The 8 Best Dog Worming Tablets: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Intestinal worms are unpleasant to think about but need to be dealt with. No matter if you have a puppy or an adult dog, you will have to deal with worming medication sooner or later.

To help you find the best option for your dog, we teamed up with veterinarians and other canine experts to test out and rank the best dog worming tablets Australia offers. After months of research, we finally agreed on the list below, which is here to help you find the right product for your dog. Let's check them out.

Australia's Best Dog Worming Tablets

As you can see, there are quite a few options to choose from in your search for the best wormer for dogs. Since we teamed up with veterinarians and other canine experts and did the research for you, all you have to do is read our reviews to discover the best option for your pooch.

Below is a list of reliable and effective options:

The Endogard Allwormer is a simple and easy solution that will protect against all kinds of intestinal worms. It really covers all the intestinal worms: roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and tapeworm (this is important because many products don’t protect against tapeworm).

Tapeworm doesn’t react to the same active ingredients as other types of worms, but Endogard covers them all. As you will see with our number two choice, this dewormer does not cover heartworm since it's not an intenstinal worm, so that's important to keep in mind.

Moreover, Endogard acts both as prevention and as a remedy for existing infestation. If your pooch is already infested with worms, you will notice improvements within a couple of days from giving the tablet. In general, one dose of Endogard should be given every 3 months (although it can sometimes be given more often, in consultation with a vet).

The Endogard Allwormer comes in the form of tablets. We know this can be an issue for some canines who refuse to swallow a tab even if it’s well hidden in food. These tablets are liver flavour which usually does the trick.

Another good thing is that one of Endogard tablets are usually smaller than those of competitors. For example, my 40-kg dog only needed two tablets. To determine the exact amount your pupper needs, consult the back of the package (it depends on the weight of your dog). It’s also quite easy to break the tablet in half, which is something owners of small dogs on our expert panel testing appreciated since they often needed less than a whole tab.

These tablets from Milbemax are the classic old-school wormer tablets. They work quickly and effectively. Like our number one choice, they get rid of existing infestations and prevent them from developing in the future, if administered on a regular basis.  In this case, all you need to do is get the dog to swallow the right dose every three months or so.

Our team of experts note that Milbemax offers broad-spectrum protection against intestinal worms. This means it will deal with all types of intestinal worms, including hookworms. Just keep in mind that heartworm is not covered since this is not an intestinal worm. These tablets are also quite affordable, which makes them one of the most popular choices among vets and pet parents.

There is hardly any downside to these worming tablets. The only potential issue is the taste. Although Milbemax says these are flavoured, some picky eaters will refuse to swallow the tab. However, this is not the end of the world. During our testing phase, we discovered that sneaking the tab into some food usually did the trick.

While heartworm is technically a roundworm (3), wormers aimed at intestinal parasites usually don't work against heartworm, which is the case with our first two recommendations. If you live in an area where heartworm disease is an issue, like my dog and I, then you should keep that in mind and consider heartworm prevention too. It can be given separately from your classic wormer, or you can choose a 2-in-1 solution like Interceptor Spectrum.

Our expert team like the idea of having both in one tablet. Even better, this is not technically a tablet but a tasty chew. Most dogs will eat those straight from your hand, thus eliminating the struggle of getting your dog to swallow a pill.

Remember that unlike with intestinal worms, testing your dog for heartworm is recommended before starting preventive treatment like Interceptor. Once they've been cleared, you'll need to feed your dog an Interceptor chew once per month to keep them protected.

The Drontal Allwormer Chewable is one of the most effective worming medications available. It simply seems to work every time, as we have not yet heard of any pet parents complaining about this one in reviews or from our expert panel of researchers.

The Drontal Allwormer protects from all known intestinal worms, so there is really nothing to worry about. I also appreciate how Drontal prevents Giardia infections from going wild. Giardia is a microscopic parasite that does not often cause problems in dogs, but the infection can be unpleasant if it does happen (4). Therefore, our experts note that having an additional layer of protection is a good idea.

