You might think that puppies are too young to have worms – but you’d think wrong. Unfortunately for us pet lovers, even puppies are not safe from these parasites. In fact, most puppies are infected with worm larvae while still in their mother’s womb. If you want them to grow up as healthy dogs, it is important that you deal with worm problems as early as possible. This article will attempt to determine the best puppy wormer available in the market by setting a few criteria on what an ideal puppy wormer should be.

What are dog wormers?

Dog wormers are medicines which are given to a dog to get rid of worms – specifically: roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. These parasites can pose a serious health threat to our pets and need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Although dog wormers may be recommended for a dog’s worm problems, we can’t always say the same for puppies. Read on and be informed when it comes time to finding the best puppy wormer for your pet.

• The best puppy wormer is safe and effective.
  Safety is first and foremost when it comes to pet medication; efficacy comes second. We should be sure that the medicine is safe and effective since these are the main reasons we give our pets medicine in the first place. Always check the label of every medicine you give your pet and consult your vet to make sure that, with the proper dosage, it will not harm your pet in any way. With puppies, it is very important to check the age at which the medication can safely be used as some wormers can make puppies quite ill as their young bodies cannot cope with the drugs in them.
• The best puppy wormer is easy to administer or give to your pet.
  Giving your pet medicine should never be a chore for both you and your pet. That’s why one of the preferred puppy wormers is Panacur C; it comes in powder or granule form which most pet owners find very easy to use on puppies 6 weeks of age or above. Canex Puppy Suspension also works wonders due to its convenient medicine dropper and delicious chocolate flavor.

These are only a couple of tips on what you should be looking for when searching for the best puppy wormer for your pet. It may not be that easy to find them but it is better to be safe than sorry. I know this list is not that extensive so I’m going to ask you: What other characteristics should the best puppy wormer have, in your opinion?

Worms are a year-round problem which means finding a solution should be a pet lovers year-round task. How do we find the best dog wormer for our pet then? Over-the-counter dog wormers can be readily bought from your local pet shop or feeds supply store, but are these enough? Can these over-the-counter dog wormers really get rid of dog worms?

Before everything else, it is very important that you know which type of wormer will help alleviate your problem. Some may work better than others, some may not work at all. This can be a problem with over-the-counter dog wormers; you cannot really be sure about their effects on your pet or on the intestinal worms themselves. Your vet is still the best source of information and medication for your pet when it comes to wormers. Wormers are poisonous to the worms but can also make your dog sick, especially if not used in their proper dosage.

Why do pet owners buy over-the-counter dog wormers?

The main consideration for many pet lovers when finding the best treatment for dog worms is the cost. I’ll be blunt; if you want the best worm treatment for your dog, it will cost you. This is what drives most of us to skip the vet consultation and just go straight to the nearest pet shop and buy what wormer we think is best. Let me be even more blunt; this is a decision you may regret in the end if you are not fully aware of the spectrum of worms treated, the correct dosage, and any precautions which need to be taken when using the medicine. Always remember that these wormers are medicines, not harmless treats. However, just because you bought over-the-counter dog wormers to save some money does not necessarily mean you love your pet any less. It just means you do not fully realize the sensitive nature of veterinary medicine – which is not really a fault in itself.

Veterinarians dedicate their lives to the well-being of our animal friends. Spend a little more on your pet and reap the benefits. Your vet is your best ally when it comes to your pet’s health and well-being.

Always consult your vet whenever your pet is sick. You do not want to gamble with your pet’s life; remember, it’s a life we’re talking about here. That’s why there are vets around us in the first place – they know better. I suggest we leave all the doctoring in their expert hands, don’t you agree?

Horse wormer for dogs I read discussions about this specific topic around the web a few days ago. Is this idea the kind that’s crazy enough to work? Not according to Dr. Sally Gardiner, our resident vet. According to Dr. Sally, choosing the best wormer for your dog is a daunting task because you would have to know what wormer kills what worm. There are different wormer formulas intended for different types of dog worms and dog sizes. Wormers are specially formulated depending on the dog’s size and breed, and also on the type of worms present in its system.

Dog wormers are specifically formulated for use in dogs, horse wormers for horses. The huge difference in size between dogs and horses is quite obvious, and for this reason the difference in formulation of various wormers for both is quite large, too.

