5 Natural Dewormer for Shih Tzu: What I Do to Prevent Parasites

“If you don’t deworm your dog regularly, she may have worms in the gut.” That’s what everyone says. 

Just the thought of worms swimming in your dog’s tummy and feasting on all the delicious meals you cook for your dog is enough to make your skin crawl! 

In another article, we talked about natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks. Then, what about the monthly dewormer? 

Although we give it to our dog with only good intentions, it might not be as harmless as we think. 

Sure, deworming is important, especially if your dog loves to sniff or lick whatever is outside. But our dogs’ robust immune systems are designed to fight off parasites to some extent.  

Thankfully, plenty of natural ingredients can be added to our dogs’ diets to prevent worms. And if the worst happens, our dogs end up with an infestation, there’s always oral medication as a last resort. 

I was once very disciplined in deworming my Shih Tzu every month without a second thought. Now that I know how harmful it is to the gut microbiome. I no longer do that. 

So, in this article, I will share 5 natural dewormer for Shih Tzu (that I use). And what to do if you suspect your dog might have worms. 

Personal Experience with Monthly Dewormer for My Shih Tzu

Billy was 5 months old when he came into my life. From the time he was born, he was on a regular deworming schedule until 6 months old.

Around the same time, meaning that Billy had already processed 6 deworming tablets in his little body, he began frequent episodes of morning vomiting (which at the time, I had no idea that was acid reflux). 

In my confusion and concern, I asked Google for answers. It suggested that his vomiting could be a sign of gut parasites. 

As a first-time dog owner, seeing my dog vomiting almost every other morning was absolutely terrifying (although it still makes me worried now if he vomits). 

I decided to give Billy the deworming tablet as a precaution. Little did I know, this medication I thought would help could disturb the gut microbiome even more. 

And, his vomiting persisted. 

I took Billy to the vet. She found nothing. She guessed maybe Billy caught a cold or flu. 

I was not convinced at all. 

Determined to find the root cause, I started doing deeper research. I learned from a few authoritative holistic vets. To name a few: Dog Naturally Magazine, Dr. Judy Morgan, Dr. Katie, Pet Summit, and more. 

Through this journey, I discovered Billy probably has a sensitive gut and his vomiting was caused by acid reflux. The key to fixing his problem lies in nurturing his gut microbiome and minimizing exposure to harmful chemicals.

I journaled Billy’s daily diet and activities to find a pattern of what food or fruits to avoid. Most importantly, I made some changes: 

1. stop giving him deworming tablets or other chemicals like fleas and ticks oral medications.
2. switch from 50% kibble 50% fresh food diet to a 100% gently cooked diet. 

Over time, Billy’s gut health did improve, but I have to tell you, it wasn’t an overnight fix. There were ups and downs.

There were nights that I needed to go out to poop with him multiple times.

There were days that I became insanely worried about seeing blood in his poop.

There were nights that I had to clean up his vomit…

After about 9 months, most gut issues are out of sight. And he could finally gain back some weight. 

I sincerely hope our experience can help you to make a better choice for your dog. Let’s look at the 5 natural ways I prevent gut worms. 

5 Natural Dewormers and How to Use Them

Pumpkin Seeds: A Powerful Natural Dewormer for Dogs

Pumpkin seeds are often seen in Billy’s bowl. 

Pumpkin seeds contain an amino acid – Cucurbitacin. It can paralyze and immobilize intestinal worms¹ and ultimately expulse them from the body through bowel movements. 

But it doesn’t stop there. Cucurbitacin also disrupts the lifecycle of eggs and larvae, preventing them from maturing into adult worms. 

I like to sprinkle 1/2 – 1 tsp of ground raw pumpkin seeds into Billy’s morning meal 2 – 3 times per week.  

