Breeders, and Worming
 

Wow. That does seem like alot of times. I was told to bring mine in at 6 weeks old....not twice before that yet!

Someone who knows more will have an answer to this....I am curious now as well!

I've never wormed any of my puppies...never had a problem with worms so I never give something that isn't warranted...

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

My vet does not believe in automatic worming. All vets are different. I would never just automatically worm pups without knowing if they had worms. Not all pups have worms. None of mine have checked positive for worms in years. Was the momma checked for worms before she had pups? Has she every had hook worms? Hook worms are the most serious type of worm a pup can have and they can cause a puppy to get sick at a early age. My recommendation would be for you to wait until the pups are a bit older and then take in a stool sample for the vet to check. If the momma dog has been well cared for and has been worm free then it is unlikely the pups will have worms. If the momma dog has been allowed outdoors a lot and in areas where other dogs roam then it is possible she could pick up worms and pass them to the puppies. The most common worm for newborn puppies is the roundworm, here is a very interesting article on them.
Dog Roundworms (Ascarids, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara canis)

Another thing to be aware of that the pups can get is coccidia. Coccidia are small protozoans (one-celled organisms) that live in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats. Pups are not born with the coccidia but the pups can ingest the coccida after they are born if the momma dog happens to be a carrier of coccidia and the pups came in contact with some of her feces. One of the early signs of coccidia is diarrhea or icky poops. Regular worming medicines will not kill the coccidia, the pups would need a sulfur drug like Albon. If caught early coccidia is easy to treat but if left untreated it can be very costly and deadly for the pups.

Why wouldn't you worm them at home? You don't need to take them to the Vet for worming if they need it.

This is the way I do it, it may not be the perfect way but it works for me.. and others..I take a feces sample starting at 4 weeks to my vet and have it check, no need to bring more if one have worms all do.. if they have it I use a product call Nemex 2 from Revival and dewormed them.
hugs,
carmen in nj

If you take a stool sample to the vets and you know your puppy has worms most vets would sell you enough worm medicine to worm the whole litter without bringing them in. I would much rather worm them at home rather than risk taking them to the vets every two weeks and possible exposing them to parvo. I don't feel very confident in a lot of over the counter worm medicines so I think something from the vet that is being dispensed under the vets recommendation would be better and more effective.

I've never had to worm a litter yet, knock on wood.

Donna, I know you haven't either, since your dogs are on heartworm.....automatic dewormer......When I lived in Texas, I would take my girls off of heartworm, just prior to breeding, 2 weeks after the litter was whelped, I'd put mom back on heartworm meds.....

To the original poster.......your best bet would be to take a collective poop sample in and have it checked (if one pup has worms they all do, including mom). So, they'll have to be treated. However, Nemex II is a mild dewormer that works wonders, if worming is necessary. But, keep in mind Nemex II does not kill tapeworm, your vet will have to prescribe tapeworm meds for that.....and then you can't administer until a bit older.

Carmen,

You can now purchase Nemex II at Petsmart.

I took in samples twice because the puppies did have diarrhea at one point - both times negative for any worms or giardia, coccidia, etc.

Evict is also good to use for worming - gentle. You can get that at Petco.

I am not sure, I always order from revival.. but I can check for you..I have a petsmart close to my house but I almost never go there, since the price of solid gold is cheaper at pet goods...LOL
hugs,
Carmen

I always order from revival too. But, in a pinch. The last time I was there I saw it on the shelf......

Again, you are right! I haven't had to worm a litter yet :) Yes I take my bitches off heartworm meds prior to breeding myself and as of yet I haven't had to worm any litter yet. I don't see why anyone would want to worm something that doesn't have worms? Why put anything unnecessary in their systems when they do not have it?

Donna

Well living in Texas or anywhere in the south heartworm meds are a must. It was great to know that when mom's whelped, I had an automatic deworming med......

I don't like deworming if it's not necessary. So far so good.

Ditto that!