“Rest assured - in order to be registered and authorized for sale, all worming medications are tested for safety and effectiveness, so that you can be confident that they all work,” says Dr. Sally. However, how these medications are used and handled is entirely up to the pet owner so there is still a risk – especially if you don’t take the necessary precautions. As always, it will not hurt to consult your vet beforehand so you can be sure you’re doing it right and everything is safe.

What is the difference between horse wormers and dog wormers?

Essentially, the difference lies in the dosage and concentration. Horse and dog wormers often have common ingredients like ivermectin and fenbendazole, for example. However, this does not mean that we have the liberty to use horse medication on dogs. I have no experience with deworming horses but I take it horse wormers were not specifically formulated for dogs therefore posing a risk that should not be taken in the first place. Even cats and dogs of the same size have different medical needs – aspirin can treat a dog’s headache, but it may kill a cat. That being said, the question on whether horse wormers are safe for use in dogs should really be posed to a vet. While you’re at it, you can also ask your vet if the wormer you chose is safe for your dog and what the right dosage is. This, for me, is the best way to go about deworming your pet. Ask your vet first, then medicate as advised.

Now, let’s go back to the original question, horse wormer for dogs: a crazy idea?

If you ask me, yes – and it’s not that type of crazy idea that just might work. Where is the logic in giving horse wormers to your dog? There are various wormers available for dogs, pretty good ones at that, so why would you even consider horse wormers for dogs? Why risk your dog’s life when you can easily buy a dog wormer at a local convenience store or a pet feeds supply store? Better yet, why not just consult your vet?

Just a note, too. Rememember that horses weigh about 1,000 lbs or more and most dogs are less than 100lbs so a dog is less than 1/10th of a horse’s weight. The volume and concentration of medication in a horse wormer is such that if you miscalculate even a little, you can easily overdose your dog to such an extent that can possibly kill it. Many a spendthrift has made this error. The question is – is it really worth the risk?

Everyone likes a bargain. May it be a nice pair of shoes or a sleek gadget, people want a good discount every now and then. And it would even be better if they could get them for free! Needless to say, as long as people can save a couple of dollars from it, then they’re all for it.

The same goes when people pay for products and services for their pets. These days, many pet owners are finding different ways to save money especially on medical bills. So, it’s no longer surprising that more and more of them are turning to natural remedies for various health problems.

Natural Wormer for Dogs

One of the most popular alternative treatments is the natural wormer. Even though there are already countless conventional wormers in the market, there are still those who choose non-traditional solutions to worm infestation. Just some of the well-known natural wormers for dogs include black walnut, garlic, oregon grape and wormwood.

Undeniably, one of the biggest appeals of natural wormers is their price. Unlike traditional wormers that are sold in the market, natural wormers are inexpensive and, in some cases, they even come for free. But can they really help you save money?

The Real Deal with Natural Wormer for Dogs

Many people are lured into buying natural wormers because of their advantages. After all, what’s not to like about natural wormers? They’re cheap, they’re natural and they’re safe. Or are they?

If something is taken from nature, it is not a guarantee that it’s safe. In some cases, these natural remedies are actually poisonous to dogs. A good example would be garlic. This member of the onion family contains N-propyldisulfhide and S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide, chemicals that are believed to be harmful to dogs.

Wormwood is another popular dewormer for pets. However, just like garlic, this too contains a substance that is dangerous for dogs. Wormwood is also known as a good source of absinthe, an ingredient that can cause nausea, vomiting and seizures in humans.

So, can a natural wormer for dogs save you money?

The truth is there’s no definite answer to this question. It may seem that you cut your expenses by buying natural wormers but you have to keep in mind that since they are not guaranteed to be safe nor effective, you just might find yourself paying more for your dog’s medical bills in the long run.

Natural wormers sound too good to be true, and they probably are. Keep in mind that there have been no proper trials to show whether these natural wormers do actually get rid of worms, so you should not always trust them. It is better to shell out a little more now and be guaranteed of the long-term benefits than pay for nothing and wind up regretting it at the end of the day. Plus, there’s no harm in seeking a professional advice, is there? Besides, why be frugal when your pet’s health depends on it?

Tyson, our 5-year old German Shepherd, startled my Dad one morning. He was lying flat on the ground, looking ill. He had diarrhea and wouldn’t eat.

My Dad got worried so he quickly took our dog to the veterinarian for a check-up. The vet performed a test on a stool sample from Tyson and what he found was alarming! Our poor dog was infested with worms.

Most dog worms are parasites that reside in a dog’s intestines. They can cause adverse effects on the animal’s health and it is important that you know enough about dog worms in order to protect your dog.

