Can roundworms be present in a negative fecal sample?

Question

We took vet advice and went with a 1/2 pill of Drontal Plus now and then again in 3 weeks for our new 8 week old puppy that had not been de-wormed yet NO worms were found in feces. Vet said roundworm eggs that are microscopic could still be present even on the coat of the dog and urged regular handwashing for my 10 year old who over does that already. He said in some individuals blindness had occurred in those infected with roundworm-mainly children. We are washing our hands FREQUENTLY now as my daughter became quite scared of the pup as a result. Any practical advice to calm the excessive handwashing out there re: puppy as a possible contaminant? On the internet, the CDC publishes th10,000 new cases of infection with roundworm and 700 cases of permanent visual loss in children mainly 5-10. My daughter, thank God is healthy and with the negative sample, I just have her wash hands after playing with the pup and prior to eating as the vet said. Anyone aware of this or have advice?

Answer 1

We look for parasite eggs microscopically when we are trying to detect worms. Sometimes the worms just aren't shedding any eggs in the stool that day, or the sample wasn't adequate to test properly. So YES, the pup can have worms but test negative. At our practice, we test the stool each time the pup comes in for a booster vaccine. Sometimes we don't detect some parasites until the 2nd or 3rd visit! Your vet did the right thing by deworming your puppy anyway. Parasites are a possible health risk, especially to children and immuno-compromised people.

Pick up your puppys stool and dispose of it. Don't let it sit outside to contaminate the yard and cause reinfection. Wash hands after playing with the puppy and after playing outside. Wear shoes outside. These worms can live for years in the soil and may be spread by roaming cats and dogs as well. Keep your puppy on a heartworm prevention monthly that will also keep him dewormed for intestinal parasites as well. Most puppies and kittens are born with roundworms. Don't be afraid of your puppy! Just follow your vets advice and you should do just fine.

Answer 2

Roundworms can be present even if a fecal sample is negative. That particular sample might just not have any eggs. All puppies should be dewormed as a matter of course and CDC guidelines recommend all dogs be dewormed annually throughout their lives. Yes, there are diseases that animals can pass to humans but if you look at if statistically, 700 cases of blindness out of all the pet owning households is miniscule. Your daughter is also way past the "tootsie roll" eating stage so the fecal to oral route is very unlikely compared to say having a two year old that played outside in the yard all the time where the dog defecates. Explain all this to your daughter and don't let it ruin the great relationship that could be being built between her and your new pup. It is the vet's job to let you know all the risks- you have to know how to use the information.

Answer 3

Yes, as your vet said, you can have the eggs in feces and on coat.

Regular hand-washing is advised, but don't get frantic about it. . Children and adults aren't really conscious of how many times they touch their faces in the normal course of a day, so washing is the best preventative, as is not kissing pup on the face or letting him lick your face...at least until the last dose of Drontil has been given and allowed to work. I'm not aware of roundworms causing blindness, but I'm not a vet or MD.

Keep your yard clean by picking up each stool as it's made. I love the plasticc grocery bags for this. They're free and work like a charm. Hand inside bag, pick up poop, invert bag, tie closed, in the garbage. Ta-da!

Best wishes - this too shall pass. Then you all can really enjoy your puppy. E-mail m for puppy tips if you'd like.

Answer 4

Just make sure you have your dog de-wormed. It's very aggravating for a dog to have those kind of parasites. As of to washing your hands, it should be a given to wash your hands, whenever you play with pets or after using the toilet. Your puppy is okay and you need to let your daughter know. Your daughter should enjoy her puppy and let the puppy be a puppy. Have fun and enjoy your puppy.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Here is another site to explain some of your questions about rounds:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/roundworms_in_dogs___puppies.html