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De-worming our dogs is something many of us forget to
do. There is a "float test" that can be preformed on a sample of your dog's stool to determine if there
are any and what type of intestinal parasites that may have infested your dog. Because dogs seem always have their noses
to the ground and constantly seem to have a need to sniff the excretions of other dogs, it's a wonder that internal
parasites are not more prevalent then they are. Even if your dog is mainly a house dog, he/she still has a
good chance of picking up worms every time he is loose outside where other dog have been. It is best to have your
dog's stool sample checked at least once per year, twice is better. DO NOT PURCHASE AND ADMINISTER ANY OF THE OVER-THE-COUNTER DE-WORMING PILLS/CAPSULES YOU WILL FIND
IN PET STORES, FARM STORES, GROCERY STORES OR MEGA STORES. THESE COULD KILL YOUR DOG! Most all of these pills/capsules are a combination of many poisons combined
to kill many types of worms. This is what's called a "Shotgun Approach". You only want to administer
what is needed to kill the worms your dog has. All those extra poisons are not needed and could cause intestinal problems,
mental problems and even death. Beside these capsules containing too many poisons, you are directed to administer a stated
number of capsules for body weight BETWEEN XXX and XXX. De-worming medication needs to be administered in an exact amount
of mil. according to the body weight of the dog, not a weight range. Over doing the medication can have dreadful
effects. HEARTWORMS: Over the past few years, this worm has spread over the country like wildfire. For years it was
only a problem in the South but, it is now rampant in all of the East, Midwest and becoming so in the Northwest. Here
in Idaho, we had no problem with this worm until some 60 rescue dogs from Louisana area, after Hurricane
Katriena (I don't know how to spell that word) were sent to Spokane, Wa. for adoption. Within a couple of months
----- we had the problem. Thanks a lot folks! The mosquito is the means of transportation for this worm.
Blood, removed along with heartworm microfilariae (larvae) from an infected dog is carried to a new host dog and inserted
with the taking of another dinner of blood from that animal. Hear the larvae mature into adult worms in the heart and
reproduce, continuing the cycle. Over time the number of worms multiply to a state where the heart function is slightly
impaired without you noticing anything being wrong. As time passes, the worms increase in numbers and really begin
to clog the heart. A dog who is badly infested, while preforming routine physical exertion, will exhibit shortness
of breath, coughing and a easily noticed lack of stamina. All heartworm medication must be dispensed by a Vet.
First it must be determined if your dog has heartworm. If not, the medication can be started without delay. If
there are major heartworms in your dog's system, treatment will need to be started to SLOWLY kill off the worms present.
This must be done under a Vet's. care. Killing the worms in mass quantities could block arteries causing
a massive heart attack in your dog. Here, at La Terra
Dios Ranch, we use and very highly recomend a product labeled "Revolution". It is made by Pfyser
and in our opinion, is extremely safe and extremely reliable. We have used it for some 6+ years. It is so safe
that you could conceivably, although you wouldn't want to do it, overdose your dog 10 times the prescribed amount and
not cause any major problems. The cost of this product will vary from one Vet. to another so, it is best to shop around.
It's a liquid that you apply once per month between the shoulder blades, on the skin. The smartest way to purchase
it is in a six pack. Although, most people may think of this product concerning heartworm, it will also kill fleas,
ticks and ear mites. Many folks don't realize that ear mites are the cause of 70-90% of ear infections. Keep
the ear mites at bay and deter most ear infections. Ear infections can be very costly. Treatment can range
from $40-200. Any heartworm medication only needs to used during mosquito season (what ever that is in your part of
the world) but, fleas can be carried to your dog at any time from another dog who has them. Revolution, used 12 months
per year, will ensure you NEVER HAVE A FLEA PROBLEM IN YOUR HOME and don't forget the effect on ear mites. On
Revolution, should a flea bite you dog, he has only hours to live. In our opinion ---- FANTASTIC. We have a grooming
shop here at the ranch and we do groom dogs with fleas at times. Now, we have eight (8) Westies and three
big dogs (all using Revolution) and we have NEVER had a flea problem. NOT ONCE! ROUNDWORMS: These are the most common parasite affecting dogs. Most puppies are born with them, even though
the mother had been faithfully de-wormed prior to being bread. The roundworm is quite large, white and tapered at both
ends. looking at them stretched out they resemble a bean sprout. Especially in puppies, they are sometimes coughed
up and can be seen easily in the stool if it is dissected. These can fill the belly of a puppy quite quickly which will
make the pup's stomach appear very round and the pup will want to eat constantly. Most puppies want to eat any time
food is available but, in the case of a belly full of roundworms, the worms are devouring much of the food intake. A
puppy with a belly full of these worms can experience harm to their delicate digestive tract and if not removed surely can
cause malnutrition. These nasty critters make their
way through the bloodstream which makes them more difficult to treat. One de-worming is not enough. The first
dose will only kill the worms in the stomach and intestine but not the larva in other places nor the eggs that will
soon re-infest the dog. Three (3) doses of medication, 10 days apart must be administered to remove these pests.
Our Westie puppies are given Pyrantel Pamoate (50 mg/mL de-wormer beginning at age 4 weeks with a follow-up dose give 10
days later and another 10 days after that. This medication is given to puppies and adult dogs at the rate of one (1)
mL per 10 pounds of body weight. For a puppy weighing 32 oz. (2 lbs.) one would administer .2 (point 2) mL.
The weight must be taken each time for adults or puppies. Every week or so after the puppies have been de-wormed,
as above, their stools are checked for any possible re-infestation. TAPEWORMS: Tape worms are carried to dogs by the common flee. The flea larva ingests tapeworm eggs, becomes an
adult and is ingested by the dog by biting at the flea. The egg then hatches in the intestine of the dog , becomes a
worm, the worm feed on the dogs body, lays eggs and starts the cycle over again. This adult worn is large
and flat and can grow to a length of several feet. It's body is made up of segments with each containing eggs.
These segments are passed with the stool and while wet look much like inchworms but will dry quickly and resemble
grains of rice. Many times you will find them clinging to the hair around the rectum/tail or you may notice them in
the dog's bedding. Rabbits also serve as an intermediate host just as fleas do so, dogs should never have access
to rabbit entrails. Dogs, wild or domestic, who eat rabbits probably have tapeworms. For this reason, larger dogs
that have wild area to roam should be checked for these worms a couple of times per year. This worm, because they can
grow so large, can "waste away" a dog quite quickly. There are other types of worms that a dog may contract, but these are the ones generally found on most areas. Remenber: Your Vet. is your best resorce for any condition or situation concering your dog. A well versed dog groomer, as at our grooming shop, will also have a wealth of knowledge concerning conditions that may or may not need the help of your Vet.
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