Worming schedule / New Zealand
Puppy worming schedule in New Zealand
New Zealand does not publish a national deworming schedule, so the intervals below are the ESCCAP guideline that most vets work from. Heartworm has not been found in dogs resident in New Zealand, so it is not part of the routine plan.
Worms, fleas, ticks and heartworm
| Treatment | From | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intestinal worming | From 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks | ESCCAP: from 14 days, repeated fortnightly until two weeks after weaning, usually around 8 to 10 weeks. The breeder does the first few, so ask for the dates. |
| Intestinal worming, monthly | From about 3 months | Monthly to 6 months | Monthly until six months of age, then at least every three months. |
| Flea and tick prevention | From the age on the product label | Monthly, or per product | Flea control also handles the flea tapeworm, which dogs pick up by swallowing an infected flea. Your vet will advise on tick cover for your area. |
- No heartworm prevention is routinely needed. New Zealand government veterinary surveillance reported that heartworm has been detected only in dogs recently brought into the country, never in resident dogs. That publication is from 1990, so it is old, and suitable mosquito vectors do exist here. Confirm current advice with your vet, particularly for an imported dog.
- Puplr could not find an NZVA, MPI or SPCA deworming schedule. The intervals above are the ESCCAP guideline, labelled as such rather than presented as a New Zealand rule.
- Hydatid tapeworm guidance specific to New Zealand is not sourced here. If your dog has access to livestock, offal or raw meat, ask your vet about praziquantel.
This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Local disease risk, the products your clinic stocks and your puppy’s own history all change the plan. Take this page to your vet as a starting point, not as an instruction.
Common questions
Do dogs in New Zealand need heartworm prevention?
Not routinely. New Zealand government veterinary surveillance reported that canine heartworm has been detected here only in dogs recently introduced from countries where it is endemic, and never in resident dogs. The caveat is that the publication is from 1990 and mosquito species capable of transmitting it do live here, so establishment is considered possible. If your dog is imported or travelling, raise it with your vet.
Other countries
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Sources
- ESCCAP UK and Ireland, deworming frequency advice: https://www.esccapuk.org.uk/uploads/docs/q8e61ahf_003_Deworming_frequency_advice.pdf
- MAF Surveillance 17(4), 1990, canine heartworm in New Zealand: https://sciquest.org.nz/search/results-2/downloadfulltext/46424
- NZVA position statement, leptospirosis management: https://nzva.org.nz/positions-advocacy/position-statements/leptospirosis
Last reviewed 2026-09-05.