Endoparasites in dogs are a concern related to pet health and zoonotic risks. The purpose of this study was to examine the routine protocols for preventing endoparasites in dogs in Iran and compare them with international guidelines. The study distributed 102 multiple-choice questionnaires to small-animal veterinarians in June 2023, aiming to collect data on the recommended deworming age for puppies and adults, the most common drugs, the protocols for stray or raw meat diet dogs, the use of antiparasitics during pregnancy/ lactation, and the most frequent endoparasites detected by the fecal test. The majority of respondents (58.9%) were from Guilan and Mazandaran, 22.1% from Khorasan, 11.5% from Tehran, and 7.3% from other provinces. Most parasites that were detected in fecal samples include Toxocara canis and Giardia lamblia. The current protocol for puppies involved administering praziquantel, fenbendazole, and pyrantel between 4-6 weeks with 2 weeks intervals until 6 months, while adult intervals were every 3 months (4 times a year). Veterinarians had different ideas on stray dogs, those on raw diets, and pregnant/lactate bitches whether applying drugs monthly to free-roaming dogs or during the first month of pregnancy is necessary or not. According to European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) guidelines, Puppies should be dewormed at the age of 2 weeks, then every 14 days up to 2 weeks after weaning, and then monthly treatments up to six months of age. Lactating bitches should be treated concurrently with the first treatment of puppies. Pregnant females can be given macrocyclic lactones on the 40th and 55th day of pregnancy or fenbendazole daily from the 40th day of pregnancy continuing to 2 days postpartum. indoors must be treated 1-2 times a year, and dogs that eat raw meat should be dewormed every 6 weeks. A comprehensive anti-parasitic protocol should take into account the environmental and nutritional factors that affect the animal’s exposure to parasites, such as indoor or outdoor housing, contact with stray dogs, and diet type. Moreover, it is advisable to base the anti-parasitic treatment on the results of fecal examination whenever feasible. This study indicates that there is a need for better management of the deworming protocols applied in Iran, especially for dogs that do not ingest raw meat. The unnecessary use of anthelmintics may lead to drug resistance, renal and hepatic toxicity, and resource wastage.

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