Dewormer For Chihuahuas: Our Best Picks!

Are you looking for the best dewormer for your chihuahua puppy? Then you have come to the right place to do so! We will be listing the best dewormers for chihuahua puppies that you can purchase at a reasonable amount. With these options on our list, you can ensure that your chihuahua puppy maintains a clean and healthy stomach.

We will also provide you with some other information when it comes to picking the right dewormer, even if it is outside of this list. However, before we proceed to the list, we will need to discuss a very important precaution you should know about. Following this precaution can ensure that it won’t compromise your chihuahua puppy’s health during the deworming process.

An Important Precaution You Should Follow Before Proceeding

✅ Dose-Weight-Age

It is very important for any puppy, regardless of its breed, to go to the vet regularly. This is to receive proper treatments, vaccinations, probiotics, and other possible procedures. At a certain age, your puppy will be required to be dewormed by your vet. And also, vet clinics now offer at-home deworming training and techniques to know the right dosing. The dosage of the dewormer needs to be appropriate for your puppy’s age and weight; not following the proper dosage can lead to health complications and even death.

✅ Check-up before purchase

Unless you had a puppy before or already received your vet’s instructions, the safest bet is to hold off the dewormers and do the necessary procedures. In other cases, there may also be some particular treatment that the vet requires for specific cases. Bringing your chihuahua puppy to the vet will allow you to detect possible complications early on before they even develop.

✅ Vet prescription

Another piece of conception to keep in mind is that these options are over-the-counter dewormers. Some types of dewormers may need prescriptions, while some are recommended or even given directly to you by the vet. If your vet has already prescribed your puppy a specific brand or type of dewormer, then it is best if you follow that one.

It would help if you also remembered that some of the options in this list come with a weight range. If your chihuahua puppy is on the smaller or lighter side, you may want to search for specific ones that your vet has to offer.

With that out of the way, let us proceed to our list.

PRODUCT	BRAND	OUR RATING	CHECK ON AMAZON
	SENTRY OTC Dewormer		Check Price
	BAYER Quad Dewormer		Check Price
	DURVET Liquid Wormer		Check Price
	SAFE-GUARD Canine Dewormer		Check Price
	PANACUR C Dewormer		Check Price

Other Dewormers To Add To Your Options

Bayer Chewable Quad Dewormer

Bayer Chewable is a delectable tablet dewormer that is perfect for chihuahua puppies who don’t like the grim taste of common medicinal dewormers. Bayer Chewable offers a chewy tablet that is similar to the taste of a typical dog treat, beef jerky, which a lot of dogs (including your chihuahua) love. This tablet also has a wide weight range that can treat dogs from anywhere between 2 and 25 pounds, which is suitable for puppies and even adult dogs. 

Not only does this chewable dewormer excel in terms of taste, but it also covers a respectable amount of strains of common worms in dogs. Its main targets are common hookworms (Uncinaria stenocephala and Ancylostoma caninum) and common roundworms (Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis), as well as common whipworms (Trichuris vulpis). However, one pack can only contain four tablets each. But depending on your chihuahua’s weight, you will only need half a tablet if they weigh around 2 lbs. 

Durvet 2x Liquid Wormer

Durvet 2x is a versatile liquid dewormer that is suitable for all ages. However, the youngest chihuahua puppy that can use it needs to be around two weeks of age to be safe enough for consumption. The dosage is one teaspoonful or 5ml for every 10 lbs of weight, which requires you to do a little math for chihuahua puppies who typically weigh less than 10 lbs. For this reason, weighing your chihuahua puppy before administering the dewormer is absolutely necessary.

The liquid dewormer mainly works against hookworms and large roundworms, which are both relatively common strains of worms. It provides a more comfortable experience for your chihuahua puppy as it has tolerable taste. You also do not need to withhold any food for your chihuahua before usage, meaning you can use it and still follow your regular feeding schedule. 

