Parasites in Puppies

Parasites are organisms that feed on an animal, either externally or internally. Some parasites exist in the dog's organs and others live on the dog's skin or in its ears or fur. Puppies can acquire parasites in many ways including picking up worms from their mothers at birth or through ingesting them from fecal matter or just through contact with other parasitic animals or dogs.

  1. Fleas

    • Fleas are one of the most common external parasites that puppies can have. These tiny creatures lay their eggs in grass, on furniture and bedding and even in the car. Fleas live in puppies' fur and on their skin and they lay thousands of eggs that hatch quickly. A puppy that is infested with fleas can spread them to other animals as well as to humans. Existing fleas living on a puppy can be killed and removed with medicated washes and powders obtained from a veterinarian. De-fleaing powders and sprays should also be applied anywhere the dog spends much of its time, such as the carpet, bedding and the car. Monthly flea preventive medications are available with a veterinarian's prescription and, when given on a regular basis, prevent flea infestations from recurring.

    Ear Mites

    • Ear Mites are tiny parasites that live inside the ears of puppies and feed off the small blood vessels near the surface of the skin. They can cause bacterial infections and even loss of hearing in severe cases. Symptoms include discomfort when the puppy's affected ear area is touched, excessive scratching around the ears and a foul-smelling brown substance around the ears. Treatments are available from the veterinarian and all pet residents of a household should be treated at the same time because ear mites can be transmitted between animals.

    Coccidia

    • Coccidia are not worms but are instead small microscopic parasites common in hot and humid conditions. Most puppies have coccidia and eventually their own immune system will kill them, but very young puppies' immune systems are not fully developed. so owners should treat coccodia with a substance called Albon available from a veterinarian. If left untreated, coccodia can cause watery diarrhea and puppies can become dehydrated and seriously ill.

    Worms

    • There are many types of parasitic worms that puppies can be infested with. Tapeworms, ringworms, whipworms, heartworms and hookworms are all parasites that can cause discomfort, illness, and in some severe cases, death, if left untreated. The different types of worms can be acquired in different ways. Most are transmitted through fecal remains, dead animals, fleas or mosquitoes and most lodge themselves in the intestines and feed off the nutrients of the dog. Common signs are diarrhea, weight loss and bloody stools. Worms can be treated with de-worming medication available from the veterinarian.