Have a question? Ask a Vet

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Kate Sheofsky

Each month, hundreds of pet owners use Banfield’s online Ask-a-Vet feature to request information or address a concern about their pet’s health. Today, we thought we’d share one recent question on a topic that comes up frequently – worms.

Question: I just got a 10 week old puppy that I bought from a breeder. She was vaccinated at 6 and 9 weeks, and de wormed at 6, 8, 10 weeks. Today I noticed a thin short worm in her stools. Does this mean the de worming didn’t work? Should she be de wormed again?

Answer: You may be describing a tapeworm segment, which is typically seen on the surface of the stool or dried in the hair around the anus, as opposed to the longer worms that tend to be within the stool. Tapeworms come from having fleas, and the common puppy de wormers don’t have action against them.

I would recommend you make an appointment with your veterinarian for a general health examination, a review of the vaccinations and de-worming she has received, and make sure you are doing everything you need to be in terms of preventive care (including flea control). The doctor can de worm your puppy for tapeworms either with an injection or an oral de wormer that has action against tapeworms. If what you are seeing is a tapeworm, understand this is only a section of the worm (the sections are shed as the worm grows). I hope this is helpful to you.

If you have a non-emergency question about your pet’s health, you can submit it on our website. You can also view our archive to read answers to questions asked by other pet owners.



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