When you bring your new puppy home, the last thing you want to deal with is a major health problem. Many owners think that their newest member of the family is clean, pristine, and unexposed to the risks that older dogs are.
However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, puppies are more susceptible to some issues than older dogs.
One of the most unpleasant problems you’re going to have to deal with is worms.
Many puppies are infected with worms in utero or shortly after birth. By the time you notice wriggling worms in your pup’s stool, they’ve probably been affecting your dog for many weeks.
Deworming is a simple and effective solution for getting rid of the worms.
If you’ve recently dewormed your puppy, don’t expect to never see them again. You’re going to see worms in your pup’s poop well after you’ve administered the medication.
Many wonder, “How long will my puppy poop worms after deworming?”
Well, that all depends on the type of worms you’re dealing with and how your pup responds.
The Importance of Deworming
There are many different species of worms that can affect your puppy. Not only that, but your new dog can get them a number of different ways.
Dogs are a great host for worms.
Canines are naturally inquisitive creatures. They get into trash, eat dirt, mess with dead animals, and even play with the poop of another dog. This makes them highly susceptible to infestations.
For adult dogs, worms are usually just inconvenient. However, for puppies, there’s a huge risk for lasting problems and death.
Certain types of worms latch onto your pup’s intestinal tract and feed off the nutrients you’re providing them. As a result, your dog can’t properly absorb them.
This can lead to malnutrition and death. Sometimes, infestations can also work their way to other parts of the bodies like the lungs and heart.
Worms can also cause a chain reaction of poor health, causing your pup to suffer from a host of other ailments.
It’s important that you seek treatment as soon as possible. A veterinarian will be able to diagnose the problem with stool samples.
They’ll take a look at your puppy’s poop on a microscopic level to determine the exact worm species that are causing problems.
From there, the vet can administer an injection or provide oral medication. These medications can kill or paralyze the worms so that they can be expelled.
Alternatively, there are many great commercially-available dewormers. These dewormers are designed to treat infestations effectively.
You can get a wormer that’s made for a specific species or an all-purpose product that’s capable of getting rid of multiple species.
Common Worm Species
Dogs can be a host to many different types of worms. Here are the most common species that you’ll encounter in your puppy.
Roundworms
Roundworms are very common. Puppies can be infected while they’re still in their mother’s womb or by feeding on her breastmilk.
Roundworm eggs can be found in the soil, on plants, on dead animal carcasses, and poop from another infected animal. They are round, white, and smooth. Some say that they look like living noodles.
Tapeworms
Dogs can get tapeworms from infected fleas.Your dog may accidentally ingest a flea by chewing on an itchy spot. When ingested, the eggs in the flea will hatch.
The worm will then latch onto the intestines and grow up to 8 inches long.
The unique thing about tapeworms is that they grow in segments.
These segments can break off and show up in your pup’s poop. They’re flat and rectangular. Eggs can also collect on your dog’s anus, causing them to scoot across the floor. Eggs look like small sesame seeds.
Hookworms
Your puppy can get hookworms from their mother or by digesting infected poop. These worms are aptly named because of their teeth.
They, quite literally, hook onto your pup’s intestinal wall. This can cause bleeding and anemia. If not treated in a timely manner, your puppy may become weak and pale. Hookworms can also lead to death.
Whipworms
Whipworms are another common worm species that are found everywhere.
Reinfestation occurs in a large percentage of pups, so you’ll have to be vigilant in your treatment plan.
These worms look like roundworms but feature a long curly tail. They feed off the nutrients in your dog’s food. When they’re in your pup’s body, they can cause inflammation and bleeding.
How Often Do You Worm a Puppy?
Typically, puppies are dewormed before they are put up for adoption. You should check with the breeder or shelter to get an exact date.
Puppies should be dewormed every four weeks until they are at least four months old.
As mentioned earlier, puppies are very susceptible to infestations. Just because you get rid of one infestation doesn’t mean that they won’t come back again.
Monthly deworming will help you keep issues under control.
After four months of age, it’s recommended that you provide deworming treatments a couple times a year as a preventative measure.
How Long After Deworming a Puppy are the Worms Gone?
Most medications don’t take long to start working. It can take as little as two hours for the worms to start dying off.
However, in most cases, the process starts about 12 hours after administering the dewormer. You may continue to see worms in your pup’s poop for about a week.
If they had a serious infestation, you may see worms for up to two weeks. If the medication was successful, the worms should dead. They’ll be more transparent and difficult to see.
What if I See Live Worms in My Dog’s Poop After Deworming?
If the worms still have a bright white color and are moving, this could indicate that the medication hasn’t worked.
There are a couple of different drugs that are designed to get rid of worms, therefore, you may have to switch to another dewormer that uses different active ingredients.
However, it’s important that you wait a couple of weeks to do this. You don’t want to administer too many drugs or put your pup through any unnecessary discomfort.
The best thing you can do is consult with your vet. They’ll go over your options and let you know when it’s safe to try again.
Side Effects of Deworming a Puppy
Deworming products are relatively safe for dogs. However, your pup may experience some side effects.
Bloody Stool
You may notice that your dog’s poop has taken on a deep red color. It may even have a noticeable streak of blood in it. This is perfectly normal within the first few days after treatment. In fact, it’s usually a good sign.
The blood may be coming from the latch point of the worms. The blood should go away after a couple of days. If it persists, visit a vet.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a result of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
After a deworming treatment, it’s usually caused by the worms unlatching and making their way through the intestines for expulsion.
How long will my puppy have diarrhea after deworming?
This is a common question that many owners have.
You’ll be happy to know that the messy issue should be over within 24 to 48 hours. If it persists past that, you need to bring your pup to the vet.
When your dog is experiencing diarrhea, look out for the dead worms. If you don’t see any or spot some live worms, diarrhea may be caused by a viral infection.
This sometimes happens when the worms are not affected by the medication. If that is the case, seek professional help.
Mood Swings
The deworming process isn’t a particularly enjoyable experience for your dog. It puts their body through some stress and discomfort.
They may exhibit some uncharacteristic behavior throughout the process. They may lose their appetite or become lethargic.
This often happens during the week after treatment.
Your dog will return to normal after the worms are gone. The best thing you can do for your dog during that time period is to provide them with a comfortable place to rest.
Also, make sure that they have a constant supply of water on hand to prevent dehydration and diarrhea.
Over to You
It’s never fun to deal with worms, but it’s another part of owning a young puppy.
During their first few months of life, worms are a big risk. Luckily, that risks decreases as they get older.
You can avoid future infestations with preventative treatments. You can also train your dog to stay away from any potential breeding grounds, keep garbage secure, and keep your property free of fleas.
Thank you that really helped I was so scared I didn’t know what to do