Test what is shed. Do not copy a heartworm calendar.

Adults in Sweden

Ask for a faecal test (träckprov) and treat what is actually found. Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) and Giardia need a three-day sample when they are the question.

If toddlers, raw offal, hunting or an immunosuppressed person share the home, your vet may test and treat more often. Roundworm and Echinococcus are the human stake. ESCCAP’s notice of Guideline 01, seventh edition, is dated 11 June 2025 and describes risk-based plans, including raw meat. The guideline file itself did not open in the 6 October 2026 check, so this page does not quote a treatment frequency from it.

Puppies are the early exception

Heavy Toxocara canis and hookworm burdens can cause anaemia, poor growth and death. AAHA 2019 says deworming can begin as soon as 2 weeks of age and be repeated every 2 weeks until monthly control. The evidence brief also records a puppy schedule from 2–3 weeks. A young-animal plan from your vet is about those deaths. It is not six extra years at the end of life.

Ages, without a cause pinned on the wormer

Older US referral series sit near 8.5 years. O’Neill and colleagues, VetCompass England, report a median of 12.0 years (IQR 8.9–14.2) among 5,095 deaths. Montoya and colleagues report median survival 14.13 years and, in the same paper, median age at death 11.57. Teng and colleagues report life expectancy at age 0 of 11.23 years, with a Jack Russell at 12.72 and a French bulldog at 4.53. Breed and body size swamp any single worming habit.

Full table, grades and which links opened

Heartworm, only where the map says so

Adult Dirofilaria immitis live in the pulmonary arteries and can kill. The American Heartworm Society canine guideline, revised 2024, recommends annual antigen and microfilaria testing, and that a vet prescribe prevention year-round, including because resistant worms exist. CAPC’s heartworm page, last updated 14 January 2026, has the same shape. “On prevention” is not automatically “protected” where resistant heartworms occur. That is a reason to test, not a reason to buy a second product off the shelf. It is not the Swedish default.

Do not

• No dose in milligrams appears on this page.
• Do not give a dog a horse wormer. Horse ivermectin can kill some herding breeds that carry the MDR1 / ABCB1 variant.
• Pumpkin seed, herbs and diatomaceous earth are not equivalent worm control. The AAEP internal parasite text reviewed in 2024 says the efficacy of herbal and “organic” products has not been shown in formal controlled studies. Diatomaceous earth is a dust hazard. Essential oils and concentrated garlic can harm animals, especially cats.

Ask your vet.

Sources cited here

• O’Neill et al., Veterinary Journal 2013The HTML page returned 403 on 6 October 2026. NCBI eutils returned the record: O’Neill et al., “Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England.”, Vet J 2013. The abstract matches median 12.0 (IQR 8.9–14.2) and 5,095 deaths. The URL was not replaced.
• AAHA 2019, canine life stage, parasite controlDirect GET returned 403. A later fetch opened the page. Published 9 October 2019. No newer AAHA parasite section was found.
• ESCCAP news, 7th edition of Guideline 01Opened 6 October 2026. The seventh edition was announced Wednesday 11 June 2025. No treatment frequency is quoted from the page.
• American Heartworm Society, guidelinesOpened 6 October 2026. The footer copyright 2026 is the site, not a new guideline.
• CAPC heartwormDirect GET returned 403. A later fetch opened the page. “Heartworm for Dog. Last updated: Jan 14, 2026.” That date is before the review cutoff.