Here’s how you can do it: 

• Grind about 6 – 7 raw pumpkin seeds fresh with a food processor or blender before feeding. 
• You can soak them in warm water for 10–15 minutes for better absorption. 
• The general dose is typically 1 tsp of grounded pumpkin seeds per 10 lb of body weight, given once daily for up to one week. 
• Do NOT use roasted or salted pumpkin seeds. 
• Start with a small dose and work it up.
• Observe how your Shih Tzu reacts to pumpkin seeds and adjust the dose. 

Grated Carrots: Naturally Scrape Your Dog’s Digestive System 

Carrot is a combination of fiber and roughage. It acts like a natural scrub brush for your dog’s intestine. 

The rough texture scrapes any buildup along the intestinal walls, including parasites or worms, expelling them from the body. 

In general, I often include cooked carrots in Billy’s meals. Carrot (or other foods that contain orange pigment) contains vitamin A, which helps to the evacuation of worms². 

Here’s what I do:

Roughly every 3 months, I treat Billy to a 10-day cleanse with freshly grated carrots combined with coconut flakes and ground pumpkin seeds on an empty stomach. This acts as a brush for the digestive system. 

And this is my recipe: 

• 1 tsp fresh grated carrot
• 1/4 tsp coconut flakes
• 1/4 tsp ground pumpkin seeds 

Mix them well and serve about a teaspoon. This works best when given on an empty stomach. 

Coconut Flakes

Dried coconut is another food that has antiparasitic properties. 

Coconut is a great source of lauric acid. It is a type of fatty acid that can paralyze gut parasites³. When ingested by gut worms, lauric acid will disrupt their cell membranes, leading them to lose electrolytes. 

However, coconut is energetically hot. It might not be the best option for dogs that are already running a bit hot. And for some dogs, coconut can be a little harsh on their tummies. So, start small always. 

I usually sprinkle 1/4 tsp of dried coconut into Billy’s meal. And for small breeds like Shih Tzu, up to 1 tsp dried coconut a day should do the trick. 

Fresh Garlic: Natural Canine Deworming

Ah, let’s talk about garlic. 

Garlic contains an active compound called allicin, which has antimicrobial properties⁴, making the gut environment unfriendly to parasites. It also can disrupt their metabolism, making it very difficult for them to survive and reproduce in the dog’s gut. 

Now, I know what you are thinking – isn’t garlic toxic for dogs? 

Well, yes and no. 

Fresh garlic in small doses is safe for dogs. Not only safe but also healthy for them. However, if you give in a large dose or use garlic powder, then it is toxic to dogs. 

I don’t feed garlic to Billy regularly. I only add it as a food additive herb when needed. 

Here’s how you can feed garlic to your Shih Tzu: 

• Use fresh garlic (preferably organic grown). Don’t cook or dry them. 
• Peel the skin and chop it. 
• Let it sit for 15 minutes before feeding. 
• Feed up to 1/3 tsp for every 10 lb body weight a day. 

Chamomile 

I love Chamomile. It is my go-to herb for Billy. I make sure there are always some stored in my drawer.  

The deworming effect of chamomile may be slower than other means I mentioned, but it’s effective. 

Chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties⁵ make the gut environment less hospitable to parasites. Plus, the soothing properties of chamomile can help with digestive upsets like gas, and acidic stomachs associated with gut worms. 

Because the effect is slower, you need to apply it for a longer period. 

If you use chamomile tincture, give 5 drops of tincture for every 15 lb body weight, 2 times per day on an empty stomach. 

If you use chamomile infusion, add 1 teaspoon of chamomile tea over food for a month. 

Here’s how you can do a standard infusion: 

• Steep a chamomile tea bag in hot water for 20 minutes.
• Let the tea cool to room temperature before serving. 

Bonus: Papaya  

Besides the above, there is one fruit that I love to give Billy in summer. That is papaya. 

Papaya isn’t just a delicious tropical fruit. It’s a potential natural dewormer for dogs too. 

It contains an enzyme called papain. It breaks down proteins (the outer wall of gut worms) and its high fiber content assists in sweeping parasites right out of the system. 

