Deworming is the least glamorous part of owning a dog, and probably the most skipped. Nobody posts their dog's deworming schedule on Instagram. But of all the health questions we get asked in our stores, "which dewormer should I use" is near the top, usually from someone standing in front of the shelf looking slightly overwhelmed.
Fair enough. The boxes all make similar claims and the active ingredients read like a chemistry exam. So here's the plain-language version.
Why this matters more in South Africa than you might think
Our climate is kind to parasites. Warm weather, communal parks, and a lot of dogs that live outdoors mean worm eggs are everywhere: in soil, in other dogs' droppings, in the fleas your dog swallows while grooming. Even a clean, indoor-living dog picks things up on walks.
Most worm infestations are invisible in the early stages. By the time you see the classic signs, a pot belly, a dull coat, weight loss despite a good appetite, scooting, or the unmistakable rice-grain segments of tapeworm around the tail, the worms have been freeloading for a while. Some of them, roundworm especially, can pass to humans, and children are most at risk. That's the real reason vets bang on about routine deworming.
The standard advice, and we agree with it: deworm adult dogs every three months. Set a reminder for the first of every season and the thinking is done for you.
The four worms you're treating for
You don't need a parasitology degree, just a rough map. Roundworms are the most common, especially in puppies, who often get them from their mother. Hookworms latch onto the gut wall and feed on blood, which is why heavy infestations cause anaemia. Whipworms live in the lower gut and cause on-and-off diarrhoea. Tapeworms arrive via fleas, which is why flea control and deworming are a package deal, not alternatives.
A good broad-spectrum dewormer covers all four. Every product we recommend below does.
Our picks, honestly
Milbemax and Milpro are our first recommendation for most dogs. Both use the same active combination (milbemycin and praziquantel), come as small flavoured tablets that most dogs take like a treat, and cover the big four worms plus protection against heartworm and the lungworm-type parasites. Milpro is the generic and costs less for the same actives, which is why it's the one we most often suggest. If your dog travels to heartworm areas along the KZN coast or Lowveld, this family of dewormers is the sensible choice.
Drontal is the veteran, and there's a reason vets have handed it out for decades. Broad-spectrum, beef flavoured, dosed at one tablet per 10kg (with a separate large-breed tablet at one per 35kg). It doesn't cover heartworm, but for routine intestinal worm control in a dog that stays home, it's dependable and easy.
Antezole paste is the answer for the dog that can detect a hidden tablet in a ball of cheese from across the room. The dial-a-dose syringe lets you dose accurately by weight and squirt it straight in. There's also an Antezole tablet version sold as singles or a 50-tub, which works out economical for multi-dog households.
Triworm-D is the budget pick, and there's no shame in it. Same job, scored tablets at one per 10kg, safe from two weeks of age and for pregnant bitches. If cost is the reason deworming keeps sliding down your to-do list, this removes the excuse.
Exitel Plus XL rounds out the range as another broad-spectrum tablet option for bigger dogs if your usual pick is out of stock.
The honest truth is that for routine deworming of a healthy adult dog, all of these work. The differences that matter are heartworm cover (Milbemax and Milpro yes, the others no), format (tablet vs paste), and price. Pick the one that matches your dog's lifestyle and your ability to actually get it into the dog.
Puppies are a different schedule entirely
This is the part most new owners don't know. Puppies are commonly born with roundworms or pick them up through their mother's milk, so they need deworming every two weeks from 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks, then monthly until six months, and only then do they join the adult every-three-months routine.
If you've just brought a puppy home, ask the breeder or shelter for the deworming record and carry on from there. If there's no record, start now. The mother should be dewormed at the same time as her litter.
For which product: Milpro has a dedicated small dog and puppy tablet, and Triworm-D and Antezole both dose down safely for small bodies using their scored tablets. When in doubt on a very small puppy, weigh them first. Guessing weight is how underdosing happens, and an underdosed dewormer is a wasted one.
Worms and fleas: treat both or you're wasting money
Tapeworm has a life cycle that runs through fleas. Your dog swallows an infected flea while grooming, and a few weeks later the tapeworm is back, no matter how good your dewormer is. So if you've seen tapeworm segments, treat the fleas at the same time or the cycle just repeats. Our flea and tick treatment comparison covers the options, and products like NexGard Spectra combine flea, tick and worm control in one monthly chew if you'd rather consolidate.
When to see the vet instead
Routine deworming is a home job. These situations aren't: a puppy with severe diarrhoea or a pot belly and visible weakness, worms in vomit, pale gums, a dog that keeps reinfesting despite a proper schedule, or any dog that's unwell before you dose. A faecal test at the vet costs little and tells you exactly what you're dealing with, which beats treating blind.
And if your dog is on any chronic medication, check with your vet before combining products. Antezole, for example, shouldn't be given alongside piperazine-based wormers.
The short version
Deworm every three months. Puppies every two weeks until 12 weeks, then monthly to six months. Match the product to your dog: Milpro or Milbemax for the best coverage, Drontal for reliable routine control, Antezole paste for tablet refusers, Triworm-D for tight budgets. Control fleas at the same time. Weigh your dog before dosing.
Browse the full dog dewormer range, and if you're not sure which fits your dog, message us on WhatsApp. It's a two-minute conversation.
FAQs
What is the best dewormer for dogs in South Africa?
For most dogs, Milpro or Milbemax, because they cover roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm plus heartworm protection. Drontal is an equally reliable choice for routine intestinal worm control.
Which dewormer is best for puppies?
Milpro's small dog and puppy tablet, or a scored tablet like Triworm-D dosed precisely to weight. Puppies need deworming every two weeks from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly until six months.
How often should I deworm my dog?
Every three months for adult dogs. Dogs with high exposure, like working dogs or dogs in multi-dog households, may need more frequent treatment on a vet's advice.
Do I still need to deworm if my dog is on flea treatment?
Yes. Flea treatments and dewormers do different jobs, though combination products like NexGard Spectra cover both. Flea control does help prevent tapeworm reinfection.
How do I know if my dog has worms?
Common signs are a pot belly, dull coat, weight loss, scooting, diarrhoea, and rice-like segments near the tail. Many infestations show no signs at all, which is why routine deworming matters.
