Medicine For Pinworms For Dogs

What Medication Is Effective Against Pinworms In Dogs?

Pinworms are intestinal parasites that are mainly found in people but also in animals. Although it is a bit of a misconception that dogs are typical pinworm hosts, they are excellent carriers of pinworm eggs and can move them easily from person to person. If a dog or human in a household has pinworms, the whole family will need to be treated with antivirals as this parasite is particularly contagious and persistent. Medicine for pinworms for dogs targets the adult pinworm and breaks the cycle.

Pinworms and pinworm effects?

Pinworms (genus enterobius) are small, parasitic worms that live in the intestines of their host. The male measures a few millimeters in length while the female can be three times this. The female navigates down to the anal area of an evening and lays thousands of eggs; the cause of the excessive itching there and one of the main symptoms of pinworms. Other symptoms include stomach ache, loss of appetite, irritability, nausea, and vomiting.

There are many types of pinworms and the ones that grow inside dogs are different from the ones that infect people. Pinworm infections are best prevented by observing good hygiene, by always washing hands after playing with your dog to avoid any potential spreading of the worm eggs. This is especially important for kids.

Short of examining your dog’s anus if pinworm is suspected, if symptoms arise it is best to take your dog to the vet for testing. Roundworms and tapeworms on the other hand are easier to diagnose and to mix up with pinworm. Medicine for pinworms for dogs is specific for pinworms so seeing your vet is essential in getting the correct med.

Pinworm medicine

Luckily, treatment of pinworm is relatively straightforward and meds have been developed for those in dogs and humans. You should never take the pinworm medication that was prescribed for your dog or vice versa.

Common pinworm meds:

Dichlorvos: A phosphate-based insecticide medication that targets the pinworms’ stomachs. It is available in pellet, tablet or capsule form and can interact with other medicines so speak to the vet about any current meds your dog is taking. Healthy dogs can generally handle Dichlorvos with ease.
Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension: This drug is mainly administered to humans with pinworms, although is also engineered for use in dogs. Pyrantel is widely available and comes in liquid form.
Piperazine: Another liquid medicine for pinworms for dogs which is proven to be effective and comes with only minor side effects, such as nausea and muscle tremors.
Panacur Granules: Kills many types of worms, including pinworms.

Buying pinworms meds

Pinworm meds for both humans and dogs are widely available from pharmacies and veterinarians. While it is easiest to pick the medication up from your vets after having your dog positively ID’d, medicine for pinworms for dogs is also available from online pharmacies. As with most prescription meds, the various pinworm medications are pretty expensive, so a saving of 25 or 30 per cent by buying online is worth the little bit of extra hassle.