In addition to all of this, Drontal Allwormer comes in the form of a tasty chewable. Like our number one pick, it contains real liver, and it will likely fool even the pickiest canines.

Tapeworms are just one among many different types of intestinal worms that can affect dogs. However, tapeworms are also among the most common, since they can be transmitted by fleas (5).

The thing with tapeworms is that they often respond to different active ingredients in medication than other types of worms. That’s why these tablets from Droncit are designed to fight tapeworms - and tapeworms only. 

The obvious downside is that these tablets don’t prevent other kinds of intestinal parasites unlike the other options on this list. However, if your dog is fighting a tapeworm infestation (and you are certain it is tapeworm), Droncit is an easy and affordable solution. We keep it on hand in my dog-filled household, just in case.

What if we were to tell you that you can take care of all of your dog’s parasite protection with just one product? On top of that, your dog will think they are getting a treat? Well, that’s Nexgard Spectra!

Nexgard Spectra is a chewable tablet that is given once per month and provides all-round protection for your dog. This means intestinal worms, heartworm prevention as well as ticks and fleas. Nexgard Spectra is a bit more expensive than other allwormers (especially considering it needs to be administered every month), but I definitely think it's worth the price considering it eliminates the need for additional flea and tick protection.

The Spectra comes in the form of a chewable that tastes like beef. It seems to be really tasty, since every member of our expert team noted that even the most picky dogs chewed these up with pleasure.

The only potential concern with Nexgard Spectra is the main active ingredient: afoxolaner. Afoxolaner belongs to the class of Isoxazolines. Although such cases are quite rare, these compounds are known to cause seizures in dogs (6). The percentage of cases where seizures occur is very rare, and one could only expect the ingredient that protects your dog from everything to be quite strong. All in all, Nexgard is considered safe for dogs, but it’s recommended to watch your dog closely the first time you give them this medication.

Puppies are way more sensitive than adult dogs. At the same time, they are also way more susceptible to intestinal worms and they need deworming treatment more frequently. For this reason, our experts note that it is best to choose a product made specifically for puppies. This worming suspension from Drontal was designed specifically with young puppies in mind.

Giving a puppy liquid medicine might seem complicated at first glance, but actually isn’t. It also helps that the Drontal suspension is flavoured, so I was able to easily mix the right dose into my puppies’ food. If yours refuses to eat the food, though, it’s also possible to administer the liquid directly using a syringe.

Overall, our panel of experts think it's a great solution for deworming puppies. Effective and reliable. The only downside is that it doesn’t work against tapeworm, like our number five choice.

Although oral medication is the most common choice when it comes to worming treatments, it is also possible to use a spot-on treatment. After plenty of research, our team of experts note that the most reliable option when it comes to this type of worm treatment is the Advocate spot-on treatment.

Advocate comes in liquid form that I simply applied to the skin of my dog’s back. The treatment is effective against fleas, heartworm, and all types of intestinal worms except for tapeworm. 

This is possible because the liquid contains two active ingredients. The first of them is Imidacloprid that spreads over your pooch’s coat through the fatty layer of the skin and coat. The second ingredient, Moxidectin, actually gets absorbed into the bloodstream and kills heartworm and intestinal worms. I think this is a great all-around option like Nexgard, our number six choice.

Do All Dogs Need Worming Tablets?

The short answer is yes. All dogs need worming treatment at some point in their life. 

Most dogs get infested with worms eventually if you don’t take steps to prevent this. This is because there are many ways dogs can end up infested with worms. As we all know, canines like to lick almost anything they encounter. When this is done outside it can lead to swallowing worm eggs or larvae. Puppies can even get certain types of worms through their mother’s milk.

The easiest way to stave off the unpleasant consequences of worms in dogs is to act preventively. Most veterinarians recommend giving an all-wormer to your dog on a regular basis throughout their life to get rid of the problem before it escalates. This is even more important for puppies, who usually need worming treatment every two weeks.

