Puppies are often born with worms due to exposure to them from a puppy’s mother. This can have profound effects on the dog’s health if the worms are not removed immediately- especially during the growth stages. Some worms may be harder to detect than others, so you puppy may have worms without the telltale signs.
There are different types of worms that can infect your puppy, so you should be aware of the different symptoms that your puppy may take on. The tapeworm is one of the more common types of worms, and is able to infect your puppy from one single flea. These are usually the easiest to spot, since you will likely see pupa in the stool of your puppy. This is a very clear sign of worms, and should not be ignored.
Roundworm is another common worm that puppies may get. Roundworm infections can even spread to children, who may play in the grass with a puppy and not be careful with washing their hands. Although it is unlikely, it is still cause to worry for both the puppy and the child. Luckily you can get medication for both to help solve the problem.
The two described types of worms are the most common. Although you would think getting rid of them would be easy as a result, it often isn’t. The act of removing worms from a puppy may take two or three tries, so as to be sure that all adult worms and offspring are killed by the medication over a course of several weeks.
Even if signs of worms go away, medication should be continued for a bit longer. You will need to consult a veterinarian to do a stool sample if you are going to verify that the puppy is free of worms. A veterinarian can also provide further consult if infections of a certain type of worm keep coming back even after medication is applied as instructed. Although they may be expensive, it is worth the cost to protect your puppy from the many health issues it would face.
Take extra caution when using medication on puppies. Some medications may be intended for adult canines, who have a more developed system to handle drugs that may hurt a puppy. The best thing to do at this point is to address your concerns with the retailer who is supplying the medication, or even better, you should contact a veterinarian about it.
Final Thoughts
If you suspect your puppy of having worms, you should act immediately. In some cases a puppy may show little to no signs at all, aside from eating more or acting slightly different. Try to stay in tune with your puppy to know when something is wrong, and respond accordingly.
