You’ve bought your little furry friend home, and after much encouragement, your puppy has deposited their first poo only for you to discover a rather nasty surprise lurking within it…worms!
The first step you can take to effectively protect your Cavapoo puppy from worms is through regular deworming treatments. Roundworms, Hookworms and Tapeworms are particularly common in Cavapoo puppies, so deworming treatment should start from as early as 2 weeks of age.
Having never put a paw outside, just how has your Cavapoo puppy picked up worms and more importantly how can you stop these parasites from posing a serious health risk to your dog, pets and other family members?
Here we will look at the implications that worms can have on your Cavapoo puppy’s wellbeing and why it is so important that you regularly deworm your dog.
When should I deworm my Cavapoo puppy?
If you are a Cavapoo puppy owner then you will know that it is virtually impossible to stop your dog from coming into contact with worms during its life.
In fact, puppies are most susceptible as they can pick up worms from their mother’s placenta and even through their milk. Once able to take a few tentative steps into the big wide world, your puppy will be sniffing, licking, chewing and slurping up everything in its path. And this includes soil, dirt and debris and in our case even horse poo – all of which often contain pests and parasites.
If you have a Cavapoo puppy and you want it to grow big, strong and healthy, it is really important to deworm them regularly during their early months. Your puppy should be wormed at two and four weeks of age, and then monthly until they reach 6 months old. Your veterinarian should be able to discuss treatment options for your Cavapoo puppy with you, based on its lifestyle and habits and help you decide on the best dog worming products available.
It take a while for worms to leave a dog and adult dogs should be wormed every 3 months which works out at 4 times a year, in order to ensure that they remain worm free.
What are the different types of Cavapoo dog worms and treatments?
Worms live inside your Cavapoo puppy intestines, often without you even knowing. Tapeworm, roundworm, lungworm, hookworm, heartworm and whipworm are the most common and are all as nasty as they sound. They can be dangerous to both dogs and humans if left untreated.
Tapeworms – Fleas transmit a type of tapeworm and once your Cavapoo puppy eats the flea the tapeworm egg hatches and attaches to their intestinal lining. Tapeworms can be visible and look like little grains of rice. If you notice your Cavapoo dragging their bottom along the grass then this is often a sign of tapeworms. The treatment for the deworming of dogs with tapeworm has the additional effect of ridding them of fleas.
Roundworms – These are most commonly found in Cavapoo puppies (they are often born with them), but beware as they can be transmitted to adults and kids through grooming, stroking, kissing and cuddling. Roundworms are normally diagnosed by a faecal sample and are easily treated. If you choose not to use dog deworm, then this could lead to your puppy having stunted growth and worst-case scenario, even death.
Lungworms – there are two main lungworms that affect dogs. These can be caught when curious pets decide to eat slugs and snails. Lungworm can severely affect your Cavapoo puppies breathing and can lead to blood clots.
Hookworms – these intestinal parasites can cause anaemia, causing your puppy to become lethargic and short of breath. Like most worms, these can be fatal if left untreated and in extreme circumstances, they can be passed on to humans.
Heartworms – luckily, the UK is free from heartworm as it is spread by infected mosquitoes. In America, however, heartworm disease is common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and is thought to also be carried by wild dogs, coyotes, wolves, and foxes. Heartworms cause coughing and appetite loss and in chronic cases even death.
Whipworms – if you kennel your dog then they are more likely to be at risk from whipworm. Dogs tend to get whipworm from ingesting larvae from an infested substance such as soil, food or faeces, which is why it is so important that as responsible puppy owners we clean up after our pets.
It is so important that puppies, dogs with a low immune system and those in higher-risk environments are wormed regularly.
Can I deworm my Cavapoo puppy myself?
The amount of dewormer prescribed is based on the weight of your dog, so in order to ensure that you give your Cavapoo puppy the correct dose, you should seek an experts advice beforehand.
Worming treatments are easy and effective to use, and once prescribed by a professional, they can be administered at home.
How to deworm a puppy
There are many ways to give your puppy a worming treatment, but it is important that you read the label of any puppy wormers beforehand, as you may need to use multiple products in order to protect your puppy against different types of worms.
Some Cavapoo puppies prefer flavoured chews whilst other dewormers come in tablet or liquid form and can easily be hidden within the food or treats so that they are easily ingested. Check the guidelines beforehand as to whether the dog dewormer should be given on a full or empty stomach.
A heavy worm infestation can make your Cavapoo puppy very poorly so if you are worried about a reinfestation of worms, then you should take your puppy straight to the vets. You should bring fresh stool samples so that they can detect which worm is prevalent in your dog’s stool, and they will administer a comprehensive deworming treatment as appropriate.
What are the side effects of deworming a Cavapoo puppy?
It is important to understand that deworming treatments will not prevent your puppy from contracting worms, it will only kill the worms that were present when administered. To effectively maintain your puppy’s health, you should deworm them regularly.
One of the most common side effects for a dewormed dog is diarrhea. They may experience slight nausea, and in some cases, this can lead to vomiting. Make sure that you watch your Cavapoo puppy closely and have plenty of freshwater available. You should talk to your vet if you have any concerns.
What is the best deworming medicine for Cavapoo puppies?
Choosing the right deworming medication for your Cavapoo puppy is really important. Your breeder should have already wormed your puppy a couple of times before you collect them, so make sure you check which product they used and when your dog was last wormed.
There are a lot of deworming medicines to choose from online, in pet stores and at your local vets. However, not all dewormers cure every kind of worm infestation so it is likely that you will need more than one product.
Always seek expert advice before making a purchase so that you pick a broad spectrum wormer that your pet will enjoy taking. We took our Cavapoo, Rosie, to the vets last week for her 2-month checkup and worming was included within the price of the package along with flea treatment and microchipping.
For information and advice on the best dewormers for dogs, please see our buyers review guide.
Cavapoo puppy worming hints and tips
A deworm for dogs does not guarantee lasting prevention. The only practical way to look after the health of your Cavapoo puppy and family is with regular, ongoing worming treatment.
Take a look at our handy hints and top tips for preventing worms:
- Wash food and water bowls after each meal.
- Make sure that your house is cleaned regularly and that you clear up any toileting accidents immediately.
- Dispose of any faeces carefully.
- Wash your hands before preparing meals and before you eat.
- Cover any children’s sandpits when not in use.
- Cook meat thoroughly.
Conclusion
Even a Cavapoo puppy that looks healthy on the outside can carry worms, so keep a close eye on the behaviour of your pet. As different worms pose different risks it is important that you get the right treatment for their needs.
Whether it is a stool sample or a blood test, your vet will soon get to the “bottom” of the problem.
