Ask the Veterinarian/Worming Puppy

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Expert: Jennifer Fry - 11/11/2005


Question
Hi,
I have just got a westie pup, he is 9wks old. I was given the vets record for him with info about his first in set of injections. The vets card also stated he had been wormed. I noticed thin white worms moving about when he had been to toilet so after advice from vet purchased milbemax worming tablet from vets. This was given to him 3 days ago. There were quite alot of the same kind of worms coming out after worming and i noticed there was still a worm today after he had been to toilet. Is this normal for them to be still coming out after 3 days? I have another westie who is 1yr old bitch, she has been wormed regularly since i got her the last time being approx 1 month ago. Is there any way she can become infected because puppy has worms? Should she be wormed again or just as normal?
Thanks for your help

Answer
Puppies are usually born with worms, therefore, a series of dewormings are given every 2-3 weeks.   If the worms looked spaghetti-like, then they are roundworms and very common in dogs.  Your other dog could become infected from being in contact with fecal contaminants outside.  Many times puppies are loaded with them and they can come out a few days after deworming as well and it is not unusual for them to vomit them up as well.

I would recommend that you deworm your pup again 7 days after the first dose and once more in 2 weeks after that and to be safe give your adult dog a deworming just in case.  Then take a stool sample to the vet for both dogs 2 weeks after the last deworming to ensure they are clear.

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Jennifer Fry

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As a small animal veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer L. Fry is dedicated to high quality medicine, compassionate patient care, teamwork, client and staff education as well as celebration of the human-animal bond.Her special interests are internal medicine, behavioral medicine and alternative therapies. Dog and cat questions only, please

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Dr. Fry just opened her own veterinary hospital called Banfield, the Pet Hospital of Pottstown inside the NEW PetSmart located Pottstown, PA just off Route 100 where we treat Pets like Family. Dr. Fry performs internal medicine work-ups, emergency treatments, soft-tissue surgery and prophylactic dentals on feline and canine patients. Dr. Fry has completed her certification as a Veterinary Chiropractitioner and has taken Level I Reiki. Dr. Fry enjoys working with Trap-Neuter-Return programs for feral cats in Berks County and volunteers for spay/neuter clinics. Dr. Fry is a big advocate of nutritional supplements and alternative therapies. She currently recommends Transfer Factor to boost the immune system naturally to fight off disease ... http://www.4tf-pets.com/testimonials.htm www.transferfactor.com Dr. Fry attended University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, PA where she received her Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD) degree in 1998. She also attended Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with Departmental Honors and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1994. Dr. Fry is currently involved in the following associations: American Veterinary Medical Association, Cornell Feline Health Center, Delta Society, Fairchild Foundation of Wyomissing, Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, National Center for Homeopathy and Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.

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