Types of Dog Worms

The most common types of worms that can infect dogs are: roundworms; hookworms; whipworms; and tapeworms.

Roundworms
Roundworms stay in the small intestine and they feed on the tissues and bodily fluids of dogs. There are two kinds of roundworms: Toxocara canis (which can grow to 10-18 cm long) and Toxascaris leonina (which can grow to 6-10 cm long). Between the two, Toxocara canis is more dangerous because it can cause fatal infections in puppies and its larvae can also cause disease in humans.

Hookworms
Like roundworms, hookworms live in the small intestine of dogs. Despite their small size (5 to 16 mm long), hookworms are potentially fatal because they voraciously feed on blood from the intestinal wall. They can cause severe blood loss, especially in puppies, which can lead to anemia and/or death within a short period of time.

Whipworms
Adult whipworms, as their name suggests, are shaped like whips and they can grow to 4-7 mm long. They live in the large intestine and the appendix of a dog. Whipworms feed on tissue secretions but due to their feeding and burrowing activities, they can also cause significant blood loss.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms are flat in appearance. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the most common tapeworm in dogs is the flea tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, which can grow to 15- 70 cm long. Dogs usually catch this parasite from fleas. This and other types of tapeworms can also infect humans.

Worming Medications

Once the vet identified the worms infecting Tyson’s body, he recommended that Tyson be put on worming medication for treatment.

There is currently a wide range of worming medications pet owners can choose from in the market. Depending on the active ingredients contained in each medication, they can treat and protect the dog from specific parasites. Worming medications like Drontal Plus, which contains a combination of pyrantel, febantel and praziquantel can get rid of roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms simultaneously. If a dog is infected with tapeworms, worming medications that contain praziquantel (Droncit and Pet Shed’s Generic Tapeworm alternative) can treat the pet for these parasites. Meanwhile, treatments that have milbemycin or a combination of ivermectin and pyrantel can kill some intestinal parasites and also heartworms. Examples are Sentinel, Interceptor, and Heartgard Plus.

Protection against Worms

After a period of treatment, Tyson was able to fully recover. Since then, Dad has always made sure that Tyson is free from worms through regular worming (maintenance and prevention), once every three months. Today, he is a picture of a healthy and active dog, no longer suffering from the problems caused by intestinal parasites.

Like what happened to Tyson and my Dad, you can also help protect your dog from worms. How about you, what do you use to treat worms in your dog?

Worming products today are practical.  They make the task of worm control easier for dog owners.  These medications offer useful solutions on how to eliminate internal parasites safely and effectively.  They come in tablets, spot-ons, liquid suspensions and pastes.  They are also available either as prescription or over-the-counter medications. 

Regardless of their types, though, each dog wormer contains different active ingredients that kill specific parasites – the most common of which are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms.  Based on a particular ingredient of dog wormers, some can treat only a certain kind of worm, while others can treat various kinds.

Choosing Worming Products

Depending on the parasite that is infecting your dog, pet owners like you can choose between dog wormers that kill a specific type of worm and those that are effective against many types. 

Worming Products which contain only the active ingredient praziquantel just kill tapeworms.  They do not have any effect on other parasites.  Examples of these are Droncit and the Generic Tapeworm alternative from Pet Shed. 

On the other hand, dog wormers that contain a combination of at least two or three active ingredients can get rid of a wide range of parasites, hence they are described as “broad-spectrum”.  For example, the pyrantel, febantel and praziquantel of Drontal Plus can kill roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.  There are also some medicines which are mainly intended to prevent heartworms and fleas that provide extra protection against intestinal worms.  For example, Heartgard Plus, which contains ivermectin and pyrantel, not only controls heartworms, but roundworms and hookworms as well.  Another broad-spectrum product like Sentinel contains a combination of milbemycin oxime and lufenuron, which not only controls roundworms, whipworms, and some hookworms but also prevents heartworms and fleas.  Getting rid of fleas is also important in fighting worms  because they are carriers of tapeworms. 

 Ensuring Full Protection

If you’re thinking of protecting your dog from a wide range of parasites, it would be a good idea to use broad-spectrum worming products.  These provide protection not only against intestinal worms, but may also protect against dangerous heartworms.  Doing this is like hitting two birds, or many birds (this is perhaps the better term) with one stone.  This means there is no need to buy separate products for each type of treatment, which translates to more savings for you.

