Important information about anthelmintics for small breed dogs

A little about helminths in dogs

Helminths, or worms, are parasitic worms that live in the bodies of animals, plants and humans. They cause helminthiasis - diseases that affect the internal organs and tissues of the infected person.

Causes of infection

Depending on the type of helminth, you can become infected in fresh water, by eating contaminated food, or by being bitten by a blood parasite (mosquito, tick, flea). In the first case, the animal becomes infected with trematodes, in the second - with nematodes, and in the third - with cestodes.

In addition to puddles and ponds, unprocessed meat and fish products, as well as blood-sucking insects, other infected animals also pose a danger. A dog can become infected from direct contact, using the patient's personal belongings, or sniffing his feces.

Worm eggs are easily carried on human shoes. Even lap dogs that regularly relieve themselves in the tray are not immune from possible infection.

Symptoms of helminthic infestation

Helminthiasis is accompanied by severe intoxication, lack of vitamins and injury to the mucous membranes. Due to numerous wounds, secondary infections often occur, worsening the patient’s condition.

Symptoms of the disease depend on the location of the lesion and the type of parasite:

• pulmonary leads to coughing, sneezing, breathing problems and internal bleeding;
• subcutaneous causes severe itching, nodular rash and lumps on the skin;
• intestinal ones disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting and stool upset;
• cardiac ones increase sleep time, reduce endurance and provoke seizures;
• liver diseases cause yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as severe pain in the abdominal area.

More common symptoms include frequent stomach rumbling, hiccups after eating, and rolling on the floor on the back of the body. Puppies experience growth retardation and the development of rickets. In acute infestations, parasites can be seen in feces or near the anus.

Danger to humans and other animals

Most helminths are dangerous not only for other animals, but also for humans. When a pet becomes infected, anthelmintics are taken not only by all pets, but also by their owners.

Children who do not observe personal hygiene rules are especially vulnerable. They can easily become infected with parasite eggs by licking their hands after playing with a sick dog. During treatment, it is better to keep the baby and four-legged pet separately from each other.

Rules for prevention and treatment

Deworming is a necessary procedure. You can’t neglect it if you don’t want to lose your dog.

How often should you worm your dog?

There are well-established, practice-tested recommendations on how often to anthelmintize dogs. Veterinarians recommend doing this once every 3 months. It is often not recommended unless there are special indications.

It is practically impossible to remove all worms at once due to their biological characteristics. You can only maintain their population within the body within “decent” limits. Therefore, any planned deworming is both treatment and prevention of worms in dogs at the same time.

When is the best time?

The anthelmintic should be administered to the animal during the first morning feeding. Then it is easier to track whether the medicine worked. A large number of dead worms may be excreted in the feces.

If this is not observed, this does not mean that the procedure was unsuccessful. Many drugs simply break down the worms, and they are not visible in the feces.

Features of the procedure

As a rule, the latest generation of deworming tablets for dogs on the market do not require a preliminary starvation diet for the animal. There may be another problem. Particularly smart dogs know how to eat food, but neglect the tablet.

Then several techniques are used.

• You can forcefully administer the medicine. The method is simple: put the medicine on the root of the tongue, clamp the jaws and throw back the animal's head.
• Crush the tablet, dilute it with water and use a syringe without a needle to inject it into the animal’s mouth. This technique is often practiced with puppies.
• Crush the tablet, coat a piece of treat with powder and feed it to your pet.

In addition, you need to monitor the dog after administering the drug. It happens that balls of emerging worms clog the intestines, then an enema will be needed. But such cases are rare, because the newest drugs often break down parasites.

The rest is completed by gastric juice. Whitish mucus in the stool is a sure sign that anthelmintic treatment was successful.

When to give deworming medication to dogs?

A deworming remedy for dogs is given for two purposes: therapeutic and prophylactic. In the first case, the main task is to destroy parasites, and in the second, to prevent their appearance.

During treatment

Anti-worm medications for dogs that completely or partially destroy parasites help reduce possible complications and restore the functioning of damaged organs. If you suspect helminthiasis, it is recommended to undergo diagnostics at a veterinary clinic: this will help identify the specific type of helminth and avoid taking drugs with complex effects.

When an animal becomes ill, it is dewormed twice at weekly intervals. This allows you to destroy the remaining eggs that are not affected by anthelmintics. By the second procedure, they turn into larvae or adults, so their immunity disappears.

The pet is also checked for fleas. They must be destroyed before treatment, since these ectoparasites are carriers of helminth eggs. If they are left, the condition of the infected person may worsen.

During preventive deworming

Preventive deworming is carried out quarterly or every six months. Unscheduled treatment is carried out before mating or vaccination. Each partner receives an anthelmintic 2 weeks before the meeting, so as not to become infected from each other during mating and not to harm future offspring.

Before vaccination, the interval is reduced to 7-10 days. This is done to maintain strong immunity necessary to fight the viruses from the vaccine.

Processing may also be required when traveling abroad. Without a mark in the veterinary passport, the animal may not receive entry permission.

The frequency of taking anthelmintic for dogs depends on their diet and time spent in the fresh air. Once every six months the drug is given to those who eat dry food and use a litter box. The likelihood of infection in such pets is minimal, so it is recommended to avoid quarterly treatment.

Babies up to six months old are dewormed monthly from the date of the last mandatory vaccination. It is done at 3-4 months to prevent rabies and other dangerous infections. After six months, the puppy is treated in the same way as adult animals.

The size of the pet does not affect the frequency of the procedure and is used only when determining the dosage. Large breeds are given a whole tablet for every 10 kg of weight, while small breeds and puppies weighing less than 10 kg are given only a small part of it.

Products in tablets

Smaller pets require milder, non-allergenic medications.

MilbeMax tablets are gentle and easy to use. Before taking this pill, your pet does not need to be put on a special diet.

The dosage is determined as follows, it depends on the weight of the pet:

• from 0.5 to 1 kg. – 0.5 tablets;
• from 1 to 5 kg. – 1 tablet;
• from 5 to 10 kg. – 2 tablets.

The drug Febtal is available as a suspension (the “combo” is added to the name) and in the form of tablets. The active ingredient is fenbendazole (0.150 g per 1 tablet). Both of its forms are effective in the fight against tapeworms, roundworms and their larvae.

• For puppies older than a month – 1 tablet per 3 kg of weight;
• adult dogs – 1 tablet per 1.5 kg of body weight.

Forms of release of funds

Thanks to the variety of anti-worm medications for dogs, you can easily choose a dosage form based on the preferences of your four-legged pet. It is safer to use narrow-spectrum anthelmintics that target a specific type of helminth. If the parasite is unknown, then veterinarians recommend taking broad-spectrum drugs that are most toxic.

Pills

Tablets are more common than other forms. They are attractive due to their long shelf life and peculiarity of action. A special coating allows the medicine to reach the desired part of the gastrointestinal tract, bypassing dissolution in earlier parts.

The disadvantages of the tablets include a slow action and an unpleasant taste. This dosage form is not suitable for animals suffering from frequent vomiting or very capricious pets.

Suspensions

The effect of taking the suspension appears faster than from tablets. This is explained by the increased surface of the substance covering a larger area of ​​the infected organ. Suspensions are easier to swallow and measure. They are often prescribed to toy dogs and puppies.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the short shelf life and physical instability. Before each dose, the bottle must be shaken thoroughly to avoid heterogeneity of the injected solution.

Drops

Drops on the withers against worms for dogs are attractive due to their low price and low consumption. Another advantage is that there is no need for oral administration.

The downside of the drops is that the effect is too gentle. If the animal is already infected, then it will need a more powerful remedy.

Other dosage forms

It is recommended to feed particularly picky pets pastes or sugar cubes. These forms have a pleasant taste and are perceived by the dog as a treat.

Animals like the soft consistency and melting base, so the medicine can be given as a reward for the command. The mechanism of action of these drugs is similar to suspensions.

Review of the best suspensions

Among the large assortment of anthelmintic suspensions, several of the most popular and effective ones can be identified.

Prazicide

A complex remedy for roundworms and nematodes, packaged in 10 ml bottles. Consists of 3 active components that provide a wide spectrum of action:

• praziquantel,
• febtala,
• pyrantela.

The suspension has a sweetish taste, with a low level of toxicity. Prazicide can be given to puppies from 3 weeks of age. Contraindicated for bitches in early pregnancy. The dosage is determined as follows: 1 ml per 3 kg of weight. Repeated administration of anti-worm medication can be done no earlier than after 10 days. The average cost of the suspension is 135 rubles. For puppies of small breeds, a separate suspension is produced, Prazicide suspension Plus, with a dosage of 6 ml.

Prazitel

A combination drug with pyrantel, fenbendazole and praziquantel as active ingredients. It can be considered an analogue of Prazicide. Can be used for puppies from 2 weeks of age. Recently, the manufacturer has been releasing the product, dividing it by age and weight of the dog. Therefore, dosages may differ from the usual 1 ml/kg. The price of the drug is about 130 rubles.

