janet_rose
Posted : 12/7/2007 6:14:54 PM
Katran
If it's safe to treat him for worms before seeing a vet, I'll do that while also looking for a low-cost/no-cost vet.
I am not a vet, but if it were my pup, I would go ahead and try Safe-Guard. It is a gentle wormer that has been used for a long time. The site that describes the use of liquid Safe-Guard is by a Beagle breeder. She uses Safe-Guard on pups (and their mothers) at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, plus she worms all of her dogs every other month.
There are toxic OTC wormers on the market, so I would stay away from anything you are not familiar with.
Roundworms (link) in particular can be extremely hard to completely eliminate, plus they can infect humans. They can encyst (become walled off and inactive) in canine body tissues and remain there for months or years. Because of that most pups even get their first roundworms before they are born and also in their mother's milk.
Using a monthly heartworm "preventative" that also kills intestinal worms really helps in eliminating worms. Interceptor is a heartworm "preventative" that also kills roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms - all with only one chemical that is out of the dog's system within 24-48 hours. Heartgard Plus is similar, but uses two chemicals and does not kill whipworms.
Interceptor can be used on dogs and puppies over 4 weeks of age weighing more than 2 pounds. Heartgard Plus can be used on dogs and puppies 6 weeks of age and over. No testing needs to be done before starting a young pup on a heartworm "preventative". Instead test 6 months after starting the "preventative". If the "preventative" was started by 6 weeks, the test can be delayed until a year after starting the "preventative".
NOTE: A heartworm "preventative" prevents adult heartworms by killing baby and immature heartworms present at the time the "preventative" is given. There is no future preventative effect. The term "preventative" is used to differentiate the monthly stuff from the heartworm "treatments" needed to kill adult heartworms. The "treatments" are very toxic and dangerous.
CAUTION: Tests are available only for detecting mature adult female heartworms (antigen test) and the initial baby stage. Currently males and immature heartworms can not be detected at all. Dogs and pups over 6 weeks should be retested/tested with the antigen test 6 months after starting a "preventative". This will determine if any female heartworms (immature when the "preventative" was started, but too old to be killed by it) have matured. Thereafter yearly antigen (mature females) tests are recommended because the "preventatives" are not fool-proof.