How to Care for a Puppy With Roundworm

Almost all puppies are afflicted with roundworm during their first six months of life. Puppies frequently get roundworm from their mothers before birth or while nursing. Symptoms of roundworms in puppies include weakness, soft stools, frequent vomiting, diarrhea and worms in the stools or vomit. Getting rid of roundworms is easy, but it can take up to a month.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Medication

1. Take your puppy to the vet. Bring a fresh stool sample so the doctor can inspect it. The stool sample will help the vet determine how severe the roundworm infection is. The vet will prescribe medication to kill the worms.

2. Give the puppy the medication immediately. The vet may choose to give the puppy its first dose in the office.

3. Wait two weeks and then give the puppy the second round of medicine. Deworming medications do not kill roundworm eggs, so the worms must grow into adults for the medicine to be effective.

4. Take the puppy back to the vet after another week or two. Bring along a fresh stool sample for the doctor to inspect. If the vet finds evidence of worm infection, the treatment with medication must go on for at least two more weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your puppy's living quarters clean. Do not let your puppy eat his own feces or the feces of other animals. Do not let your puppy near other animals that might be infected with roundworms.

References

• Parasites in Dogs
• Dog Health Guide