Unfusing a dog is an important task for any owner, but it is essential for those of us who have puppies.
Contracting worms is a real danger for a puppy. Worms are parasites, which means they settle inside your dog and suck their nutrients. This means that they lack essential vitamins and minerals they need to develop strong bodies.
This can lead to growth retardation, diseases and even death if left untreated. Therefore, as the responsible owner, you will need to treat your puppy worms.
The problem is that, as with any medicine, there is always a chance of side effects. Although reactions to conventional drugs, such as anti-worm tablets, are rare, they can be severe if left untreated.
To help you understand if your puppy has reacted to deworming tablets, we have listed the items below. This way, you can quickly identify them and make sure they are nothing to worry about.
What are worms?
The most common parasites in puppies are roundworms, tapeworms, tapeworms, tricurids and worms. Veterinarians recommend deworming puppies for the first time at about two to three weeks of age. Many types can be passed from mother to puppy through the milk they receive.
Although different types of worms are harmful in different ways, the general description of a worm is that it is a parasite that will make your puppy sick.
The medication provided by your veterinarian will cause the parasites to die, with luck without adverse effects on your puppy.
4 side effects of deworming a puppy
Here is a list of the most serious and common effects that anti-worm tablets can have on your dog.
1. Diarrhoea
The most common type of worms in puppies are intestinal worms. They cling to the intestine, from where they remove nutrients from food as they pass. Once the medicine is given and the worms die, they will fill the intestine, causing the body to release them with excess fluid.
Therefore, of course, one of the most common side effects after deworming is diarrhoea. Your body will pass a lot of faeces to get rid of dead worms.
Therefore, be prepared to see them coming out in your poop or even on their own in large packages of what appears to be spaghetti, if the infestation is large. Sorry for comparing the food, but it’s all part of the puppy’s course (or, in this case, I hope not!)
2. Vomiting
Due to some of the medicines used in anti-worm tablets, your dog may experience nausea immediately after administration of the tablet due to its reaction to stomach acids. He can endeavour to get rid of the pill.
When not administered as a tablet, he may still experience nausea some time after receiving the medicines. This is because the drug will cause the worms to release toxins while they die. And that’s what makes the body react and expel them through the action of vomiting.
Be sure to monitor your puppy when he is sick. Not only to keep it safe, but also to see if the tablet has started working again. If you have it, you will need to discuss with your veterinarian about another round of deworming treatment.
Make sure he has access to clean and fresh water to replenish any lost fluids he expels through vomiting.
3. Excessive salivation
Whether your puppy is a drooling monster or not, deworming pills can cause him to babe excessively. This leads to the same reasoning as vomiting. When your puppy’s belly is upset, he drools while his stomach rolls. Much like a human being when salivary glands react to nausea.
If your dog already drools, you may notice that it gets excessive after giving him the anti-worm medicine. This means that he is losing fluids, leading to dehydration, if not combatted with an extra water intake.
Again, make sure he always has access to drinking water when he needs it. The drooling usually decreases after a few hours at most.
4. Lack of appetite
If your dog loses its appetite after taking the medicine, it is because of a stomach ache. Even if he is not sick or has no diarrhoea, he may still have stomach pain or stomach pain.
It follows naturally that if all the parasites of the stomach or intestine die, the lining of the stomach wall and the intestines themselves will become inflamed.
Feeling sick causes a lack of appetite. Don’t worry, however, the lack of appetite usually lasts little in most puppies. Lasting, on average, a maximum of 24 hours.
Extreme side effects
If any of these side effects last more than 24 hours, you will need to consult your veterinarian.
Rare and extreme side effects to be observed are acute lethargy, seizures or coma. These are serious signs that your dog has had a significant reaction to the drug and needs immediate medical attention.
If any of these or other unusual effects develop, take your puppy to the nearest veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible. It’s rare, but unfortunately it happens. And prevention is better than cure.
Summary
Although side effects are a real concern with anti-worm drugs, they usually last a short time and extreme reactions are rare.
Veterinarians advise, despite the potential side effects, that deworming medicines are still the best prevention and solution for the treatment of worms in puppies and adult dogs. They are regulated and scientifically tested to ensure your safety.
As a dog owner, you can be sure that these preventive and reactive deworming products are beneficial to your dog’s health, and not harmful.
If in doubt, seek the help of a qualified professional.