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The best dewormer for dogs

Written by Astrid | July 30, 2026

A good deworming routine is essential for the health of your dog and the people around them. Worms can silently cause damage in dogs and also pose a risk to public health, especially for children. By deworming your dog regularly, you protect them against harmful worms while also reducing the risk of infection for people and other animals. But which dewormer is the best choice?

What types of dewormers are available for dogs?

There are different types of deworming treatments available. Below you can read about the different options and what they are effective against.

Please note: Due to changes in legislation and regulations, deworming products for dogs are no longer available over the counter. For a suitable deworming treatment, please consult your own veterinarian. They can advise and prescribe the most appropriate product for your dog.

Tablets for worms in dogs

Easy to administer with a treat or hidden in a piece of meat. There are different types of tablets, each containing different active ingredients:

Milbemycin oxime + praziquantel
For example: Milbemax
Broad-spectrum: effective against roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and the fox tapeworm. This dewormer is also suitable for protecting your dog against heartworm. Read more in our blog: Heartworm in dogs and cats.
Pyrantel embonate + febantel + praziquantel
For example: Drontal Dog
Highly effective against most intestinal worms, including roundworms and tapeworms.
Fenbendazole
For example: Panacur
Widely used for Giardia and roundworms. Less suitable against tapeworms unless administered over a longer treatment period.

Paste for worms in dogs

Ideal for puppies or dogs that struggle to swallow tablets. The paste is administered directly into the mouth using a syringe. Well-known worming pastes include:

Vitaminthe:
Active ingredient: niclosamide – effective against roundworms and tapeworms.
Banminth Paste
Active ingredient: pyrantel – works well against roundworms and is ideal for young puppies.
Panacur Paste
Active ingredient: fenbendazole – broad-spectrum use, including against Giardia.
Flubenol Paste
Active ingredient: flubendazole – effective against roundworms and whipworms.

Not every product is effective against every worm

Although almost all deworming products are effective against roundworms, this is not the case for tapeworms.

If you also want to treat tapeworms, the product must contain praziquantel.
Praziquantel is also essential for treating the dangerous fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis).

Please note: not every dewormer contains this ingredient, so always check the label carefully or ask for advice.

The best dewormer for puppies

Puppies are particularly susceptible to roundworms because they can become infected through their mother’s milk or even before birth while still in the womb.

That is why there are special deworming products for young puppies, such as:

Drontal Pup (liquid suspension containing pyrantel and febantel)
Banminth Paste (containing pyrantel)

These products are gentle on the digestive system, effective against roundworms and suitable for puppies from 2 weeks of age.

Which dewormer should you use for dogs with an MDR1 gene mutation?

Some dogs, such as Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties), Australian Shepherds and related breeds, may carry the MDR1 gene mutation. This mutation means that certain medications, including some dewormers, are not processed properly by the brain. As a result, serious side effects such as lethargy, vomiting, muscle tremors or even coma may occur.

Do not use products containing ivermectin in these dogs, or consult your veterinarian to determine which deworming treatment is safe to use.

A dewormer containing Pyrantel embonate + Febantel + Praziquantel, such as Drontal, is generally considered a safe choice.

Products such as Milbemax (milbemycin oxime + praziquantel) have been found to be safe by the manufacturer when used at the correct dosage. However, these products should only be used in consultation with your veterinarian.

If you are unsure whether your dog carries the MDR1 gene mutation, have them tested before administering medication or a deworming treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you deworm your dog?

Puppies: at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age, then monthly until they are 6 months old.

Adult dogs: every 3 months (4 times a year).

Read our detailed guide: How often should you deworm your dog? or use our Dog Deworming Guide to determine how often your dog should be dewormed.

How do you know if your dog has worms?

Symptoms of a worm infestation in your dog may include:

Diarrhoea or inconsistent stools
Itching around the anus (scooting)
Weight loss
A dull coat
Visible worms in the faeces or around the anus

Please note: dogs can also be infected without showing any symptoms.

Your veterinarian can examine your dog’s faeces for worm eggs.

What happens if you don't deworm your dog?

An untreated worm infestation can lead to:

Intestinal problems
Stunted growth in puppies
Reduced immunity
Transmission to people (for example, children through contaminated soil or sandpits)

Prevention is better than cure!

Natural deworming for your dog

You can help make your dog’s intestines more resistant to parasites with natural deworming products. In addition, by regularly performing a worm test on your dog’s faeces, you can reduce the use of conventional deworming treatments and lower the risk of resistance developing.

Do you need help choosing the right dewormer for your dog or puppy? Please contact us at veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.

Read our other blogs

How often should you deworm your dog?

We are often asked how many times you should worm your dog. To answer this you must know why you should worm your dog and also against which worms. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions when it comes to worming a dog.

Heartworm in dogs and cats

Hearworm, also known as the Dirofilaria Immitis, is a parasite that lives around the Mediterranean whose larvae are transmitted by stinging mosquitoes. Both dogs and cats can be infected. Cats seem to be less susceptible to infection than dogs. In many cats, the larvae do not grow into adult worms and the cat has no symptoms. Because some cats can get sick or even die from the worm, it is very important to treat cats preventively against heartworm, just like dogs.

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About the author

Mara van Brussel-Broere, Veterinarian at Vetsend

Graduated as a companion animal veterinarian from Utrecht University, she uses her practical experience to advise customers and share knowledge at Vetsend. She finds it important to provide pet owners with clear information about health and wellbeing.