8in1 Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer

Safe-Guard is a dewormer that is appropriate for older puppies from small breeds, including our chihuahua companion. You can use this dewormer against four common strains of worms: whipworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. However, you can only use this dewormer for puppies over six weeks of age. Fortunately, older chihuahuas can still benefit from this as you can also use it for adult dogs.

Each pack contains three patches of granules that you can mix with your chihuahua’s food. However, the treatment lasts for three days, which means you have to mix the granules each day within those three days. After that, your chihuahua puppy will be resistant to worms for about six months.

Panacur C Canine Dewormer

Panacur C is a granule dewormer that is advisable to use for chihuahua puppies six weeks or older. Like the previous option in our list, you need to administer this dewormer for three consecutive days by mixing it with your chihuahua’s food. If your chihuahua puppy eats dry food or kibble, you must moisten it to make the granules more digestible. 

Each pack can treat a dog at around 10 lbs, which means you will need a little bit of help from your vet to administer this to your chihuahua puppy. Rationing the granules into the amount appropriate to your chihuahua’s weight is necessary for the treatment to work correctly. 

How To Pick Dewormers For Your Chihuahua Puppy

🐕 Knowing What Weight Range Of The Dewormer Is Suitable For

Like some of the dewormers on our list, there will usually be a specified weight range on the description of each dewormer. This weight range is specifically for puppies whose weight falls under that range. Most chihuahua puppies can weigh within the suggested weight range, but in some cases, there will be chihuahuas who will be on the lighter and more petite side.

Before buying a dewormer, it is very important to know your chihuahua’s weight first in order to determine what to look for. This is very important as it can affect the next section of this list.

🐕 Choosing Between Liquid And Tablet Dewormers

There are two initial options to choose from when it comes to dewormers. Liquid and tablet dewormers, as their name suggests, differ in how your chihuahua puppy takes them. However, the difference we are looking for does not merely lie in their general description as a solid or liquid choice for ingestion. We actually have to look into the dosage for each type’s ingestion.

💊 Tablet form

Tablet dewormers are solid treatments that usually resemble dog treats. Their advantage is that they can appear as treats for your chihuahua puppy and are less intimidating than liquid dewormers. However, the tablets will usually have a fixed weight range when it comes to their dosage. For this reason, many smaller dog breeds, such as the chihuahua, can be left out by some tablet dewormers because the range of the recommended dosage exceeds their lighter bodyweight.

💊 Liquid form

On the other hand, Liquid dewormers can be much more versatile as their dosage will depend on your puppy’s own weight. These dewormers don’t usually have a fixed weight range, and there is just a certain amount of milliliters that you need to follow, depending on your puppy’s current weight. One downside, however, is that you must administer these dewormers to your chihuahua using a syringe or a medicine dropper. This way of ingesting the medicine isn’t exactly the most appealing to a puppy and can even frighten them in some cases.

Your best pick will depend on what you want more: ease of ingestion or versatility? You should also note that several liquid dewormers need more constant doses than tablet dewormers. As seen in our best choice, one tablet is enough to protect the puppy from dogs for up to 30 days.

🐕 Knowing What Strains Of Worms They Target

Unlike our best pick, which targets up to seven strains of worms, some dewormers only target fewer strains. Most of the parasitic worms you will find in dogs are commonly found in a lot of places, and finding one that can target most of them can significantly benefit your chihuahua puppy and make your money’s worth. Some dewormers are labeled with the strains of worms they work well against, while some simply indicate that they generally work with any of these unwanted guests.

🐕 Environment

An important thing to keep in mind is the area you and your chihuahua puppy live in. If you live near a farm, then it may be likely that your chihuahua comes across a chicken’s droppings or the fleas that follow after. These conditions can cause the spread of tapeworms and roundworms to other animals, including your chihuahua puppy. It also doesn’t help that puppies are naturally curious, which can sometimes lead them to sniff or even consume the droppings of other animals.

