When one thinks of the dangers and challenges (both internal and external) facing an eight-week old puppy it seems a miracle that the adorable little puppy grows into a strong healthy adult.

 

Internal Enemies – the dreaded worm
When one welcomes a new puppy into your home ideally it should have been vaccinated and dewormed by the breeder. Deworming is a stepping stone on the road to good and lasting health. It is recommended that the dam of your puppy should have been dewormed prior to her pregnancy and once during the pregnancy at around 56/58 days. The lifecycle of many worms such as hookworms and roundworms are inextricably tied to the hormonal fluctuations of the pregnant bitch, so it is absolutely essential that the dam is worm-free or as free as is possible. The burden on her system can be so severe that she isn’t able to provide enough nutrients to her litter.

 

It must also be borne in mind that the larvae of worms pass through the blood supply into the unborn foetuses which in effect means that puppies are born with worms – but don’t have to be.

 

Tapeworms are also common and are usually associated with fleas. If you dog has a flea infestation, have it checked by your vet to ensure it does not also have worms, as fleas are part of the lifecycle of the worm. From a hygiene perspective it is important to keep your dog free of parasites but tapeworms and fleas usually go hand-in-hand and the two should be treated simultaneously.

Responsible breeders usually start to deworm at a very early age but in general if your puppy is eight weeks of age it should already have been dewormed with a broad spectrum dewormer such as Drontal (Bayer) or Vetcare Dewormer (Martin and Martin). Ideally in South Africa one should continue to deworm at least three times a year. If your puppy is free from worms then its digestive system can get on with its work processing food in a healthy optimally-performing gut.

 

External Enemies – creeping up on your puppy
Some of the most irritating (and one is life-threatening) are flies, fleas and the dastardly tick, all of which can be controlled by application of suitable products.

Flies often bother breeds with erect ears such as German Shepherd Dogs and Collies by biting the tips of the ears. If puppies are attacked early in life the damage done to the ears can result in irreparable scarring and cause almost cauliflower-like ears. There are excellent fly repellent products available such as Shoo Fly (Kyron) and these can be obtained at your vet or well-stocked pet shops.

 

Historically fleas have been always associated with disease in humans – for instance, bubonic plague was carried by fleas. However they are not generally life-threatening but an overburden on a small puppy can cause severe anaemia and even death. Apart from the nuisance value caused by scratching and nibbling they can cause Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) as well as being the intermediary host for tapeworms. When your puppy nibbles at a flea it cracks the body and the contents are ingested which includes the tapeworm larva. The larva travels through the gut and settles in the bowel where it begins to grow, sharing your puppy’s digested food. So it is important to attend to deworming and to use a suitable prophylactic to prevent fleas and worms.

 

The final and most dangerous of your puppy’s enemies are ticks. Ticks in Southern Africa are amongst the most dangerous in the world. They carry Babesia and Ehrlichosis, both of which can be fatal if untreated. If your puppy contracts Billiary the costs of treatment are very high – so the best defense is to go on the offensive. Spot-On products such as Frontline, Fiprotec and Bob Martin Vetcare are easy to use, have been thoroughly tested and are completely safe for use on puppies from eight weeks of age. If you live in high-risk tick area it is wise to consider using a tick collar such as Preventic from Virbac, although this product is more suitable for older puppies that aren’t going to chew it.

 

The most important thing about tick and flea eradication is managing the environment. Without washing bedding, using an environmental spray, powdering sleeping areas and carefully vacuuming to ensure that no flea-eggs and other parasitic residue is addressed, the Spot-On products can’t be effective.

Holistic management of your puppy’s environment is essential to protect him from his parasitic enemies.

 

By Fran Cristina

 

Article from: All About Dogs Nov/Dec 2010