Worms??? Yuck!!!

[luvsmy2bs]

:Hello all,

We just got Wrigley from a rescue last weekend. Last night we took the three b's out on a hike and after Wrigley went poo we noticed that he had several worms in it. YUCK!:eek: Anyway, one of my friends told me a vet once told him not to buy over the counter worm meds unless you have tested for heartworms first (we are trying to avoid another vet visit – we were just in there last Monday getting Wrigley checked out). Anyway, he said that the vet told him that if you give worm meds to a dog and he happens to have heart worms the meds can kill him. Does anyone have any info on this topic?

[MaxBooBooBear]

They didn't test a stool sample when he went in for a check? That's pretty standard with my vet. But heartworm requires a blood draw. Since the vet has already seen him, you could probably just bring in a stool sample for them to test. But again, that won't tell you anything about heartworm.

[tanza]

It is "if" you give heartworm meds to a dog with heart worms it can harm, maybe kill them… not regular Worm meds... however in order to know what kind of worms you need to take in a stool sample. I would guess along with other worms there is tape, and over the counter worm meds will not take care of tape.

I too am surprised that the Vet didn't do a stool sample and also bloodwork?

[navyman]

FWIW, we had a recent similar experience with our tri male, Buddy. A few weeks ago, while my family and I were sitting on the family room floor conversing, we noticed a white worm-like creature wriggling out of Buddy's anus. It was quite shocking as we've never seen that happen before.

I gently pulled it out and put it in a small jar with water for the vet, along with a stool that we later collected for the vet to examine. The next morning, it was still wriggling in the water-filled jar!

It turned out to be tapeworm, which is usually caused by the ingestion of an infected flea. One of our fosters was flea-infested prior to coming into our home and Buddy probably ingested a flea while nipping at it in his fur.

The vet dispensed a 1-time tapeworm medication that starts with a "D", which was a lot nicer than the standard 10-day antibiotic regimen that we are used to for treating the occassional results of a foster or resident B tussle.

[dash]

Tanza is correct. Specifically Heargard is not to be given. Filaribits would be ok but you would know if that is what you are supposed to be giving. However, I don't think Heartworms are shed in the feces. I am not sure. I would not use OTC worm meds anyway. I am sure you can drop off a poo sample and they will look for eggs in the microscope. I dont' think you should actually have to "see" a vet. The tech should be able to do the fecal test for you. They generally give a syringe full of liquid in 2 doses. Now and in 2 weeks for rounds, hooks and whips (if memory serves) . When you got the dog checked out they should have run a heartworm test. It is a blood draw. They have heartworm meds that treat for worms in addition to preventing heartworms. I know heartgard and I think interceptor both do. If you did start that med that may be why you are seeing worms. I dont' think you should actually have to "see" a vet. The tech should be able to do the fecal test for you.

If the worm looks like a grain of rice odds are it is a tapeworm and Droncit once will take care of it. It is from them injesting fleas.

[luvsmy2bs]

Thanks for the info everyone,,,,,,,,,,,,looks like we will be on poop patrol tonight,,,,,,,maybe Ill fix dinner and put DH on the poo patrol!!! Do all of you think we should go ahead and collect a sample from the other two as well,,,,,,just in case?

[MaxBooBooBear]

@luvsmy2bs:

Thanks for the info everyone,,,,,,,,,,,,looks like we will be on poop patrol tonight,,,,,,,maybe Ill fix dinner and put DH on the poo patrol!!! Do all of you think we should go ahead and collect a sample from the other two as well,,,,,,just in case?

I think that would be a good idea–just to be safe. I think it's pretty common where if one has something, the others can easily pick it up, too--being in the same environment and around each other.

[ChristyRutherford]

Once when we had a "stray" show up that had heartworm (not very bad/infested) the vet, and the drug rep, had us give her heartworm (heartguard) pills as treatment for heartworms.
She had no signs of heartworm and they were following her progress.
I guess this is a treatment for owners that cant do the hard and expensive routine.
So I am not sure about the pills kiling your dog if it already has heartwom. Lucy was hit by a car before the year treatment was over.
I would highly reccomend the regular treatment, but she was older and probably wouldnt have made it through it. So this was the other option the vet had.

*Lucy was a redbone and a good girl that showed up at my parents house (about 10years ago) and we could not find her a suitable home. She was outside and penned up on trash day and in the evenings. She was miserable when confined and we lived in the country. She did have a great life.

[WBL]

@ChristyRutherford:

Once when we had a "stray" show up that had heartworm (not very bad/infested) the vet, and the drug rep, had us give her heartworm (heartguard) pills as treatment for heartworms.
She had no signs of heartworm and they were following her progress.
I guess this is a treatment for owners that cant do the hard and expensive routine.

This is the case in just like you said "not very bad" for very mild cases of heart worm yes vets will give the heart guard as treatment, but that is only for mild cases, if it is more severe then the animal will have to go through the other treatment, this is to prevent stress on the heart and the animals body.

[wizard]

I was interested in the comment that tapeworm comes from ingesting infected fleas. EL D catches rabbits now and then and once caught a few fleas from the rabbit. I managed to pick them all off as there were only a couple (nice to have such short fur) but that is just one more thing to watch for!

[tanza]

@wizard:

I was interested in the comment that tapeworm comes from ingesting infected fleas. EL D catches rabbits now and then and once caught a few fleas from the rabbit. I managed to pick them all off as there were only a couple (nice to have such short fur) but that is just one more thing to watch for!

In a word….yes... it would be very, very common to wind up with tape from catching and eating rabbits.... chances of him not ingesting a flea is pretty slim...