Open the app
Health guides for your dog and cat

Deworming dogs and cats: how often, and why it is also a matter of human health

How many times a year should you deworm a dog or cat? Puppy, kitten, adult, indoor cat: recommended frequencies, the parasites targeted and the risks for the family.

August 4, 2026 · 1 min read

Intestinal worms are invisible, common and, for some of them, transmissible to humans. Deworming is not a detail in the health record.

Which parasites are targeted

  • Roundworms: very common in puppies and kittens, transmissible to children.
  • Tapeworms: spread by fleas or hunting (rodents).
  • Hookworms, whipworms: depending on the environment.
  • Some dewormers also cover heartworm or lungworm, useful depending on the region and travel.

Recommended frequencies

| Animal | Indicative frequency | |---|---| | Puppy and kitten | Every 2 weeks until 8 weeks, then monthly until 6 months | | Low-risk adult (strictly indoor cat) | 1 to 2 times a year | | Standard adult | Every 3 months (4 times a year) | | High-risk adult (hunting, children at home, shelter dog, raw feeding) | Monthly | | Pregnant or nursing female | Specific protocol set by the vet |

Why your family is concerned

Roundworm eggs, shed in faeces, survive a long time in soil and sand. A child playing in the garden or sandpit can swallow them: toxocariasis, rare but serious. Regular deworming, picking up faeces and washing hands greatly reduce the risk.

Tablet, spot-on, injection?

There are tablets, spot-on pipettes and pastes. They do not all cover the same parasites: the choice depends on the animal and its lifestyle, and your vet adapts it.

Deworming and flea control go together

The most common tapeworm is spread by fleas: regular flea treatment is part of prevention.

The reminder at the right time

In the Zoolinko health record, every deworming is dated, and the app alerts you at the next due date. Your vet sees the full history.

General information: frequency and product are adapted by your vet.