Key facts at a glance
- Puppies can become infected with worms in the womb and through breast milk.
- Since the immune system in puppies is not yet properly developed, the worm infestation is particularly dangerous for them.
- Puppies should be dewormed for the first time two weeks after birth.
- It is recommended to repeat deworming every two weeks until the last intake of breast milk is two weeks ago.
- The benefits of deworming far outweigh the risks of possible side effects of deworming puppies.
Where do puppies get worms from?
Many dog owners are unaware that puppies can be infected with worms at birth. As a rule, these are roundworms whose larvae have encapsulated in the body of the mother animal.
The larvae are activated during pregnancy by the changes in the hormonal balance and migrate to the uterus, where they can then infect the embryos. In addition, the puppies can also become infected with the larvae of the roundworm through their mother’s milk.
Worms are lethal for puppies
Worms are extremely uncomfortable for dogs of all ages. However, the infestation is particularly dangerous for puppies. One of the reasons for this is that the immune system of the small four-legged friends is not yet fully developed.
If an infection with worms occurs, they can multiply very quickly in the puppy’s body and cause serious damage to organs such as the liver or lungs in addition to the typical digestive problems.
In the worst case, a massive worm infestation for puppies can even be fatal. This can only be prevented by deworming the puppies promptly after birth.
Deworm puppies properly
To avoid damage to health, puppies should be dewormed for the first time at the age of two weeks. Thereafter, it is recommended that young dogs be dewormed every two weeks. This rhythm should be maintained until the last intake of breast milk was two weeks ago.
Be sure to use appropriate wormers to deworm your puppies. Your veterinarian will help you choose the right product and explain how to use it correctly.
In addition to conventional wormers, there are now also a number of herbal preparations against worms. However, such products are not recommended for deworming your puppies.
Deworming the mother protects the puppies
When fighting worms, don’t just limit yourself to the puppies, but also take care of the deworming of the mother animal. Giving certain dewormers during pregnancy and after birth can help improve puppies’ protection.
It is therefore best to ask your veterinarian which preparation you should use to deworm your pregnant bitch.
Why do puppies have to be dewormed so often?
Adult dogs are dewormed either when needed or prophylactically every three months. The rhythm recommended for puppies may therefore seem a bit exaggerated at first.
However, it is still important to deworm puppies approximately every 14 days. Otherwise there is a high probability that the puppies will become infected again through their mother’s milk.
Dewormers can put a strain on the puppy’s body
Many dog owners are critical of the subject of deworming and only deworm their four-legged friends if they actually suffer from worms, or only use natural preparations.
That’s understandable. After all, conventional wormers contain chemical agents that not only kill the intestinal parasites, but also put a strain on the dog’s body.
However, we strongly advise against experimentation when deworming your puppies. Because the risks associated with a possible worm infestation are simply too great.
If in doubt, your puppies will cope better with deworming with a chemical agent than with an infection with roundworms, which may have a lasting impact on the growth and health of the little four-legged friends.
Deworming puppies – our conclusion
As you can see, worms are a serious problem from the moment your puppies are born. Infection during pregnancy or while suckling is very common and often has fatal consequences for the affected puppies.
By deworming your puppies in good time and regularly, you make a decisive contribution to a good start to a long and hopefully healthy dog’s life.