Foster dog has tapeworm..?

Question

He is utd on shots and neutered..So I thought he'd be ok around my dogs, not even thinking about worms...This morning I noticed when cleaning up his poop he has tapeworm, (atleast I think) Its long skinny noodle looking things moving...Anyway Im getting him into vet today..But I am sooo worried my other 2 dogs will get it...My dogs are on Heartguard, which I know has preventative in it, but is that enough? How likely is it that my girls will get it also? Thanks

Sorry I think its ROUNDWORM..Not tape worm

Answer 1

[edit] Dogs
Ivermectin is the primary ingredient in heartworm preventative Heartgard, a monthly beef-flavored chewable given to dogs to prevent the tissue stage of the microfilarae from developing. The other ingredient in Heartgard, pyrantel, controls hookworm and roundworm infestations in dogs as well. People who own multiple dogs can use ivermectin by itself, purchased in 50 ml bottles from a farm supply store or online, to give heartworm preventative to multiple dogs at a considerable cost savings. The dosage of ivermectin is 1/100 of an ml per pound. This is a tiny amount, and even for a 100-pound dog, it works out to only 1 ml monthly. Therefore, a 50 ml bottle can treat a 100-pound dog for over 4 years, and costs anywhere from $28 to $45 (at recently checked stores and online sites).

Collie-type breeds are apparently sensitive to ivermectin, and veterinarians prescribe other types of heartworm preventative for them. This includes border collies, shelties, and many herding breeds.

Hookworms and roundworms are prevalent in the environment, and pyrantel does control those two types. However, young and adult dogs are also prone to whipworms. Some veterinarians use synanthic, labeled for use in cattle, to worm dogs for all three of these worms, and several types of tapeworm. A single dose will handle hookworms and roundworms, but 3 days are suggested for whipworms and tapeworms. This wormer is also a concentrated formula, and 1 ml is used per 40 pounds. It is therefore also an inexpensive way to worm multiple dogs.

Answer 2

tape worms do require a intermediate host, Flea, rodent,, to be infected,, so if a foster dog has tapes,, your dogs cannot get it directly unless that dog also has fleas..
roundworms are infective directly... Honesly though the heartworm meds are very good at preventing infection.. Will not treat the fosterdogs infection but you can be resonably comfortable about your dogs..
If you foster on a regular basis,, using a broad spectum wormer once a year or every 6 months is not a bad idea,, or fecal screens on your dogs. I also suggest panacure for 3 days on any new dogs..
If your foster dog was wormed before comming to your house,, than they often do pass worms a day or so after,, so it might be the reason you see the worms..
all in all, Don't worry to much,, your dogs are quite safe,, with the regular prevent you use.. and not at a big risk for parasites,, even if they do,, It is a easy thing to treat,, and handle..

Well despite the recommendation to use a large animal over the counter med,, the dosage listed for ivermetin is MUCH higher than the dose of drug that is in hearguard or other similar ivermectin based heartworm medicines.. that dosage is used for treatement of other parasites,, like some mites.. o you would be saving some money but also using a lot more drug than needed,, and some NON sensitive dogs have reactions at this dose..
if you have a dog, breed or mixed breed with the ivermectin sensitivity you will have a dead dog.. It is not just collies,, but a lot of other hearding breeds,, and mixes of them..

If you choose to use someting over the counter,, ALWAYS check with your vet, Make sure it is the correct medicine,, and the correct dosage..
use of large animal wormers.. can lead to overdose, reactions.. and such.. and some over the counter medicines for dogs don't work all that well, or make the dog sick.. good example is the hearts brand wormer sold in grocery stores..

The truth is lots of collie type dogs died, because people chose to use a over the counter med,, trying to save a few bucks.. instead of buying the monthy medicine for hearworms..years ago.. and still happens.. it is always possible for another sensitivity can show up.. and could be your pet.. so always check with your vet,, in some cases the amount of drug used is safe,, but much higher than needed.. and why would you want to put more chemical into a dog than is needed?

Amanda

Answer 3

Unfortunately, if your dogs are on Heartgard, your other babies could be at risk. Have you been picking up the foster dog's poops right away? If not, the worms could be in the soil. A much better preventative is Interceptor-it protects against all internal parasites and also fleas and ticks. Then you won't ever have to worry about what a foster dog brings into the house. I would have your babies checked.

Answer 4

Worms are contagious. It is not an every day thing but, yes, children have got worms from dogs. Especially small children than tend to stick every thing in their mouth. Your vet can determine the type of worm (or worms) the dog has and treat the dog safely and effectively. The vet can also give you the same worm meds for your other 2 dogs. If they have worms it will get rid of them, if they don't have worms it will not harm them. Good luck...

Answer 5

I totally agree with AMANDA...your dog probably will not get it without a host,flea rodent,etc. When we bought or what I called rescued my Shih Tzu from the pet store, he came home fine until about 2 days after...he vomitted spaghetti I thought and I couldn't figure out how inthe world he got to spaghetti noodles without my knowledge or who gave them to him...you know the rest.. I reached in his crate to clean up the mess and a "Spaghetti Noodle" stood straight up towards me..well several did and the rest were squirming. I almost DIED!!!! The vet told me they are caused by poor living conditions which my baby certainly was in. Keep all area your pet is in super clean. Matter of fact..we bred my male and the women that owned the female mopped with disinfectant 2x per day sometimes using bleach and of course rinsing the areas VERY WELL and believe it or not, not one of our 5 pups EVER tested positive for worms . After they left the Mommy I don't know but I do know they were clean while with Mom and I know that is what kept them from having worms. I even EXPECTED to worm them, all puppies have worms I thought.
Don't worry too much,I think your guys are safe, just be xtremly clean behind all of them.

Answer 6

yes it sounds like round worm.
heartguard should prevent teh problem but talk to you vet tehy may need to be given a wormer and that's it.
Your dogs can be exposed to round worm form being walked in public. this is common and teh heartguard should take care of it just talk to your vet.
every thing will be fine.

Answer 7

simple course of PANACUR C for all your dogs and all will be well... heartguard if for heartworm , which is transmitted by mosquitos

please note that many breeds (aussies etc.) cannot tolerate Ivermectin,,,

Answer 8

As long as the puppy has been separated from your pets completely you should be fine. It may help to clean your floors with bleach water where you are keeping the puppy as well, to kill any other bugs that he may have brought with him.

Answer 9

Take all the dogs in to get dewormed. Keep them seperated, and clean up poo in the yard IMMEDIATELY!