Finally, if you are planning to deworm your dog soon, always consider the kind of worming products you will use to treat the internal parasites in your pet.   Do not just pick anything at random. Take note of their effectiveness and which products work best for your dog and prove to be easy on your budget as well. 

Have you used wormers for your dog?  If you have, which ones have you found effective in your pet?

With more and more pet owners becoming mindful and cautious about the ingredients in the products they buy for their cats, natural remedies are becoming “in.” These days, it’s no longer uncommon to see natural treatments for every pet health problem imaginable. From stress anxiety to flea infestation, many people are now seeking alternative methods to treat the different problems that plague their feline friends.

The Pros

The same goes for getting rid of parasitic worms. Rather than buying prescription wormers, some pet owners choose to go with herbal remedies because of their perceived advantages. One of these is that unlike commercialized and conventional wormers, natural wormers don’t use synthetic ingredients that may have harmful effects on cats. For this reason, natural wormers are often considered safe. Another reason some pet owners prefer natural wormers is because they are cheaper than conventional ones.

But there are always two sides to every story, which means that natural wormers are not all that they are claimed to be.

The Cons

The demand for natural wormers hinges on the perception that alternative treatments are safer than conventional ones. But the truth is that natural wormers are not always safe. This is because some of them may contain substances or chemicals that are poisonous to animals. One example would be wormwood, which contains tannins and volatile oils like thujone that are toxic to cats.

Apart from this, most natural wormers that are sold in the market are not regulated. This means that they did not pass tests for potency and purity. As a result, natural wormers may be either unsafe or ineffective because they have not been thoroughly tested and studied. Some of these natural wormers may even bring about side effects especially when used in combination with other drugs. For this reason, it is recommended that pet owners consult a vet first before giving any natural wormer to their cats.

Going with the advice of a professional is and will always be the smartest thing to do. If your cat is suffering from worm infestation, don’t be quick to rely on natural wormers that are not even guaranteed to be safe and effective. Entrusting your pet’s health to a natural remedy is just like entrusting his life to a quack doctor. And that’s something you wouldn’t do if you really love your pet, would you?

No parasite is perhaps as menacing to pets as a heartworm. This is because unlike other pests that plague dogs and cats, getting rid of heartworms is no walk in the park. What’s even more alarming is the fact that heartworms can kill. If they are not detected early, these parasites can cause pets to suffer from heart failure and other life-threatening symptoms that may eventually result in death.

Another example of a life-threatening symptom caused by heartworms is pulmonary embolism, which happens when there is a blood clot in the lungs. The blood clot is a result of fully-grown heartworms blocking the arteries of the heart. The clot blocks the supply of blood to the lungs, which consequently, prevents oxygen from being delivered to other parts of the body. Pulmonary embolism is dangerous because it can cause your pet to have difficulty in breathing and to experience pain in the lungs. In severe cases, pulmonary embolism can also cause death.

Cortisones

To prevent pulmonary embolism and further inflammation of the irritated blood vessels where the worms are located, cortisones are sometimes used. Cortisones or corticosteroids are a type of steroid hormone. They are also often referred to simply as “steroids”, but they should not be confused with the ones used by bodybuilders to buff up, which are anabolic steroids. Cortisones are commonly given by veterinarians to control inflammation and other disease processes in pets. Pets that suffer from allergies and asthma are usually given cortisones.

How are heartworms and cortisones related?

Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about cortisones is that they are used to treat heartworms in pets. This isn’t the case because the truth is that cortisones only help treat the symptoms of heartworm disease, namely the formation of blood clots in the lungs. It does not get rid of the parasites inside pets.

Do cortisones have side effects?

Cortisone has always been a controversial drug. While effective, cortisones have a number of side effects that make them not advisable for long-term use. As a matter of fact, the recommended treatment for heartworm disease tends to veer away from the use of cortisones, and favor just using the injections of the medication which does kill heartworms. This is not only because of the long-term side effects of the drug but also because of the possibility that they might interfere with the effectiveness of anti-heartworm injections.

One example of the adverse effects of using cortisones is the suppression of the immune system, which affects pets as it does humans. The immune system is what fights off infections in the body, and when it is compromised the body becomes more susceptible to diseases.

Cortisones can also cause Cushing’s syndrome, which happens when there is an overproduction or excessive amount of cortisones in the body. A pet that suffers from Cushing’s syndrome experiences increased appetite and thirst, decreased hair growth and excessive urination. If not treated, Cushing’s syndrome may also result in other health problems such as kidney failure and liver failure.

