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Dealing With Puppy Worms And Parasites

Your new puppy is your pride and joy. He is the star of the family and you love him so much that you can’t even bear the thought of being without him for a moment of your day.

This is normal and great, but a big part of making sure that he is a part of your life for a long time to come is by ensuring that he is worm-free, and therefore in good health.

You must understand that when it comes to puppies, worms and other parasites are fairly normal. They are animals after all, and parasites are fearfully easy to transfer from dog to dog and even dog to human. Make sure you know everything about your puppy and the potential parasites it brings home.

How do puppies gets worms?

Puppies can be born with worms as they are passed to the from their infected mother or they eat it with dirt from the ground. Now don’t panic, this is totally normal. This is why they need to be treated from the time they are two weeks old to the time they are a year old, and then once a year or more often after that. Worms are normal and common in all kinds of puppies, especially if they are shelter or rescue dogs.

Additionally, puppies get worms from other puppies and kittens, too. The more the are exposed to other litters and animals and their waste, the more likely they are to get them, too. Make sure you keep this in mind when bringing them to puppy day care or into other households. You should still make sure you always vaccinate your puppy, but it’s best to avoid unknown situations with it comes to other animals.

What are symptoms of worms?

The tricky thing about worms is that your puppy could show symptoms, or he may be one of the many who doesn’t show any symptoms at all. This why regular testing is very important at a young puppy age. You need to make sure he is healthy and happy. Here are some symptoms to keep an eye out for, though, in case he does show them.

As you can imagine, different kinds of worms show different kinds of symptoms, as do parasites. Keep an eye on your dog’s bathroom habits when you can, and take a look through his waste to see if you can find remains of worm. You’ll see pretty quickly that something is in it that doesn’t belong.

Make sure he’s eating properly. That’ll tell you pretty quickly whether or not he’s feeling up to bat. You’ll notice him simply be disinterested in his food, or not eat much of it at all. Serious signs of parasites and worms are a discoloration in his fur and scooting across the floor. Watch for a coughing spree, too.

As you can see, these symptoms are pretty random and hard to spot sometimes. Make sure you get your puppy tested regularly.

What are treatments?

If you do find your puppy has worms or parasites, don’t panic. There are a variety of treatments out there in medications. Puppies tend to be the easiest ones to de-worm because they’ll eat pretty much anything. Where they are young, too, they’ll be able to fight off the worm or parasite much better, meaning you will see improvement faster and with less discomfort to the dog.

Watch their bathroom habits as well as any vomit. You should see the same kind of remains that you did before. When their waste becomes clean from them for the amount specified by your vet and your dog is eating normally and otherwise happy, you now you’ve beaten it.

Having a worm is a normal part of a puppy’s life, but you should make sure that it gets treated as soon as possible, because it can quickly become a serious problem which can lead to a bad quality of life for your furry friend.

What are other parasites I should look for?

The most common parasite to look for in your puppy is fleas. Just like with worms, your puppy should be protected from fleas and other dangerous parasites. Most spot on treatments and sprays are intended for adult dogs only so consult your vet when choosing the right treatment. Remember that these spread easily, so make sure you get all of the pets in your house treated, as one can infect the others, even with the shots.

As far as worms go, the most common kind of worm to watch for is hookworm. This tends to be the easiest worm type to pass from mother to puppy. Remember the fact that worms can spread from puppy to human, so keeping him healthy is important to your health, too. Make sure you take that seriously.

How do I keep my puppy worm and parasite free?

There are several easy ways to help keep your puppy parasite free. The best way to make sure he doesn’t eat (yes, eat) or hang around another dog’s waste, even if you know the dog is de-wormed. The truth of it is that a lot of parasites and worms hang around in waste, so make sure your puppy stays away from it as much as possible.

The same thing goes for the yard. Regularly pick up the waste from your dog so that his access to worms and parasites that are attracted to messes is limited. This will keep the exposure to a minimum.

Worms and other parasites are dangerous to the health of your dog and your family. They may be a normal part of puppy life, but infestations of them can be fatal if left untreated. Make sure you take his health seriously in doing your best to make sure his exposure to worms is minimized and by making sure the vet sees him regularly enough to make sure he is still worm and parasite free in the long run.

You’ll be relieved, your dog will be healthy, and you’ll all be able to have a happy life together.

2 comments

  1. Lots of good information here! Thank you for sharing it.

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