“Hi. I’m Maple. I’m a Golden Retriever. And when I was a puppy, I got worms. I don’t know how it happened. I don’t think I did anything wrong. But I began feeling a little tired. I was losing a little weight and my belly was really sticking out. And then, I started throwing up. And in it there were worms! Disgusting, long, white worms. I was scared and a I didn’t know what to do.” [Maple, Golden Retriever]
A puppy with worms – what do you do?
Having a sick puppy can be a very difficult time. Your new little family member feels terrible. She’s not playing like she was. It’s heart wrenching. You already love her and are desperate that she be ok. So what do you do?
There’s no need to panic.
While the idea is a bit off-putting to most, worms are usually fairly easy to diagnose and very easy to treat. There are 5 types of worms your pet might be exposed to: roundworms (ascariasis), heartworms, hookworms (ancylostomiasis), tapeworms (cestodiasis) and whipworms (trichuriasis).
How did your puppy get worms?
Your pet can come into contact with worms in a number of ways. Worms are passed from mother to pup, either during the pregnancy or by drinking her milk. Your pet can also get worms by eating small animals infected with eggs or worms, or by eating another animal’s infected feces. It’s possible, in fact, for a puppy to get worms by simply smelling another dog’s poop!
One of the most serious types of worm is the heartworm. Dogs get heartworms from mosquitos. A mosquito bites an infected dog, and then bites your dog. Heartworms are not passed from dogs or other animals – only by mosquitos.
What can you do to protect your pet?
It’s important that your puppy have been dewormed on a regular schedule beginning early in life. Nursing mothers should also be on preventative treatment.
Once your pup is home it’s very important you keep your pet’s living area clean. Remove feces often.
And, listen to your vet regarding additional preventative treatments as the puppy grows. Especially for heartworm disease, take prevention very seriously. Talk to your vet.
Conclusion:
Worms are an inevitable part of a puppy’s life, so knowing what to look for and how to treat them is important. Most puppies are born with worms…
Purina.com
Should your new family member have any of these symptoms, it’s time to call the vet:
- Weight loss
- Swollen belly
- Cough
- Diarrhea (especially with blood)
- Vomiting
- Weakness or indifference (a change in behavior)
In spite of all preventative efforts, it’s still possible for a pup to get worms. Keep things clean, make sure the pup has had all appropriate preventative care and keep a close eye on behavior.
…
And by the way, Maple had roundworms. And she got better!
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