Deworming Kittens at Home

by Nancy

Hello I am getting a 7 week old kitten on Friday and it has not been dewormed. Can I purchase deworming medicine at my local pet shop and do the job myself?

Thank you.

Nancy

Vet Suggestion on Deworming Kittens at Home

Hi Nancy,

Yes, you can purchase a safe and effective deworming medication over-the-counter for kittens. Look for pyrantel pamoate as the active ingredient. These products will kill roundworms and hookworms when used appropriately.

Beware, however, that there is no such thing as an all-in-one dewormer, which is why your veterinarian still needs to perform a fecal exam on your kitten, even if you have dewormed him or her yourself. Your kitten could have parasites like Coccidia or Giardia, and these would require that your kitten be treated with different medications.

Have fun with your new kitten!

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM