Treating Dogs for Worms

Is it necessary to treat dogs for worms with Ivomectin, even when they don't have worms or signs of worms?

By Sean from Vancouver, WA

Answers:

Treating Dogs for Worms

No. I would follow them around and get a poop sample and take that (the Poo in, oh, say a clean prescription bottle) just a bit, not a whole poop to the vets. They will test it for just a few dollars and see if you need to worm or not. Taking any kind of meds without needing them can make them immune to them (meds) when they do need them. It is usually less than 10.00 to test the poop.

Good luck. Peace and blessings, Jan (07/01/2009)

By Jan

Treating Dogs for Worms

Please do not self-treat a dog or cat. Take the stool sample to your Vet, if the pet has worms, they will give you treatment depending on what type of worms they find and the weight of your pet.

Jennifer, Northern Virginia (07/02/2009)

By Jennifer Nelson

Treating Dogs for Worms

My 17 year old chihuahua gets a comprehensive exam at the vet every 6 months. At each visit they give her a small vial of de-wormer to take the next day and another for a week later. She is still quite healthy and at times acts like her puppy self. If this is the kind of worming you are talking about I would say to follow the vet's directions. (07/03/2009)

By lavonneann

Treating Dogs for Worms

It sounds like you might mean the heart worm preventive medicine. If so, you should give your dog the heart worm preventive every month. You won't see heart worms, because they stay inside the dog and make him very ill. The treatment to get rid of these worms is very expensive and rather dangerous for the dog.

If you have a dog, you should give him something like 'Heart guard' or whatever your vet prescribes every month, especially in the warm months or if you live in the south. If you only have one dog, it's a whole lot less expensive to prevent problems than to cure them.

As for other worms, if your dog has fleas, he most likely has tapeworm. You should let your vet see him to determine what parasites he might have, if any. Also, no matter where you live, you should use a flea treatment every month. My vet has been giving my dogs an oral pill for flea prevention that seems to work. It's called 'Comfortis.' (07/04/2009)

By Nan Corpe

Treating Dogs for Worms

But please realize that these treatments also can pose a risk to your pet. I'm not saying don't do them, but I am telling you to be aware of potential problems. We spent thousands of dollars keeping our family pet alive after a heart worm treatment given by a new vet in town.

He had an allergic reaction and almost died. Now they tell us he is not eligible for heart worm meds. We are very sad about this and our old man does pretty good most days. The reaction caused him to have a heart issue that he did not have before treatment. (07/05/2009)

By Meemaw

Treating Dogs for Worms

Ivermectin is a preventative for heart worm. If you vet has told you to put your dog on Ivermectin, that means you live in an area where dogs get heart worm and your dog should be on it. It is a once a month chewable tab and dogs think of it as a treat.

If you don't put your dog on the preventative and they get heart worms, it is fatal. The worms will live in the dogs heart and cause congestive heart failure. It is a gruesome and horrible way for a dog to die. There is treatment available if your dog happens to be heart worm positive, but it costs a fortune and is very very hard on the dog. Do yourself and your dog a favor and put him on the monthly preventative! (07/06/2009)

By Robin Harrison