Helminthal

A light beige suspension containing praziquantel and pyrantel. Effective against cestodes and nematodes. The product also uses pumpkin seed oil, which makes it even more effective against worms. Helminthal is considered one of the safest anthelmintic drugs. A package of 7 ml of suspension costs an average of 90 rubles.

Dironet

Contains pyrantel, praziquantel, ivermectin, effective against nematodes and cestodes. The product disrupts the permeability of the membranes of worm cells, as a result of which they die. A special suspension, Dironet Junior, has been developed for puppies, the active ingredient in which is only pyrantel, which kills nematodes. The suspension is yellow in color and may give a slight sediment. Therefore, shake it before use. The dosage of the drug is determined at the rate of 1 ml/kg. The average cost of Dironet in pharmacies is 200 rubles.

Dirofen

A combination drug with pyrantel and praziquantel. The convenience of Dirofen is that it is available in different dosages:

• Dirofen-20 – used for puppies and miniature breeds of dogs. Dosage – 1 ml/kg.
• Dirofen-60 – for adult dogs, dose – 1 ml per 3 kg of weight.

The product is administered under the tongue with a dispenser syringe or added to food. The average cost of Dirofen is 165 rubles.

Procox

Products of the Bayer company, which contain emodepsis and toltrazuril. They are effective only against nematodes, so the medicine is used only for ascariasis. Due to its mild action, the suspension is given to puppies from 2 weeks of age and weakened dogs. To destroy helminths, it is necessary to take the drug twice with an interval of 2 weeks. Dosage – 0.5 ml/kg. The average price of a 7.5 ml bottle is 490 rubles.

Celandine

Suspension based on praziquantel and pyrantel. The drug can be prescribed to puppies from 3 weeks. It is administered orally with food or through a dosing syringe. It is not recommended to give Celandine again earlier than 3 months after the first dose. Dosage – 0.5 ml/kg. The average price of a 3 ml package is 95 rubles.

Is it possible to use folk remedies?

Veterinarians do not recommend using folk remedies. They do not treat helminth infections and are only good for relieving symptoms. In case of individual intolerance, medicinal plants often cause allergic reactions, so it is safer to use an anthelmintic prescribed by a veterinarian.

Traditional medicine lacks proven effectiveness, and some recipes pose a real threat. Prohibited substances include:

• garlic and onions, toxic to dogs;
• celandine, which causes convulsions;
• alcohol tincture of wormwood, which is highly toxic regardless of the breed of the animal.

Among the useless recipes, it is worth noting carrot juice administered orally. It does have a detrimental effect on the worms, but is quickly digested in the stomach. The effect can only be obtained with an enema.

The only effective and safe remedy is raw pumpkin seeds. They fight only against cestodes and are useless in the presence of other species. Before use, they are crushed and mixed with vegetable oil. For every 5 kg of weight, 5 g of seeds are required. Treatment is continued for 5 days.

Anthelmintic drug "Troncil" for dogs

"Troncil" is a modern combination drug for the treatment of worms. Contains three active ingredients:

The drug is effective against roundworms and tapeworms (roundworms, nematodes, whipworms and others). Acts on parasites at all stages of their development.

The medicine is given once, the dose is calculated based on the weight of the animal, according to the following scheme:

The cost of the medicine fluctuates around 280-300 rubles.

Dog owners note that the drug is effective and does not cause side effects. In their opinion, the medication is simply ideal for large dogs.

Are there any harm from drugs?

Like any medicine, anthelmintics can in rare cases cause side effects. The characteristic signs of poisoning should cause alarm: diarrhea, vomiting, but only if they appear immediately after administering the drug to the pet.

Actions in case of poisoning are standard: help the animal regurgitate the contents of the stomach and give any adsorbent. In severe cases, the help of a veterinarian is required - a dropper, rarely a blood transfusion. Note that such effects are caused primarily by an overdose of the drug.

How to give medicine to a dog?

Each medicine is accompanied by detailed instructions on the rules of administration and dosage. There is an indication of the age for which it is intended.

You need to be especially careful when measuring the required amount of medicine, because the composition contains toxic substances. The indicated dosage will not cause negative consequences for dogs, but exceeding it is dangerous, even fatal.

To worm a puppy, it is forbidden to choose products for people. The wrong dosage is fraught with disastrous consequences.

To worm a puppy, it is forbidden to choose products for people