Do I really need to de-worm my other dog even though he has no evidence of tapeworms?
Question by .: Do I really need to de-worm my other dog even though he has no evidence of tapeworms?
One of my dogs has tapeworm (found the moving “rice” in his stool.) When I called the vet to set an appointment, they wanted me to bring my other dog in for the medication as well (and charge another office visit…)
The dog with worms was recently adopted from the pound and was a stray prior to that. I haven’t seen any fleas in the house, but I treated the house just to be sure. My other dog does not ever eat the infected dog’s feces or lick his behind. And they are both on revolution to prevent fleas.
I feel like I shouldn’t have to treat my dog for something he may not even have. Can I just wait to see if the evidence of tapeworm appears in that dog? Or is it really necessary to just give them both the meds?
Best answer:
Answer by Johanna Sinik
Go to the vet and have it checked.
What do you think? Answer below!
Tagged with: Deworm • even • evidence • Need • Really • Tapeworms... • though
Filed under: Dog Worms Symptoms
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as long as your other dog has been checked recently for parasites and your new dog only has tapeworms, then no, you do not need to deworm both. however, if your new dog has more than tapeworms (a fecal exam would show) or if your old dog has not had a current fecal exam, then have 1 done. tapeworms are not transmitted from pet to pet like rounds or hooks or whips.
My puppy had no roundworms in her stool, but when she got her de-worming shot they have been coming out every time she does her business. If the vets said they need to be treated then you should trust him.
If your other dog is a healthy adult (not very old, very young, or sickly)And you have complete flea control (it sounds like you already know the fleas are needed to complete the tapeworm life cycle) then I would say you could take a chance and not treat him. You run the risk of having to re-treat the new dog if down the road you discover that your older dog did get the tapeworms. You also do not need a vet appointment to treat your older dog. Tapeworm remedies are now available without a prescription! Most feed stores and pet shops carry it and it is very effective. I, personally, would just go pick up some meds and treat them both.
Yes there is a very good chance the other dog has worms too . Remember where they lick each other ? Tapeworms go together with fleas . No fleas no tapeworms. Chances are they both have them as well as other worms .Listen to your vet – yes they want money but do you want your fourlegged friends walking around with intestinal parasites ? would you want to have them ?
Tapeworms result when the dog ingests fleas that have eaten tapeworm eggs. For an excellent description of the life of a tapeworm, follow the link below. If your home and dog were flea free prior to adopting the new dog, you probably don’t need to treat your first dog, only the newcomer. If you want to treat your first dog, you can purchase tapeworm medication from your local pet store.
If one has them the other probably does too. Tapeworm is very contagious especially in dogs because they can contract it simply by licking their paws after they walked through an infested area. Just because the dog doesn’t show signs doesn’t mean they don’t have them. Tapeworms start out in the upper intestines and once the eggs are laid they migrate to the lower intestines and out of the body so they can be spread. Deworming is not very expensive and is relatively easy to do. Listen to your vet or you may end up retreating your dog later on.