Fleas, Ticks and Worms – Recommendations for Controlling Them in Dogs
Recommendations for Parasite Control
Administer year-round treatment with heartworm preventives that have broad-spectrum activity against parasites with zoonotic potential.
**
Administer preventive flea and/or tick products year-round.
- Conduct annual physical examination with complete history.
- Conduct annual heartworm testing in dogs and periodic testing in cats.
- Feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat) and provide fresh, potable water.
- Conduct fecal examinations two to four times during the first year of life and one to two times per year in adults, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors.
- Administer anthelmintic treatment to puppies at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, followed by administration of a monthly preventive.
- Administer biweekly anthelmintic treatment to kittens between 3 and 9 weeks of age, followed by administration of a monthly preventive.
- Treat nursing bitches and queens along with their offspring.
If optimal year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite products are not used:
- Deworm puppies at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age.
- In kittens, begin biweekly anthelmintic treatment between 3 and 9 weeks of age and then again monthly until 6 months of age.
- Conduct fecal examinations two to four times a year in adult pets, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors, and treat with appropriate parasiticides.
- Test for heartworm status yearly in dogs and/or before starting preventive medications.
- Tailor parasite prevention programs to parasite prevalence and pet lifestyle factors.
http://www.petsandparasites.org/about/parasite-control-guidelines.html