Keeping your puppy free of parasites is important in order to protect his health and ensure normal growth and development. Some types of intestinal worms, including roundworms and hookworms, are difficult to prevent in newborn puppies since they can be transmitted from the mother before birth or through her milk. Other types can be prevented by starting puppies on a regular preventative treatment.
Intestinal Worms
Roundworms and hookworms can pose serious health risks to puppies when infections are left untreated. Roundworms can interfere with a puppy’s growth, while hookworms can cause anemia and even be fatal. Puppies with hookworm infections from ingesting their mother’s milk must also be treated. Other types of intestinal parasites that can infect puppies include tapeworms, coccia and whipworms.
Puppies can start being dewormed at 2 weeks of age with Drontal Puppy Liquid. They should then be dewormed every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks and then monthly until 6 months.
Heartworms
Puppies can get heartworm infections from being bitten by a mosquito that has fed on another pet with heartworm disease. These are serious infections that can lead to heart failure, organ damage and other life-threatening problems. When puppies are old enough, they should start taking a heartworm preventative to reduce their risk of infection. Some of these products are in the form of chewable pills that are ingested monthly, while others are injections given on a yearly basis. Heart-worm treatment can commence around 8 weeks.
External Parasites
Parasites that affect your puppy’s skin include fleas, ticks, ringworms and mites that cause scabies or mange. Most of these can be prevented by treating your puppy with a product specifically designed for protecting against these parasites. Ringworm cannot be prevented with a vaccine or preventative product, but you can reduce your puppy’s risk by keeping him away from other puppies or dogs that have it. The paralysis tick is most common on the eastern seaboard.
Written by Amanda
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