Parasites are a problem for dogs, regardless of their age. But they are not only annoying for them. Some of these parasites can infect humans. Although in he althy adult dogs their presence can go unnoticed, parasites in puppies, as they have a lower defense capacity, do manage to cause symptoms. Hence the importance of keeping a correct deworming calendar, as we will see in this article on our site.
If you have just adopted a puppy and want to know more about this topic, stay with us reading this article parasites in puppies, symptoms and treatment.
Types of parasites in puppies
Puppies can be infested with different types of parasites. There are external ones, like fleas or ticks, and internal ones, that is, they live inside the body.
Internal parasites in puppies
These can lodge in the heart, lungs, or intestines. In this article, we will focus on the latter because they are the most common and against which deworming treatments are started early and generically.
In intestinal parasites, we distinguish between roundworms or nematodes, such as Toxocara canis or hookworms, and flatworms or cestodes, such as tapeworms or echinococcus. There are also protozoa such as giardia or coccidia that invade the intestines. Roundworms are the most common in puppies.
External parasites in puppies
Against external parasites it is also possible to deworm puppies, following the advice of the veterinarian. Depending on the vital circumstances of each dog, this professional will prescribe other deworming treatments against heart or lung parasites.
Parasites in newborn puppies
Newborn puppies can become infested through their mother, hence the importance of deworming all adult dogs and, especially, pregnant females, always following the veterinarian's instructions to ensure that the chosen product is not harmful. The hormones that come into play during gestation activate the larvae that could be found in the female's tissues. This causes them to migrate and end up in the uterus, the mammary glands, the fetuses themselves or the intestine.
Parasites in 1-month-old puppies
Toxocara canis is the worm that usually infests pregnant bitches and their puppies From the mother they reach the little ones, they develop and they reach maturity when they are two weeks old. Thus, when the puppies start solid food, we can already find parasites in one-month-old puppies. That is why it is recommended to start the deworming protocol after fifteen days, since, as we have seen, this is the age at which parasites mature.
Parasites in 2-month-old puppies
But a single dose is not enough to keep them clean, so even if we deworm them this first time, it is possible to find parasites in two-month-old puppies, which is the age at which vaccination begins. That's why the vet will always deworm before vaccinating
We emphasize that some of these parasites can be transmitted to humans. Hence the importance of deworming and hygiene. Extreme precautions must be taken if children live in the home, as they tend to be less careful with cleanliness.
If your dog is pregnant and you have doubts about whether or not you can deworm her, we explain it in more detail in this other article on Can I deworm my pregnant dog?
Symptoms of parasites in puppies
Parasitic diarrhea in puppies is usually the most common symptom, but there may be other symptoms as well. Here are the most commonsymptoms of parasites in puppies:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Worms, like noodles, both in feces and vomit.
However, just because we don't see the worms doesn't mean the puppy is dewormed. On the other hand, the cycle of intestinal parasites such as Toxocara includes migration to the lungs, at which point the infested puppy may experience respiratory symptoms such as cough and even pneumonia. Sometimes a kind of grains of rice are seen around the anus. They indicate the presence of flatworms.
Other symptoms of parasites in puppies
Other symptoms that should alert us are:
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Stunted growth.
- Bad appearance of the coat.
- Anemia.
- Bloated belly.
A serious infestation in a puppy can be fatal. That's why you have to go to the vet and take deworming seriously.
How to eliminate parasites in puppies? Treatment
There are a good number of medicines for parasites in puppies for sale. It will be the veterinarian who, depending on the needs of our dog, will prescribe the most appropriate drug. It is intended to be broad-spectrum, which means that it is effective against several species of parasites at the same time. To make sure it works, it is important to weigh the dog first. In this way, we establish the correct dose.
As we have seen, deworming should begin at fifteen days of age and it is recommended to repeat it every two weeks until the puppy turns three months of age. From then on, deworming is scheduled as in adults, that is, every 3-4 months, as we explained in this other article on How often to deworm a dog?
Home remedies for parasites in puppies
Regarding home remedies for parasites in puppies, although garlic and other natural products are often talked about, the truth is that we should never give him anythingto our dog without the vet's prescription. An excessive dose can intoxicate the puppy. In addition, internal deworming has to start at two weeks of age, when the little ones only ingest breast milk and are not yet ready for solids.