Which Worm Types?

The most important thing when buying a wormer for your dog is to be mindful of what each product actually does. Luckily, our independent experts share what you need to know before you start shopping.

There are 4 kinds of intestinal worms dogs can get infected with:

1. hookworms 
2. roundworms
3. whipworms
4. tapeworms

Protection against hookworm and roundworm is especially important for puppies, since they can get those through their mother’s milk (1). Tapeworms, on the other hand, are transmitted by fleas. There are some wormers out there that cover all of these 4 types, but some leave out tapeworm, while others are made only for treating tapeworm infestations.

On top of that, there are two other types of worms that can live inside the body of our canines: lungworm and heartworm. These are not intestinal worms, so they are not included in most standard wormers, since the infection works in differently. Protection against heartworm might be recommended if you live in an area where the parasite is common.

Dog Worming Options

Oral dewormers are by far the most common option. This includes every form of medication that your dog needs to swallow, including tablets, chewables, and liquid suspensions. These medications are designed to expel the parasites from your dog’s system. If your pet is already having worm problems, be prepared to witness mild side effects:

But what is the best option? A tablet, a chewable, or maybe spot-on treatment? Our experts say that they all have their advantages.

Tablets

Tablets are the classic form of dewormers. They look the same as any pill and work the same. Tablets are completely fine, but sometimes it can be difficult to get your dog to swallow them. It helps if the tablets are flavoured. 

Related: The Best Foods To Hide Dog Pills In.

Chewables

Chewable wormers look just like little treats. Due to the texture and the flavour, dogs usually like eating those without suspecting anything. Other than that, chewables work just like tablets.

Liquid

Wormers for puppies usually come in the form of a liquid - a suspension or a syrup. Liquid wormers can be a good solution because they are easy to dose and administer. Sometimes they are flavoured too in which case you can just mix the liquid with your puppy's food.

Spot-On Treatment

Spot-on treatments are more commonly used for fleas and ticks, but there are some options that work against worms too. The upside of this kind of treatment is that you don’t need to convince your dog to swallow anything. All you need to do is squeeze the liquid onto the back of your dog’s neck. The downside is that there are trace amounts of the product remaining on your dog’s coat which is not what you want if your dog plays with children or other pets.

My Final Verdict

Are you looking to protect your dog from intestinal worms, specifically, and don’t want to complicate things more than it’s necessary? Then our expert team wants you to know that Endogard Allwormer and the Milbemax Flavoured Worming Tablets for Dogs are both good options.

Both of those come in the form of tablets with added meat flavour to make it easier to convince your dog to eat them. They act against all kinds of intestinal worms, including tapeworms. If you want a combo option that will prevent heartworm disease and/or fleas at the same time, then we suggest you look through the other options in the list above.

References

1. Joy, H. November 23, 2020. “How to Get Rid of Worms in Dogs”. PetMD. Retrieved February 23, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/evr_dg_intestinal_worms_in_dogs#worm-prevention
2. Gillette, L. June 30, 2020. “How to Tell If Your Dog Has Worms”. PetMD. Retrieved February 23, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/what-do-when-your-dog-has-worms
3.  “Heartworm Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Cause, Types, Treatment and Prevention” June 24, 2019. PetMD. Retrieved February 23, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_dg_heartworm_disease
4. Burke, A. March 10, 2022. “The Facts You Need to Know About Giardia in Dogs”. AKC. Retrieved February 23, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/the-facts-you-need-to-know-about-giardia-in-dogs/
5. Gilette, L. November 03, 2020. How to Get Rid of Tapeworms in Dogs. PetMD. Retrieved February 23, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_multi_cestodiasis
6. Junquera, P. September 21, 2018. Afoxolaner: Safety Summary for Veterinary Use in Dogs (Nexgard). Parasitipedia.net. Retrieved February 23, 2023. https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2866:afoxolaner-safe-eng&catid=212&tmpl=component&Itemid=2969