What Happens if a Puppy is Tested Positive for Worms?

They look like something from your nightmares. Heartworms, which infect the chambers of your dog's heart, can grow up to a foot in length and a single dog can host up to 250 of the parasites, according the Cornell University Baker Institute for Animal Health. Infected mosquitoes transmit heartworms to puppies and adult dogs. They can cause coughing, weight loss and even death if left untreated. If a blood test shows that your puppy is infected, treatment should begin as soon as possible.

  1. Physical Exam

    • When a puppy is diagnosed with heartworm, your veterinarian should conduct a full physical exam before beginning treatment. This will help determine the severity of the infestation. It will also help your vet determine if your puppy is strong enough to handle the treatments. If your puppy's overall health is good, your vet can continue with the treatment.

    Hospital Stay

    • Regardless of which treatment your puppy receives, a hospital stay may be necessary. This will allow your vet to monitor the treatment that your puppy receives. It will also give your puppy the rest he needs to allow the dead worms to be absorbed by his system. If he has access to your entire yard or house, your puppy will be eager to run and play. The vet can keep your puppy confined to a crate and monitor both the medication and the required rest periods.

    Medication

    • Most cases of heartworm are treated with medication. More severe cases have a higher risk of complication, and less severe cases are more likely to be successfully treated. Your puppy will receive two different types of medication in two stages. First, your vet will give your puppy an arsenic compound to kill all of the adult worms. This stage of the treatment lasts about two days. A few weeks later, your puppy will start the second stage of treatment, which will kill the immature worms. This part of the treatment lasts for a full week.

    Surgery

    • Surgery is a risky treatment because removing the worms without damaging the heart is a delicate and tricky procedure. It is usually only recommended if the heartworm infestation is severe. Talk to your veterinarian about all of the risks associated with surgery and ask if your puppy's case of heartworm is really severe enough to require it before going ahead with the surgery.