Worm Impacted Puppies

[zingokid]

Q: How soon can I re-deworm my puppies?

Someone dropped off a pregnant beagle on my property and a few days later she birthed 8 beagle puppies!! The momma had/has tape worms and passed them onto the pups. I wormed the puppies at 17 days, and the momma 2 days later. It's been 5 days since worming the pups. 3 seems fine, but the rest of them are (still) wormy, 3 showing signs of distress including bloated bellies, vomiting, and straining while trying to pooh, and 2 seem totally constipated.

I want to re-deworm, but not sure if I should before the 2-week wait period... but at this point I'm afraid I'm going to lose a few of them!!!

I have tried mineral oil with the constipated pups and it seems to have helped (some). I have spent the last couple of days pulling tape worms out as the puppies pooh, which at first I thought would be a good sign, but now I can't help but to feel that the worms being extracted are being sacrificed for the other worms to continue to live off their hosts. ("You're closest to the exit so take one for the team.")

BTW, I used a wormer with 25% fendendazole.

It's Sunday and I don't know where to turn. I would greatly appreciate any advice.

Thank you!!!

[Margot49]

Well, good luck.  Hope the wormer you are using works.  You only have the one Vet you could call?  I know what you mean about Vet bills but, luckily, I have a couple of Vets I have worked with fir years so they will often do stuff fir me without an office visit.  They also know if I think it is serious, I take the animal in.

Glad you have homes fir the pups.  Hope you tell people to spay/neuter so this won't happen again.

Good luck!!

[zingokid]

Thanks for the input, Margot!

I grew up on a ranch with dogs (beagles no less), cats, and horses and have been home vetting most my life. So, yup, I know my worms! (That's not to say that the stools shouldn't be tested. Right now, I KNOW the worms they have, the four basic. I'm hoping to get rid of most of them and THEN take in samples to see what I've missed.) And yes, I know that the head attaches and that pulling worms out will not totally get rid of the worms, but I have been able to pull some out, head and all. I also know that sometimes the worms will crawl back up into the intestine when they hit the air. So, I grab them when I can and gently pull.

Vets ain't what they used to be.
Now, every vet wants you to bring in the pets for the littlest thang. And whereas before (in the good ole days) they might be willing to work with you and first eliminate the simplest of possibilities - today they start with the worst possible situation, which is usually the most expensive to test, and work their way backwards. I have a 20 pound, yellow cat appropriately named Butter, and a few years ago he had a seeping eye that he was keeping closed. I knew he simply scratched it and I called my vet for some salve, but my vet INSISTED I bring him in. The vet performed all kinds of tests, all of which tested "negative" and finally gave me a salve for a scratched eye. The salve cost less than $20. The visit along with the tests cost over $250. That Bast@&#!

It's been going on almost 4 weeks and I've already spent a couple  hundred on this dog and her brood, none of which I will see again. But that's okay. I'm willing to do what I can WITHIN REASON (and pocketbook) to help out. I think I'll go ahead and re-deworm at 10 days. Hopefully this will be okay.

AND THANK YOU for the idea about SPCA and Beagle Rescue Group. I hadn't thought of those. I've decided to keep the beagle, and am happy to say that I already have all of the puppies spoken for! Even without the new families seeing them! The new owners also know that I intend/expect to have reunions!

Thanks again.

[Margot49]

You have your hands full!
I never heard of that medication but looked it up and it says it may kill some tape.
I believe I have always gotten Drontal but not sure if it can be given to pups that young.  I have seen Foster and Smith lists a pill without prescription but I am not familiar with that either.  Tape de workers can be expensive but usually one dies takes care of it and Mom has to be treated also.  Again, not sure how much would pass in her breast milk.
Do you have a regular Vet you deal with? Are you sure this is taoe worm?  I have a good relationship with my Vets so, if it were me, I would call, explain the situation and ask if I could bring in fecal samples for Mom and pups to be tested and perhaps they will just give you the proper wormer without having to take them in.
Bad infestation of worms can definitely cause constipation.  You might try giving them some extra water with a syringe or eye dropper.  I would try olive oil over mineral oil.
Pulling on the worms will not get rid of them.  If tape,  you need to get the head which attaches to the intestine.  They really need to be treated with the proper medication.
Fleas carry the tape so make sure there are no fleas.
Wish I could be more help.
If I remember correctly, you can worm every 2weeks starting at 2weeks.
If you can, do try to check with the Vet.
Yes, you could lose puppies.  Do you possibly have a local SPCA that may help out or even take them?
You might do an Internet search and see if there is a Beagle Rescue group near you.
Good luck