Deworming Puppies

     Puppies need to be provided with proper care from the time you get them.  This means that they need to have regular deworming.  Nearly all puppies are born with worms, and if they are not born with worms, they are likely to develop worms at some time.  Do not wait until you see worms in your puppy's feces.  Begin deworming treatment at two weeks.

How do puppies become infected with worms?

     Puppies typically become infected when they are in the mother's womb or by ingesting them shortly after their birth.  Some worms can migrate to the mammary glands, causing the puppy to become infected when it nurses.  Also, if the mother was neglected in terms of regular deworming, it is highly likely that the puppy will have worms.  A second way that puppies can develop worms is by ingesting parasites through fecal matter or soil that contains parasitic eggs.  Believe it or not, roundworm and whipworm eggs can survive in soil for years.  Hookworms have the ability to enter a puppy's body through the skin of the paw pads and then travel to the intestines.  Additionally, fleas carry tapeworms, so if a puppy eats a flea then a tapeworm infection may result.  The two most common types of worms to be seen in puppies are the tapeworm and the roundworm.

What are the symptoms of parasitic infection?

     You may begin to suspect that your puppy has a parasitic infection if it begins to have diarrhea and weight loss.  Also, if the infection becomes more severe, the puppy may become anemic and you may observe that its gums become pale.  The puppy's coat may become of poor quality, and the puppy may suffer from fatigue.

Why is deworming so important?

     Approximately 90-98% of puppies are born with worms.  Do not assume that because you do not see worms in your puppy's feces that he has not been infected by worms.  Worms will often end up in the puppy's digestive tract, causing the worms to absorb the nutrients that your puppy needs. This becomes very dangerous for your puppy's health.

How does deworming work?

     After a parasite infects your puppy, it may take up to weeks or even months for those parasites to become adults.  Until they become adults, the parasites are in the egg and larval stages.  Medications for deworming do not kill the egg and larval parasites; they will only kill the adult worms.  It is recommended that puppies are dewormed at two four, six, eight, and twelve weeks of age.  If your puppy is infected by multiple parasites, then your puppy needs to be dewormed monthly until the puppy is six months old.  There are deworming medications that are available from your veterinarian.  You can also purchase over-the-counter deworming medication for your puppy.  Remember that when you bring your new puppy home, you need to find out what deworming has already been initiated.  Take your puppy to the veterinarian to make sure your puppy does not currently have any parasites.