Your dog appears to have worms!  Yikes!

Question #1:

What type of worms are they?

You may not be able to take your dog to the vet at this point in time but you want to give your dog some type of medication to get rid of the worms.  Without a vet to examine the worms, you may have a hard time determining the exact type whether it is roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm or hookworm.

Whipworms and hookworms are difficult to diagnose because with whipworms they produce very few eggs and you might not see them in the stool and hookworms are usually not passed in the stool so a fecal exam is necessary.

Roundworms are the most common and are generally 2-4 inches long, tan or white and “spaghetti-like” creatures with tapered ends.  Tapeworm segments are usually ¼ – ½ inches long. When tapeworm segments dry out, they tend to look like a grain of uncooked rice or a sesame seed.  At least you have a visual with these 2 types of worms!

Question #2:

What type of symptoms does your dog seem to exhibit?

If vomiting and diarrhea are the main symptoms, look for the roundworms in the stool and tapeworms can be found in the dried stage around your dog’s bedding or wherever they sleep.  (Unless you are lucky enough to actually see the worms crawling out of your dog which is really an unpleasant experience, you will need to find them in other places!)

Whipworms, which live in the dog’s small intestine, suck the dog’s blood.  A dog’s reaction is usually mild with whipworms unless the infestation is large; then the symptoms are diarrhea, weight loss and blood loss.  Hookworm symptoms include itchy feet, a rash on the dog’s feet, wheezing and coughing, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and blood in stool or black stool.

Question #3

Is there a product that I can give my dog that will take care of all of the worms just to be on the safe side?

Yes, there are products that will take care of all worms if you can’t tell exactly what kind of worms your dog has and they are easy to administer.  For example, Safe-guard Canine De-Wormer, which kills roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms, comes in 3 different sizes and uses fenbendazole as the active ingredient.  Tapeworms take a blood meal one time every three days so that is why it is administered for a three-day period.

Our rule of thumb for dog worm control is to do so quarterly for roundworms and twice a year for all worms.  Be safe and keep your dogs healthy without the fear of worms creeping in without you knowing it!

Any time of year can be the perfect time to travel with your dog either for business or pleasure. You plot your route, make your reservations, check the sites to see, and pack your bags. Then you remember you forgot your best friend who is sitting there, tail wagging, just waiting to see what you are doing next!

Traveling with your dog doesn’t have to be an arduous task but there are some things you want to consider when you take them along.

1. Check hotels to make sure that a dog is acceptable to stay there. Most hotels have a policy whether it is accepting dogs, requiring a deposit for dogs or not allowing dogs at all. It is best to check online or call ahead to make sure there are no surprises when you arrive.  If you have a collapsible dog crate that your dog is use to, it helps to take it on the trip for them to sleep in the hotel room.

2. Take a copy of the vet records for your dog plus dog tags for identification and proof of rabies whenever you travel with your dog.  A current picture is helpful if the dog gets away.

3. A car harness is a great item to keep your dog safe while traveling in the car. It buckles into the car seat belt holder and allows the dog to sit up or lay down during the drive. Have a cargo organizer close by containing their favorite toys, treats, water bottle, blanket, etc. This you can pick up and move into the hotel/motel room when you get there to keep your dog’s belongings organized,.

4. Have a travel water bottle for yourself and your dog. Your dog can go without eating for several hours but will need to be able to drink water occasionally. An easy way to provide that is with a portable water bottle for pets that is leak proof and spill proof.

5. Walking harness & leash for stops along the way.  A sturdy leash and harness will keep your dog safe in strange places by keeping them close to you.  A dog can get spooked by other animals, traffic noises and people so be prepared.

6. Poop bags to keep the areas where you stop clean.  It is always nice to stop at a rest area with your dog and not have to worry about stepping in poo yourself!  The hotel/motel where you stay is another important place to use the poop bags so that they don’t have other customers complaining about the mess and then the hotel discontinues the approved pet policy.

7. Floor pee pads for the hotel room “just in case”.  You may have a dog that has never gone to the bathroom inside but what if there has been another dog in that room and the temptation is too great!  You may also have a dog that is trained to the pee pads and they can be a wonderful convenience if your dog needs a potty break before you are ready.

Your “best friend” gives you unconditional love anytime of the day or night. They love to be with you wherever you go so make it a point to get prepared for your next trip with your dog so that you both can make some terrific memories together.  Plan today for traveling with your dog and you won’t be disappointed.

1. Put out lawn granules in your yard (they typically last 3 months)
2. Spray the inside of your house with an insecticide/larvacide  spray.  If you don’t add an insect growth regulator, you will not kill the larvae and stop the cycle!
3. Treat your pets with a spot on product whether it is chemical or organic.

Another important note is to change whatever chemical method you use as soon as you see it is not working as well as it had been.  Fleas actually become immune to a particular chemical if it is used continuously.

Tick collars are a wonderful way to give added protection to your pets when spot on treatments aren’t effective enough.  Cat collars need to be breakaway so they won’t get choked if snagged on a fixed object.  Flea & Tick collars can last from 6 months to 9 months depending on the brand.