How often should I worm my adult dog in the UK?

Most adult dogs need worming every one to three months depending on the product and lifestyle. Dogs that hunt, eat raw meat or spend time with children may need more frequent treatment. Follow your vet's recommendation.

When should puppies be wormed?

From two weeks of age, every two weeks until twelve weeks, then monthly until six months. Puppies are born with roundworms and need regular treatment from early life.

Do UK dogs need lungworm prevention?

Yes in affected areas. Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is spread by slugs and snails and is increasingly found across the UK. Monthly preventive worming is recommended — ask your vet if your area is endemic.

What wormer do I need for travelling abroad with my dog?

Tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus multilocularis) must be given by a vet 24–120 hours before UK re-entry. This is separate from routine worming — your vet records it on the pet passport or health certificate.

Dog Health

Dog Worming Schedule UK

Published 25 June 2026Last updated 25 June 20263 min read

Quick answer

UK dogs need regular worming tailored to age and lifestyle. Puppies require frequent treatment from two weeks old. Adults typically need worming every 1–3 months. Lungworm prevention is essential in affected UK areas. Use vet-prescribed products — many supermarket wormers are ineffective.

Key takeaways

Most adult dogs need worming every one to three months depending on the product and lifestyle. Dogs that hunt, eat raw meat or spend time with children may need more frequent treatment. Follow your vet's recommendation.
From two weeks of age, every two weeks until twelve weeks, then monthly until six months. Puppies are born with roundworms and need regular treatment from early life.
Yes in affected areas. Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is spread by slugs and snails and is increasingly found across the UK. Monthly preventive worming is recommended — ask your vet if your area is endemic.

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Worms affecting UK dogs

Worm	Risk	Signs
Roundworm	High — puppies born infected; zoonotic	Pot belly, diarrhoea, visible worms
Tapeworm	Moderate — fleas, raw meat, scavenging	Segments in faeces, scooting
Lungworm	Increasing across UK	Coughing, bleeding, neurological signs
Hookworm	Lower in UK	Anaemia, diarrhoea
Whipworm	Lower in UK	Diarrhoea, weight loss

Roundworm and tapeworm are most common. Lungworm is the most dangerous and requires specific preventive products.

Puppy worming schedule

Age	Frequency
2 weeks	First dose
4, 6, 8 weeks	Every 2 weeks
12 weeks to 6 months	Monthly
6 months onwards	Adult schedule

Puppies acquire roundworms from their mother before birth and through milk. Early worming protects puppies and reduces zoonotic risk to children.

Adult dog worming schedule

Most UK vets recommend worming every one to three months for adult dogs. Frequency depends on:

Lifestyle — hunting, raw feeding, access to farmland increases risk
Contact with children — more frequent worming reduces zoonotic transmission
Lungworm risk — monthly treatment in endemic areas
Product used — some products last longer than others

Lifestyle	Suggested frequency
Indoor dog, low risk	Every 3 months
Average pet dog	Every 1–3 months
Hunting, raw-fed, rural	Monthly
Lungworm endemic area	Monthly with lungworm-active product

Ask your vet which schedule fits your dog.

Lungworm prevention

Angiostrongylus vasorum is spread when dogs eat slugs, snails or their slime trails on grass, toys or water bowls.

Signs include coughing, bleeding disorders (nosebleeds, bruising), neurological problems and sudden collapse. It can be fatal without treatment.

Not all wormers kill lungworm. Use a vet-prescribed product that specifically covers lungworm. Monthly treatment is recommended in affected areas across England, Wales and Scotland.

Tapeworm and travel

Routine tapeworm treatment differs from the travel requirement:

Routine — every 3 months for dogs that scavenge or have fleas
Travel — vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before UK re-entry (required for dogs only)

Your vet records travel tapeworm treatment on the pet passport or health certificate.

Choosing worming products

Purchase from your vet or pharmacy with veterinary approval
Match product to your dog's weight — underdosing is ineffective
Many supermarket and online products lack lungworm cover or are underdosed
Never use cat wormers on dogs or vice versa

The BVA advises using products prescribed for your pet's species, weight and lifestyle.

Signs your dog may have worms

Visible worms or segments in faeces
Scooting (dragging bottom on ground)
Diarrhoea or vomiting
Weight loss despite good appetite
Pot-bellied appearance in puppies
Coughing (lungworm)

Faecal testing can identify worms — but preventive worming is still recommended because not all worms are detected in every sample.

Affiliate links · Advertising

Flea and tick tools owners look for

These are Amazon searches, not recommendations — tools and home items only; your vet should advise on the right protection plan for your pet.

These links open Amazon searches for a general category of item — they are not recommendations of a particular product or brand. Links are marked * because if you buy something after following one we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We have not tested these items, and we cannot see prices or reviews from here. Nobody pays to appear in this section. How we make money

Tick remover tool
Twists a tick out whole without squeezing its body; your vet can advise on the right protection plan for your pet.
Search on Amazon*
Opens amazon.co.uk in a new tab
Fine-toothed flea comb
Combing over damp white paper shows up fleas and flea dirt, so you know what you're dealing with before you speak to your vet.
Search on Amazon*
Opens amazon.co.uk in a new tab
Household flea spray for carpets
Most of a flea problem lives in carpets and soft furnishings rather than on the pet — your vet can advise on the pet-side plan.
Search on Amazon*
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. PETHEALTH+ is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

Sources & further reading

Facts in this guide are rewritten in plain English from publicly available UK advice. We name the organisation where a specific point comes from their guidance. Links below go to the original pages — use them to read the source material directly.

PETHEALTH+ is independent. These organisations do not sponsor, approve, or partner with this website. Guidance checked against sources listed below (last updated 2026-06-25).

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I worm my adult dog in the UK?: Most adult dogs need worming every one to three months depending on the product and lifestyle. Dogs that hunt, eat raw meat or spend time with children may need more frequent treatment. Follow your vet's recommendation.
When should puppies be wormed?: From two weeks of age, every two weeks until twelve weeks, then monthly until six months. Puppies are born with roundworms and need regular treatment from early life.
Do UK dogs need lungworm prevention?: Yes in affected areas. Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is spread by slugs and snails and is increasingly found across the UK. Monthly preventive worming is recommended — ask your vet if your area is endemic.
What wormer do I need for travelling abroad with my dog?: Tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus multilocularis) must be given by a vet 24–120 hours before UK re-entry. This is separate from routine worming — your vet records it on the pet passport or health certificate.