The Final Word on Cortisones

Cortisones are like double-edged swords: they can both help and harm those who take them. With that said, pet owners should be aware of the risks involved in giving this drug to their pets. So, up until veterinarians find a way to reduce the symptoms of heartworms without the use of cortisones, the best way to avoid having to use this drug is to prevent heartworms beforehand. As they say, prevention is always better than cure. After all, there would be no need to use cortisones to reduce these symptoms if heartworms do not infect your pet, would there?

Herbs are plants that contain active therapeutic properties for particular illnesses. For centuries, they have been used to prevent and treat some human diseases but later on they have also been used to cure animal diseases such as skin disorders and parasitic infections including the potentially fatal heartworm disease.

Picture this situation: your pet gets sick with heartworm disease, what will you do? Will you give medications right away or will you rely on herbal cures first?

In treating heartworm disease, the conventional way is to consult a veterinarian, who will determine the most appropriate treatment for your pet. Depending on the clinical signs and the severity of the infection shown by the dog, the veterinarian can administer injections of melarsomine, which will kill the worms. But prior to injecting melarsomine, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) recommends to start the dog on a heartworm preventive at the time of diagnosis. According to the AHS, a heartworm preventive (e.g. tablet or spot-on) should be given for one to three months before the first melarsomine injection. The reason behind this is that melarsomine has not been shown to kill heartworms that are less than 4 months old. A heartworm preventive, on the other hand, can initially kill the one and two-month-old worms and stop any new worms from infecting the dog. The AHS also recommends that during the entire treatment process, the preventive should be given continuously.

However, some people are wary of traditional heartworm preventive and treatment medications because they believe that they contain potentially harmful substances that can cause side effects. As a result, they become fearful of advancements in veterinary medicine and would rather stick to natural methods. They use herbal remedies with the belief that these are better alternatives to conventional medications. Some examples of these herbs are black walnut, pumpkin seed, wormwood, rosemary, cranberry fruit, and the like. These are very affordable, which adds to their appeal. But still, the question is on whether or not these herbal cures are effective.

Unfortunately, there is not enough information to answer this question. This is because there is currently no scientifically proven herbal remedy for heartworms. Herbal cures are, more often than not, borne out of mistaken notions on heartworm disease rather than on facts. Pumpkin seeds, for instance, are thought to get rid of canine heartworms in the digestive tract; this is not true, though, as heartworms do not enter this part of the body.

Most veterinarians will also agree that using heartworm preventives and treatment medications is still the way to go instead of using herbal remedies. As to the side effects, pet owners should know that all heartworm medications, like medicines for people, have side effects, but they are very effective in helping treat the disease nonetheless.

This is in contrast to herbal cures that do not ensure successful treatment for heartworm disease and may sometimes put the animals’ health at greater risk. Perhaps, they may work better only as support to using traditional treatment, which requires proper diagnosis and support from a vet with sufficient training on herbal medicines.

When your dog or cat contracts heartworm disease, you should think twice about giving them herbal cures. You may want to take a trip to your vet and ask for efficient and safe medication, after all, you don’t want to endanger your pet’s health, do you?

Dog wormers get rid of worms found in a dog’s intestines. They are chemical-based medications, which contain certain active ingredients that kill different types of worms – roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms and hookworms. Dog wormers come in tablets, spot-ons and liquid suspensions. It is a known fact that wormers are proven effective in getting rid of the parasites, but have you ever wondered if they have side effects?

A common fear among dog owners is whether or not their dogs will experience harmful side effects such as diarrhea, skin reactions and the like when they give wormers to their dogs. But here is the good news: there are generally no significant side effects from dog wormers. Even if a few people claim that some dog wormers that contain nitroscanate may cause vomiting, this shouldn’t be a major concern because vomiting is a normal sign of worm infestation. But in general, dog wormers including those that contain pyrantel, oxantel, febantel or praziquantel such as Drontal Plus and Canex do not cause vomiting in pets.

Veterinarians say that worming medications are the best solution to treat a worm-infested dog. This is because dog wormers undergo effectiveness and safety tests before they are sold in the market. Pet owners, therefore, can be assured that they are helping their dogs get rid of worms through the use of these medications.

Nevertheless, if you still have worries about dog wormers and the side effects they may bring, the best thing to do is to consult a veterinarian regarding which products are safe and effective for your pet. After all, it is better to guarantee your pet’s ultimate protection against worms rather than to be sorry, isn’t it?