However, I do not treat papaya as a deworming tactic. You can see it as a summer treat that creates an environment unsuitable for worms to live. 

I wrote an article about how papaya can benefit dogs in some other ways. If you are interested to know more, head over here. 

Why I Prefer Natural Remedies Over Chemical Ones

I believe the best way to help your dog fight off gut worms is a strong immune system. To some extent, when the gut detects worms, it will trigger your dog’s IgE antibodies to attack and destroy worms on their own. 

A good, healthy diet is the best way to keep a strong immune system. It also makes the gut environment less suitable for parasites to survive. 

And think about it: If we continue to rely on monthly chemical dewormers, these parasites only become more resistant to these drugs. That will make them even harder to treat later on. 

Although effective, conventional dewormers might have harmful side effects and disturb the gut microbiome, causing digestive issues. 

But don’t get me wrong. There’s definitely a time and place for chemical deworming. When you have a test result that shows your dog has an infestation, then maybe you need to bring out the big guns. 

Before I consider reaching out for chemical dewormers, I always try herbal remedies first.

If it doesn’t help, then I will seek conventional worming medications as a last resort. 

There are 3 reasons why I would go for natural deworming first: 

1. Gentle to the body
2. Reduced Toxic Load 
3. Supporting The Natural Defense 

How Often Do I Give My Shih Tzu Natural Dewormer? 

Determining how often you should deworm your dog really depends on some factors, such as your location and your dog’s lifestyle. 

If you live in a city and your dog spends most of the time indoors, their risk of picking up gut worms is relatively low. 

But if you live in a suburban area where your dog goes out daily, you will want a more regular deworming schedule. 

I like to think of deworming as a cleansing ritual for Billy. 

Every 3 months, I give Billy a cleanse. And often I supplement his diet with the herbal remedies I mentioned above to create a healthy gut environment. 

Of course, I also pay attention to Billy’s behavior. If he starts showing any unusual signs or symptoms that I suspect are caused by gut worms, I will investigate further.

When To Take Them To The Vet? 

I have noticed many pet parents give their dogs chemical dewormers routinely without a second thought. 

However, not all worms can be treated with one generic dewormer⁶. To name a few, there are tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and more. Each one needs its specific treatment. You have to identify which type it is to treat it. 

And if your dog doesn’t have worms in the system but you still give it chemical dewormer anyway, it can be very harsh for their gut microbiome.

Not to mention if the dewormer you are giving isn’t even the right one for the worms your dog might have. 

That’s why it is important to test your dog’s poop at the vet office when you see symptoms that you suspect it might have worms. 

Here are some of the most common signs you might see if your dog has a worm infestation. 

Common Symptoms of Worms in Dogs

1. Change in Appetite
   If your dog suddenly increases or decreases hunger, it’s time to investigate. 
2. Unexplained Weight Loss 
   Parasites steal nutrients from your dog’s body. If your dog’s diet has not changed but is losing weight all of a sudden, it can be a sign of worms. 
3. Visible Worms or Eggs 
   In some cases, worms may be visible in your dog’s feces or around the anal area. You may see small, white, rice-like segments in the feces. 
4. Lethargy 
   If your dog seems unusually tired, it also could be a sign that your dog suffering from worm infestation. 
5. Vomiting and Diarrhea 
   Persistent vomiting or diarrhea regardless of what you feed can be a sign of gut worms. 

So, if you are suspicious that your dog might have worms, it’s time to head to the vet’s office. 

And when you are there, don’t shy about asking for a fecal test. 

It will help to pinpoint exactly which type of worm is in the digestive system so that your vet can prescribe the right medication to treat it. 

Bottom Line 

Alright, to wrap it up. 

Herbal remedies are good preventatives you can include in your dog’s life. But they are not bulletproof. 

If those worms are still able to survive in the gut, then it’s time to call the vet to get rid of worms.