Deworming Protocol For Moms and Pups
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Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Q: We have seen several different deworming protocols, for mom and pups, some even very aggressive! What are your thoughts?
A: I am a huge fan of being a partner with your Vet. Remember, we ask our vets to be ‘the everything bagel,’ and that is tough to do. Whenever possible, we need to have a group of vets that we work with, just like our different human doctors. Finding a reputable Repro Vet to work with is priceless! It helps all of us to share information with our Vets as they are only human and may miss things, just like we do.
I believe that parasite management is one of the critical areas of animal health that needs attention. We are so focused on everything else that we can unintentionally overlook the necessary changes in parasite control for our pregnant dogs and their puppies. The importance of reducing or eliminating the parasite load, and producing healthy puppies, cannot be overstated. My parasite (worming) protocol is monthly, with annual fecal tests. But what we forget is that if there is ever a breakthrough, the parasite larvae will encyst themselves in the dogs’ tissue, and routine worming does not remove these encysted larvae. This larva encysting is why our worming protocol must be changed when our girls are pregnant. There are other protocols, but this is the one that I follow as I have found it to be successful, and my puppies do not battle any parasites that are passed on through the mother’s milk, etc.
I use liquid Panacur (fenbendazole), aka Safeguard 10% solution wormer, to do this. Below is my schedule for pregnant dogs to reduce prenatal infections with Toxocara canis and the transfer of t. canis and ancylostoma canium to the puppies via the milk. (Note: Panacur also comes in granules that are not safe for puppies because they are more concentrated.)
You are looking to use 1cc per 8.8lbs (50 mg/kg) of body weight daily starting from day 40 of the pregnancy; I use my girl’s weight on the day I confirmed pregnancy as the number to calculate how much to give. I give this starting on day 40 of the pregnancy continuously to 2-5 days post whelping. Using this schedule provides approximately 25-30 days of a lower dose of wormer, killing the encysted larva. I like using this because it also treats giardia and nearly all worms except for tapeworms.
After whelping, because I have done an excellent job getting rid of the larvae and preventing them from passing on to the puppies, I have a slightly different protocol. I worm Mom and puppies at 3wks (remember they have just come off a long low dose to remove pass through), again at 5wks, and at 8wks before going home. I choose to use the liquid Safeguard for all wormings as in my area, the Nemex II (pyrantel pamoate) is no longer as effective in my area, BUT if it is working for you, then by all means, use it!
Safeguard liquid 10% has a high safety margin and I have been dosing my puppies at 0.23cc per 16oz of weight (this gives you 27.7mg/lb (or 50 mg/kg dose rate), once a day for 3 days at 3, 5, and 8 weeks of age. Tip: For better absorption, give with food but be sure they eat it all. Good options are yogurt or molasses.
