When it comes to puppies, worms are nearly impossible to escape. Puppies love to play and explore, even if it means rolling around in the dirt. Unfortunately, parasitic worms love roaming outside as well. And it doesn’t matter what kind of parasitic worms they are—these pests will cause a number of serious illnesses in puppies. […]
When it comes to puppies, worms are nearly impossible to escape. Puppies love to play and explore, even if it means rolling around in the dirt. Unfortunately, parasitic worms love roaming outside as well. And it doesn’t matter what kind of parasitic worms they are—these pests will cause a number of serious illnesses in puppies. Worms are so prevalent in puppies that most are considered to have worms unless proven otherwise. That’s why deworming and vaccination are considered two crucial facets of puppy care.
Before you deworm your puppy, take some time to learn about what symptoms you should look for. That way you can establish an effective deworming schedule.
Our blog has all the facts about deworming to help you and your puppy have a stress-free process!
Because they’re still developing their immune system, many puppies may be born with parasitic worms. Of course, this factor depends on how the puppy’s mothers are cared for before the birth of their litters. Untreated mothers may pass worms to their babies so dog owners should find breeders who provide sufficient vet care for these dogs.
At Petland, we work only with responsible and elite breeders who go above and beyond to give their dogs the best care they can. This means that our puppies are born healthy and stable. Most vets highly recommend deworming puppies early on. Usually, puppies start deworming at 2 weeks old and continue the process every 2 weeks until they reach 12 weeks. Once they’re 12 weeks old, you may take your puppy to the vet for their deworming every 3 months.
Worms cause a variety of symptoms early on. Note the following warning signs as it may mean your puppy is infected with worms:
If your puppy displays these symptoms, don’t hesitate to collect their stool and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. With the waste samples, your veterinarian will be able to diagnose your puppy and discuss any possible treatments.
Worms may sound like a complicated pest to beat, but they’re actually easy to get rid of. Your licensed veterinarian will talk to you about different treatment options. Most of the time, puppy deworming medications come in tablet form, chewable, or even as topical medicine. During a physical exam, your puppy’s weight, height, and breed size will be assessed before a prescription is ordered. While there are countless over-the-counter dewormers available in stores and online, it is always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. Through consultation, they can establish an effective deworming schedule and review any possible issues.
Some puppies recover quickly after deworming but others need a little more time. The recovery period for deworming depends on the type of medication and dosage. Puppies may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and an upset stomach. You may find dead parasitic worms in your puppy’s vomit or stool samples. This is normal as the medication is detaching these pests from your puppy’s body. The medication may also dissolve the worms so if there aren’t any worms in your puppy’s stool, this is normal too. Most of these symptoms are relatively mild.
Like vaccines, deworming is critical to your puppy’s health but they’re only one side of the solution. Dewormings eliminate parasites from your puppy’s body. These medications don’t usually work well against prevention. As such, your job is to prevent your puppy from becoming reinfected with worms. While having a deworming schedule with your vet is a start, you can also do the following:
Introduce these treatments during your puppy’s early years. As they grow, you can add other prevention measures to ensure they don’t get reinfected. When in doubt, ask your vet for their suggestions.
Your puppy’s deworming schedule is just as important as vaccinations. Worms cause various diseases that can be fatal to your puppy—and they’re entirely preventable! Make sure to take your puppy to the vet early so that they can be properly treated for any health issues. Also, we recommend that you maintain their deworming schedule after the initial stages. Many parasitic worms in dogs can pass onto humans. Keeping up with your puppy’s deworming schedule can prevent any potential infection to you and your loved ones. And as always, if you notice strange behavior from your puppy or other symptoms, talk with your vet to diagnose any health issues.
