signs of intestinal worms in puppies include:
- A pot belly
- Poor growth
- Weight loss despite a good appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Pale gums
- Sometimes visible worms in the poo
Important: plenty of puppies with worms look completely healthy. A puppy with worms does not always look sick, which is exactly why sticking to the schedule matters regardless of signs. If you are unsure whether your puppy’s poop is normal, our guide to puppy and kitten poop problems has you covered.
Can Puppy Worms Spread to People?
Yes, some of them can. Roundworm and hookworm are both able to infect humans, and young children are most at risk because they are closest to the ground, most likely to let puppies lick their face and mouth and are still learning to wash their hands properly.
To reduce the spread of worms to yourself and your family:
- Ensure your puppy receives regular worming treatment at the recommended intervals
- Pick up poo daily from the yard as well as on walks, because worm eggs need time in the environment to become infective and removing poo promptly breaks the cycle
- Practice good hygiene and wash hands after handling your puppy, especially before eating
and hookworm are both able to infect humans, and young children are most at risk because they are closest to the ground, most likely to let puppies lick their face and mouth and are still learning to wash their hands properly.
To reduce the spread of worms to yourself and your family:
- Ensure your puppy receives regular worming treatment at the recommended intervals
- Pick up poo daily from the yard as well as on walks, because worm eggs need time in the environment to become infective and removing poo promptly breaks the cycle
- Practice good hygiene and wash hands after handling your puppy, especially before eating
Which Worming Product Does a Puppy Need?
Look for a vet-recommended all-wormer, meaning one that covers roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm together. These come as tablets, chews, pastes and spot-on liquids.
- Always dose by current weight: puppies grow fast, and underdosing is one of the most common reasons worming fails. This is why weighing your puppy regularly at home or at the vet is important.
- Check whether heartworm is covered separately. Some all-wormers also protect against heartworm, but many don’t. Heartworm is a different parasite needing its own prevention. Our guide to heartworm in dogs explains what your puppy needs and when to start.
- Ensure your puppy is also protected from external parasites including fleas, mites and ticks. Many parasite products are broad spectrum and cover a range of internal and external parasites, so it is worth checking what your puppy's treatment already includes before adding another. Our flea, tick and worming guide for dogs covers each parasite in more detail.
Don't be alarmed if you spot dead worms in your puppy's stool in the day or two after treatment. That can happen, and it means the product has done its job. If your puppy seems unwell after a dose, contact your vet or see our guide to adverse reactions to flea, tick and worming products. For more information.
When Should You Talk to Your Vet?
Worming is preventive care, and it complements rather than replaces a check-up with your own vet. Book a visit if your puppy:
- has diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours, or any blood in their stool
- is vomiting, lethargic or off their food
- has a swollen belly, pale gums, or is not putting on weight as expected
- has missed several worming treatments and you are not sure where to restart
By being proactive rather than reactive, you are protecting both your puppy and your family from parasites.
Puppy Worming FAQs
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon Aug 24 2026
Written by Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Veterinarian
Dr Olivia graduated from Murdoch University in 2015 and worked in Western Australia before moving to Sydney to work in specialist practice as an avian and exotics veterinarian. Olivia has thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of species and interesting cases in her time as an exotics veterinarian. She has a particular soft spot for rabbits and thoroughly enjoys all aspects of rabbit medicine and surgery. She also has many years of experience working with dogs and cats as well as an array of wildlife.
