Worm Problems

[Puck]

Has anyone else had trouble with worms? We've been to the vet three times now and our puppy is on Interceptor heartworm medications but it seems like they just keep popping up. So far he's had tape worms, ring worms, and round worms (fortunately no heartworms). I've tried cleaning up the yard and keeping Puck on a leash when we go out to stop him from eating anything he shouldn't but they keep coming back. I feel just terrible about this but I don't know what else to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Puck is 10wks old and, other than the worms, in good health.

Dave

 

[tweetytwad]

Most worms are spread by fleas. Do you have him on flea prevention?

 

[Puck]

He's been on frontline for almost a week. We've also cleaned and vacuumed the whole house and washed all of his toys, blankets, and beds.

 

[tesster]

Unfortunately, worms can be very difficult to get rid of. Interceptor is the best worm prevention, in my opinion, so you're good there. I would talk to your vet and be patient. If he's only 10 weeks old, it's likely he'll need to be dewormed again. He's probably not reinfecting himself, but rather the treatment is just not killing all the worms. Tess was dewormed 3 times before she got rid of her puppy worms.

We did have a case of reinfection with whipworms because I missed her Interceptor pill for a couple of months.

Best advice is to keep on the Interceptor and talk to your doctor about when he can be dewormed again. Keeping the environment clean is good, but with many worms, there's not a whole lot you can do to get rid of them (whipworms, for example are next to impossible to kill in the environment).

 

[Puck]

Thanks. I just hate to see the little guy suffering. It's hard to escape the feeling that we're doing something wrong.