08/27/2023
I just want to share a little PSA!
I spend a lot of time educating people on parasites. Responsible breeders follow a de-worming protocol, but once the puppy goes to their new home, most people do not continue. You can take home a puppy, take him/her to the vet with a stool sample that is parasite free. Not all parasites show up under a microscope and they are literally EVERYWHERE! We always recommend avoiding dog parks until puppy has all vaccines, but vaccines don’t prevent parasites! A dog can pick up a parasite on the sidewalk in front of your house! Make sure you have your puppy or dog on a monthly de-wormer regimen. I recommend bi-weekly for puppies up to 6 months old. After that, monthly.
Parasites are the #1 underlying cause for most every issue including digestive problems, over-eating, lack of appetite, behavioral issues, aggression, allergies, excessive licking, you name it. Your vet will likely have your pup on a monthly pill, but I do recommend doing more. (I really recommend avoiding that “monthly pill” and sticking with the basics without all the added chemicals).
You can do your own research as I am not a vet! I just want to spread awareness! I will share with you what MOST breeders use… (Please feel free to contact breeders / look this up). Safeguard de-wormer for goats liquid suspension. Yes I said goats. Look it up and you can find proper dosage on many breeder sites. (1/2 tsp per 10lbs). 3 consecutive days will cover your pup for mostly everything.. do for 5 days if you suspect something more serious like Giardia. (Diarrhea, weight loss). $36 on Amazon for a bottle that will last you for months, or go to your local feed store and you can buy the same thing. It tastes awful so I’d recommend mixing it with canned dog food or put it in a syringe and administer orally (just be careful they don’t gauge on it. You can sq**rt it in their cheek, close their mouth, and gently rub their throat. Give a treat afterwards). I’d recommend giving at the same time as a meal.
This is something that isn’t talked about enough and vets love to charge you for. You can save a lot of $$$ on vet bills by simply going to your local feed store or ordering de-wormer off of Amazon. If you were to go to the vet to test for Giardia, for example, they would charge you $65-95 exam fee, f***l exam $20-$25, f***l waste $7-$12, lab submission $$$ - likely over $100 (Giardia cannot be detected in office under microscope it has to be sent out to a lab and can take several days for results) + cost of de-wormer (most likely the “canine version” , which is exactly the same thing… and possible unnecessary antibiotics. Oh and then you’ll want a follow up exam and another stool sample to ensure it’s gone. Or, you can just de-worm yourself!!
