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Dogs and puppies are ideal hosts for worms and other parasites.
Dogs and puppies are ideal hosts for worms and other parasites. If your puppy is losing weight and has diarrhea and/or vomiting, then consult a vet to confirm the type of worm. Depending on the type of worm, your vet will suggest the test and treatment.
- Deworming:
- It is recommended to deworm your puppy for the first time when they are 2-3-weeks old.
- Because worms can pass from the mother dog to the puppy from milk, it is wise to give more than one dose.
- In the first shot, all the adult worms will be killed, and the second shot will kill those that hatch a few weeks later.
- Your vet will prescribe some broad-spectrum deworming shots that need to be given by mouth to the pet. These treatments may be poisonous to pests but safe for your pets.
- Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory: Your vet may prescribe monthly antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines to your puppy if heartworms are discovered in the test. This is a strong medicine that should only be given by a vet. Your puppy may get three shots over a 2-month period. Keep your puppy calm and quiet while it is taking this treatment. Your vet will discuss tips to keep your puppy calm and rested, so it can recover safely. After 6 months, the tests will be repeated, and if your puppy needs another round of shots, it will be decided. It is better to test heartworms in your puppy for the rest of their life.
Your puppy may require blood transfusion if it has hookworm infestation in the intestines, which may lead to anemia (loss of blood).
How do puppies get worms?
Worm infestation is common in puppies, and the eggs can be passed from the mother dog through
- Breast milk.
- Womb (inborn puppies).
- Placenta (during birth).
- During nursing.
Additionally, dogs touch everything through their mouths, such as infected surfaces around home and yard, eating contaminated soil or stool. Therefore, it may pass through flea and rodents that carry worm eggs. As this condition is common, most dog owners deworm them before they get them.
What are the signs suggesting worm infestation in my puppy?
If your puppy is infested with worms, it may have
- Diarrhea with mucus.
- Constipation.
- Fatigue.
- Spaghetti-like strings in feces and vomit.
- Poor growth.
- Weight loss.
- Bloody stools.
- Vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Distended or swollen abdomen.
- Dull coat or fur.
How to prevent worm infestation in puppies?
Here are some tips to protect your pet from worms:
- Keep your home and yard clean and free from pests that carry worms, including fleas and mosquitoes. This will also prevent these worms from passing to humans.
- Make sure to take your puppies to the vet two to four times.
- Keep your pet flea-free. Use flea collars or apply medicine to the puppy’s skin or fur.
- Get preventive medicines from your vet that can be given annually to prevent heartworm. Consult your vet for biannual injections to prevent heartworm infestations.
- Always clear your yard weekly.
- Throw away the puppy’s poop promptly.
- Scoop up the poop after your puppy is done during their walk.
- Wash your hands often, especially after cleaning your pet or picking up their feces.
- Deworming and treatment of the mother dog are necessary along with the puppy because the infection is transmitted from the breast milk.