Worms Help!

[YorkieLover]

I just posted under another thread that was going in regards to our new pup having worms but I thought I would start a new thread. We have only had him less than a week now and he has had soft stools since the 2nd day, I contributed this to switching him from Pro Pac to Canidea.. Well last night at 1:30 a.m. he woke me up and had soft stool again but this time with white spaghetti like worms in it... I thought I was going to die they were so nasty looking.

We are taking our first trip to the vet tonight and I want to know what questions to ask and what medicine I should make sure they give me. He is 11 weeks old now and came to us through someone who bought him from a pet store a couple weeks ago and then changed their minds on keeping him.. (unbelievable) We decided to take him instead of letting them take him to a shelter, I told my husband we would foster him until we could find him a great home but I truley believe we will be keeping him.

Any thoughts or suggestions on the worm thing would be greatly appreciated.

[aurorab]

Those worms are easy to treat. Usually a pyrantel (sp?) and they usually give you a sencond dose for a wk later. Just make sure you clean up any poop and clean up the bedding (any accidents) w/ hot water and soap. It clears up pretty fast.
and don't worry worms happen and he seems to have one of the easiest treat kind, but be sure they do a fecal float test to be sure that is the only type of worms he has.
If he still has an upset tummy and even just for the soft stool the vet might want you to give him a little boild chicken and rice. It really helps. Boil the chicken 1st then boil the rice in the same water (gives it a bit of flavor) and it is ver bland for their tummies and firms things up. Going back to reg food, do it slowly. A little dog food and mostly chicken and rice. Reduce the chicken and rice and increase the dog food. Try tot do it over the course of a wk. Most of mine have had to be on the bland diet for a wk or so then a week to get back to reg food.
Also make sure he drinks a lot of water, they can get dehydrated when they have diarrhea.
Most important he's not feeling that great and w/ all the changes he probably needs a little extra lovin'

Good Luck

[YorkieLover]

Thanks so much, I was hoping someone would respond before I have to leave to take him to the vet. I wrote down everything you posted to make sure I don't miss anything when talking to the vet. Oh, one more thing, do you think the worms are causing his soft stool or could it be switching the dog food? I know most people say to do it gradually but I read somewhere where Mordy stated to just do it and thats what we did.

[aurorab]

The worms could be making it soft, so could the food, so could the change (pet store, then 2 new owners), there are a lot of things that could cause it. My dog has a very sensative tummy so we have to do it slow or she gets soft stool. Plus w/ the boiled chicken and rice your already trying to calm their tummy, so I think that reintroducing it slowly is better. i know when I have a tummy ache, I don't want to go back to big meal right away. Plus that is what we always did when I worked at the vets office. I just wouldn't chance it, but that's up to you.
they should at least do a fecal test and check the abdenmon (sp?) and take their temp and do a few basics. Plus find out what vaccines they are going to give. That young you will need to also have boosters of the shots. Just like little kids.
Sorry I'm typing fast I have to run out for something w/ work. Let me know if I missed anything and I'll check when I get back.

[Barb04]

Make sure you bring a stool sample with you for them to check. Let us know how you made out when you get back from the vet.

[aurorab]

Oh if you can't get a stool sample b4 you go the can get some. But its a long stick w/ an end kind of like the eye of a needle but really big. They go in a scoop some out. Yeah not nice so if you can bring in a small baggie. They don't need much but it has to be fresh. this morning or yesterday's won't do.

[bubbatd]

Another case against Pet Store pups !!!! Any good breeder will make sure the females is worm free before breeding and have the pup's stool checked 3- 4 weeks. Of over 100 whelped pups, none had worms. There's no excuse for worms !!!

[Ash47]

Ditto Grammy. Out of my time working at the clinic, today was only the second puppy I saw with no worms. Not counting my Roxy of course. :)

But huge Kudos to you Yorkie for taking on this sad puppy's well-being.

[bubbatd]

It's sad when it is so preventable ! Yes, my adult dogs would get tape worms before there was flea prevention ....but in puppies !!! No excuse !

[YorkieLover]

Well he had tapeworms and a couple fleas on him. They treated him with what was mentioned above and put "revolution" on him for the fleas. I dropped off a stool sample this a.m. since we didn't have one from yesterday and she is going to check it for any other worms. She was really nice and just kinda gave me a look when I mentioned the medicine I learned here. She wants me to put him back on puppy food and not the "all life stages" until he is about 6 months old. I told her I refused to give him the pro pac since it wasn't a really good product and she offered me a sample of what they give out, guess what it was? Eukanuba... YUK I told her no thanks I still had some Solid Gold puppy from when Cocoa was little and I would switch him to that. Do you all agree he should be on puppy food until 6 months or should I allow him to eat the same as the other 3 which is "all life stages"?