Re: Worms/Heartworm, flea questions

In Reply to: Worms/Heartworm, flea questions
Posted by:  Wendy Watson
Posted on:  December 29, 2001 at 17:27:40

: Hi, thank's for all of your help and wonderful website.

: I have a question about worms,heartworms and fleas.

: First of all, I always had big dogs and never worried much about their health as they were very healthy and lived to ripe old ages without many trips to the vet. Plus all of the things that are available to the dog owner now that wasn't around back then, i'm not sure where to turn.

: Now I have this little guy and and he is a treasure, I am worried about worms, heart worms, fleas and all those things I really never had to deal with before.

: I have checked his bm and it doesn't look like he has worms, but my husband noticed him rubbing his bottom on the floor the other day and I don't know if that's an old wives tail that there is a sign of worms or not. Can you see worms in the bm after it is dried?

: What causes worms, and heartworms and should I just get him meds even though he might not have them?

: I've noticed a lot of biting after a Christmas day outting where he was a perfect gentleman and didn't once lift his leg and happily played and showed off for everyone. These people have 3 dogs and a cat, I am sure my little boy has fleas now. Back in the olden days, you bought a powder or a spray and applied it and hoped it worked. Now there are 100 different products on the market and frankly I can't afford to buy a bunch of products that don't work.

: I've been waiting until after the holidays to take him to the groomer, she will check his anal glands and drain if necessary, flea shampoo and clip his nails if need be. He has already had flea bath using a over the counter brand of shampoo in the kitchen sink. I'm trying to find a good vet (asking everyone I know where they go)then he will be neutered.

: I hate to brag, but the first day I brought the crate home, he of course went in and checked it out. Later that day I then put him in it and gave him a treat and left him for about 20 minutes. Other than Christmas during dinner, he hasn't been put in it. Now I give him a treat and he goes in there to eat it!

: I have no idea if he ever had puppy shots or not, I do have the paper work for rabies and parvo shots, but that is it. Does it hurt if they have them twice? I was told he is about a year old.

: Thanks for your time and help!

: Wendy & Chippy

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Hi Wendy,
Congratulations on finding such a great companion!
Most of your questions will need to be addressed by a veterinarian, but I will try to give you some general information.
For flea control, most of us here use Frontline (which also takes care of ticks) or Advantage. These doses cost around $10-14, your vet will show you how to apply and last around 30-45 days. If you are in a cold climate, you won't need to reapply until the thaw. There is another product you can get from pet supplies that is called Biospot. I have used it several times, and found it no less effective than Frontline.

Frankly, I wouldn't waste a cent on the stuff you can get at Walmart or flea shampoos. I've known several dogs with negative reactions to flea shampoos and cheap treatment drops. If your dog needs a bath, just use an oatmeal or naturally based dog shampoo, never human shampoo. Be careful not to overbathe, or you will dry out his skin.

Intestinal worms and heartworms are two completely different topics, so I'll address them separately. The worms you typically see in the stool are tapeworm. They look like little bits of rice and are passed after they die. Dogs get tapeworm from ingesting fleas, which is a good reason to use a flea preventative.

Other intestinal worms can also be seen in the stool, but some are not visible like tapeworm. When you take your dog to the vet, take a stool sample as well. Your vet can run a fecal, and if your dog does have worms, he can be treated. Fecals cost around $6-8, and the treatment pill, a one-time deal for adults, costs around $4. There is no reason to treat your dog for worms if he doesn't have them, so I'd definitely go with the fecal exam first.

Bootie-scooting is not always a sign of worms. It can also be a sign that his anal glands are full or that he has to go the to bathroom.

Heartworm is a very deadly condition if left untreated, and a lot of times even treatment isn't successful. In many areas of the US, this disease, passed on to dogs by mosquitos, is an epidemic. Please speak with your vet about heartworm preventative. It is a very inexpensive way to prevent what could be a very painful, heartbreaking condition.

The cost of heartworm preventative for a dog's entire lifetime is comparible to one treatment, and it can spare so much agony on both your parts. Your vet will know the level of threat of heartworm in your area, and be able to advise you on what is his preferred preventative.