Treatments for Puppy Worms -
How to Protect your Pet from Dog Worms
Puppy worms are present in a majority of newborn puppies, even when their symptoms are missing.
If not removed, they will rob your puppy of much needed nutrients and cause numerous health problems, even death.
If that's not enough, there are additional reasons why dog worms are so dangerous…
Worms can be transmitted to humans and present danger to every single member of your family, especially children. If you have small children, have them wash their hands after they play with any dog.
Let's take a look at…
The Most Common Types of Puppy Worms
Virtually all puppies are born with worms. The most common are Heartworms and Intestinal Worms.
Heartworms
Can reach 12 inches in length and are usually transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes.
These puppy worms live in the right side of the heart and adjoining vessels of infected dogs and can cause substantial damage to the heart and lungs before any symptoms become visible. Sometimes, the damage to the heart is so great that nothing can be done to save dog's life.
All Heartworm medications are sold by prescription only.
Intestinal Worms
Several types of puppy worms can be classified as intestinal worms. Here are some examples...
- Tapeworms
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
These worms live inside your dog's intestines and can cause, among other illnesses, weight loss, weakness, and dehydration.
Most intestinal puppy worms are passed from puppy's mother, either in the womb or when nursing. For that reason, check your puppy for worms at his first checkup with the vet.
Learn more about How to Keep your Dog Healthy
Diagnosis and Treatment
If your veterinarian suspects that your puppy has worms, he or she will ask you to bring in a sample of your pet's feces.
In some cases, worms will be visible to the naked eye. But the absence of visible worms doesn't mean your puppy is free of them. The sample of feces will be examined under the microscope not only for the presence of worms but for worm eggs and larvae as well.
The presence of heartworms may be detected with the help of a blood test.
If your puppy has worms, he will be given an appropriate medication.
The duration of treatment will depend on the degree of infestation.
While over-the-counter medications are not as effective as prescription-only medications when it comes to eradicating puppy worms, some can be used to successfully treat minor infestations and prevent future re-infestations. Here are some examples...
WormXPlus is a pork liver flavored chewable tablet de-wormer that's effective against roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
HomeoPet Worm Clear is a homeopathic product. It's 100% natural and comes in liquid form.
The 2 advantages of liquid medications are that they act faster than pills and are easier to mix with water.
The last point is especially important because some dogs, no matter how hard you try, will not eat pills.
HomeoPet Worm Clear will remove Hookworms, Roundworms and Tapeworms.
Worm Protector 2X Double Strength Liquid Wormer is an over the counter product used for removal of large roundworms and hookworms in dogs and puppies.
It may also be used to prevent re-infestation of roundworms in puppies and adult dogs.
Worm Protector comes in liquid form and can be given directly to your pet or mixed with food.
As far as I know, all medications that can remove Heartworms require a prescription.
There are no vaccines to keep your puppy worm-free. That's why prevention is so important. It's also important you learn to recognize the symptoms of worms in puppies.
Luckily, there are medications, like the ones I profiled above, that you can give to your puppy in the comfort of your own home. Of course, when you do visit your vet, he or she may still test your dog for worms and, if appropriate, prescribe another medication or treatment.
Visit worms in dogs for more information on puppy worms. And, if you suspect your puppy has worms, contact your veterinarian.
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Want to learn more?
As a dog owner, you are responsible for your puppy's health. A good source for dog health information, including puppy care and preventive medicine, how to protect your pet from worms and ticks, dog food, and how to recognize if your pet needs immediate medical attention, is the Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.
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I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common dog health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
