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Worms

I prefer to worm each 2 weeks until puppies are 12 weeks, then each month until 6 months, then 2 to 3 months for life. All puppies, whatever their breed, should be treated for worms when they are 2 to 3 weeks old.

There are excellent preparations on the market. They are remarkably safe and can be given to puppies as early as 2 weeks of age. But they will require several doses to ensure that they are free of worms. When puppies are badly infected, the symptoms are obvious: either they pass worms in their stools or they may vomit them, or they have over-distended stomachs. When puppies are infested to such an extent, they will look out of condition, their coat will be dry and staring, their skin dry and scruffy. The puppies may frequently suffer from intermittent diarrhoea.

Worms obtain most of the nourishment they require, not from the food which is consumed by the puppy, but from the puppy's tissues and this causes anaemia and a general loss of condition, it can even be the cause of stunted growth. This is because the valuable proteins and minerals required by the puppy are absorbed by the worms, and this deprives the puppies of the B vitamins, particularly the very important vitamin B12. So fast is the absorption of these parasites, that the puppy may be completely depleted of this very important vitamin. No dog is likely to be absolutely free from worms. Some puppies are more resistant to these parasites than others, but weak puppies and puppies which are not fed on a correct diet are more likely to be infested with worms than their stronger brothers and sisters.

Roundworms are generally found in puppies, but tapeworms are more commonly found in adult dogs and bitches.

It is extremely important that puppies should be wormed before they are five of six weeks old. This is because the larvae then start to migrate round the body of the puppy, before they eventually return to the intestines, where they then become adult. It is in the intestines that the eggs are laid. It is therefore extremely important to stop this process, especially in the bitch puppies, because once the larvae migrate round the body some of them will probably lodge in the body of the uterus. If this happens it becomes virtually impossible to cure the bitch from being a carrier all her life.

Worming a bitch will of cause get rid of worms but unfortunately larvae will remain in her body. There are a number of good worming products on the market, it is best to get the veterinary surgeon to advise on the best worming medicine for any particular dog. Although the bitches puppies may have been wormed at the correct time in order to prevent the larvae from migrating round the body, this does not unfortunately mean that she cannot become reinfested at anytime.

Worms are generally transmitted to dogs by fleas, it will be appreciated therefore how important it is to keep dogs free of fleas. Dogs generally catch fleas either from other dogs or if they live in the country, they can catch them from rats,etc.

If dogs are suffering from tapeworm they are easily recognisable, as they look rather like segments of rice when passed in stools. The roundworm look like long greyish-white worms. Puppies who are badly infested with worms may even have fits. But there is no excuse for any puppy in these days to have worms, if puppies live in an area where they are likely to get worms, then they should he re-wormed regularly.

In the old days worming dogs was quite dangerous, particularly as puppies had to be starved before they were wormed. This is now no longer necessary, but it must be remembered that the drugs used are strong and that since they are poisonous enough to kill the worms, they are not good for the puppies themselves. Though less harmful than continued infestation, the prescribed dose must not he exceeded.

In tropical countries there are many other kinds of worms, such as heart worms, but the veterinary surgeons in those countries are only too well acquainted with these parasites and know how to deal with them.

To Worm a Puppy

The, procedure for worming a puppy depends on what drug is used, but whatever the drug chosen, it is absolutely essential that the puppy should receive exactly the correct dose for it's size, age and weight. The instructions for their use are always clearly given with all worm drugs. It must be realised that a mistake in the dosage by given to much can easily kill a small puppy. It is therefore a good precaution to get someone to cheek the weight of the puppy and the dosage to be given. The helper can hold the puppy while the drug is administered.

The worms are evacuated often within an hour. The pill may therefore require cutting in half or in quarters or perhaps in sixths or eights depending on the size of the puppy to be dosed. The best way to administer a pill is to place it directly at the back of the puppy's throat and with a push of the finger, make certain that it goes down. Shut puppy's mouth immediately and stroke it's throat, at the same time giving a little puff into it's nostrils. It will be quite evident if the puppy has swallowed the pill. It should be watched afterwards to make certain that it does not vomit it up again. Sometimes the puppies may wriggle about and it is difficult to get the pill down, particularly if part of it disintegrates or the puppy is clever enough to shove it with it's tongue into the side of it's mouth. If this happens. it will not swallow the pill but will eventually spit it out.

You may prefer to give the tablet wrapped in a small piece of meat or cheese. Nevertheless, in general, I do not believe that medicines should be mixed with food, except on this one occasion. The greatest mortality from worm infestation in puppies occurs between the ages of three and four weeks. This is because, in severe cases, quantities of roundworm block the intestines and they deprive a puppy of it's vitamin B. In extreme cases the worms can even penetrate the intestines and perforate them, so that the puppies die of peritonitis.

The worms are evacuated within twenty four hours. Each puppy should be dosed separately so that possibly fatal mistakes cannot be made by giving one puppy a double dose and completely missing another puppy. The puppies should be watched carefully. As the worms are passed they must be removed and burnt at once, otherwise the puppies may become reinfested. After the puppies have been weaned, they should be given a final worming and from then on they should be prevented from sucking from their dam.

It is very important where there are puppies and children in the same household, great care should be taken that the children do not become infested by the worms from the puppies. It is obvious that however much a puppy is loved, it should not be kissed by it's owner or allowed to lick it's owners face. Otherwise humans can be contaminated. Some years ago there was a great scare concerning the dangers of tapeworms to human beings. Cases were reported of children becoming blind because of infestation by tapeworms. Unfortunately this is quite possible, but it is unlikely to occur provided the dogs and puppies are kept in sanitary conditions and regularly wormed. Puppies should not be permitted to lick humans on the face, particularly the mouth and provided that hands are washed after playing with the dogs or puppies there is really little chance of infestation.

Perhaps most importantly, all faeces that a dog passes must be removed. Sand pits for children where there are cats and dogs in the neighbourhood can he dangerous, these are places where animal faeces are likely to be passed. The children may get in contact with these faeces and perhaps touch their mouths, in this way they can become infested. All faeces must therefore be removed from paths, grass and pens at least twice a day or whenever they are seen.

The worm cycle is an interesting one. Worm eggs probably enter the human being through the mouth and then immediately make for the intestines. A short time afterwards they hatch and the larvae start on the normal migration round the body, but, when they find themselves in the wrong host, they do not survive. Thus, they cannot complete their normal development and they die. Wherever they die, a small cyst forms. Should the cyst happen to be in the eye, blindness can result, but, although this is known to have happened, it is exceedingly rare.

Colin Curtis