Regardless, you will also have to know if the dewormer you are getting is vet-quality in terms of its contents. Good dewormers will do their job with little to no side effects for the dog. The process should actually be painless or at least with only minimal discomfort as the treatment is made to relieve the effects caused by the parasites.

🐕 Asking For Your Vet’s Recommendation

Since you are most likely going to bring your chihuahua puppy to the vet anyway, your safest bet will be to consult them directly. Your vet will be able to detect any possible complications your puppy may have at an early age. In the event that this does happen, your vet will be able to provide you with a specific dewormer that will be safe and comfortable for your chihuahua.

If you are still second-guessing about the brand or type of dewormer you should get, you may contact them for advice. Some will be glad to discuss and explain the instructions to you, even if it’s just through the phone. However, you will definitely need to have specific equipment at homes, such as a weighing scale or a syringe if you will be using a liquid dewormer.

Knowing When To Deworm Your Chihuahua Puppy

Puppies, in general, will need to be dewormed at 2 to 3 weeks of age. After the initial dosage, they can be dewormed every two weeks until 12 weeks of age. Once they reach their first birthday, they will only need to be dewormed monthly.

However, there are some health manifestations that you should watch out for. There are rare cases where the dewormer may not work. This is primarily due to the specific strain of worms that infected your chihuahua. Because remember that not all parasites are included in the dewormer’s targeted strains. In this case, the symptoms below will start to appear:

⚕️ Loss Of Appetite

Due to the harmful effects of the parasitic worms, your puppy may start to lose appetite. You may also witness a sudden decrease in weight in your chi. This is due to the worms constantly absorbing nutrients from the puppy’s body.

⚕️ Lethargy/Fatigue

Because of the lack of sustenance along with the parasitic behavior of the worms, the chihuahua puppy will start to develop fatigue and lethargy. They will usually stay in one spot for prolonged periods while refusing to interact with you or other pets.

⚕️ Changes In The Abdomen’s Appearance

When the puppy starts to lose weight, but its abdomen still looks enlarged compared to the rest of its body, it should be pretty clear that it’s a case of worms. This phenomenon is known as becoming a “pot-bellied” dog.

⚕️ Coughing

You may notice some coughing from your chihuahua puppy. Sneezing is often usual, especially when going outside where your puppy is likely to sniff foreign materials. However, if your puppy has worms, it will start to cough constantly and uncontrollably. 

⚕️ Fur loss and excessive itching

You may notice your chihuahua puppy suddenly starts itching its body uncontrollably. Even if they are still puppies, dogs have pretty sharp claws that can break their skin, causing the follicles in that area to be unable to grow fur.

⚕️ Vomiting

Even if they ate anything or not, your puppy may experience vomiting. This is a response to the irritation caused by the worms inside its intestine. 

⚕️ Presence Of Worms In Droppings

The most critical symptom that confirms the presence of worms, as gross as it may sound, is by looking at your chihuahua’s droppings. You may either see living worms in the feces or small dots, which can indicate the presence of worm eggs. If this happens indoors, take it out and clean the area immediately, especially if your household has other pets or small children that may also be infected by the parasites. 

⚕️ Diagnosis

However, you should note that you can only confirm the actual presence of parasites in your chihuahua’s stomach through lab tests. Though these symptoms are the primary indicators, the most accurate way you can identify the parasite and even its strain are through a fecal test.

Bottom Line

Chihuahua puppies are sometimes a particular case when it comes to these procedures due to their smaller sizes. But with knowledge and experience when it comes to these necessary steps, you will be able to provide your chihuahua with a healthy and comfortable life. No one wants to see their beloved furry companion to be infested with unwanted guests in the form of parasites. So, you should provide them with the best accessible dewormer.

Lastly, expect that your chihuahua will have a sensitive stomach after deworming. So, you must be careful about what food you are giving to your puppy. To avoid making the health condition worse, click this link to know what foods are best for chihuahuas with sensitive stomachs.