FACT: All puppies and dogs in this world are a carrier of parasites. Their digestive systems are the perfect environment for these nasty organisms to thrive. Puppies, especially, provide absolutely the 100% ideal environment for parasites to thrive due to the increased blood supply from their rapidly growing bodies. Responsible breeders, as recommended by most veterinarians, worm their mamas and puppies every two weeks as the larva to adult parasite cycle is about a three week long process. Every two weeks is ideal to catch the majority of mature adult parasites before they can begin reproducing.
TREATMENTS: So here’s the problem with how we treat parasites here in the US. While the use of the many worming medications are 100% safe for dogs & puppies, it appears to be supporting the increased development of resistant parasites. Much like antibiotic use in people is developing resistant bacteria.
While certain medications seem to work best for different parasites, depending on where those parasites came from, they may or may not be resistant to many of these. As a responsible breeder here on the Bline Family Farm, we have noticed that Hookworms and Giardia parasites seem to be the most resistant to the recommended treatment options recommended by many Veterinary professionals.
SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO? One of our veterinarians, Dr. Dyer, has been working with animals in our area for almost 30 years and has seen many people engaging in the parasite battle with their puppies and dogs. The reality is that most puppies will eventually grow and develop their systems so that their body automatically begins to fight off the majority of the parasites so the few remaining ones do not have any effect on their health. The problem with their little immature puppy bodies is they have not yet developed efficiency, and their immune system is not at its best. Dr. Dyer is willing to consider alternative therapies and will attempt to help his cliets find potential real workable solutions.
Ponazuril is a common safe prescription wormer used in horses. Unfortunately, it has not been tested officially on other animals due to the lack of funding. However, many diligent, independent professionals have discovered that this particular wormer seems to work very well in puppies and dogs to eliminate or reduce Giardia and coccidia. With a three day treatment three weeks apart, a puppy can potentially fight off this parasite, as long as their digestive systems are healthy and their general stress level is low.
THIS BATTLE IS A VICIOUS CYCLE, WE EMBARK ON OUR MISSION OF PREVENTING PUPPY PARASITES: Here’s the real reason behind our battle; with our puppies continually being clear of parasites, and then reinfected again very easily. When they are in the situation in which they live with litter mates, they play and eat in the same areas, therefore, they are constantly reinfecting themselves with the new parasite eggs. Despite responsible breeders bleaching puppy areas, washing puppy, laundry every day and giving foot and butt bath to puppies, the cycle seems to be never ending. These parasite eggs are spread through their feces and unfortunately puppies don’t have a really good hygiene or awareness of what’s around them when they’re playing. Whenever one poops, it usually only takes 30 seconds or so for their littermates to run right through it, causing these poops to become smashed between their little toes… Not to mention that their toys will be dropped or rolled into their feces also. As you can see, the cycle is never ending. All it takes is one puppy to have one parasite larva, hanging out in their digestive systems, deciding to release into their intestines passing through their bodies, only to be ingested , causing these parasites to flourish one again, immediately reproducing.
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS ARE TACKLING THIS ISSUE OF PUPPY PARASITE PREVENTION HEAD ON: We do everything we can to keep our puppy areas clean, from attempting to pickup poops immediately as so as we notice them before they can be smashed. Here at the Bline Family Farm, we use a litter box system with puppies from the beginning, starting at about three weeks of age. This seems to be a very efficient way of keeping them from wandering through their feces as as often and they normally would without a litter box. Without a litterbox box, or a designated place for puppies to go potty, puppies will just poop wherever they want on the floor or in their bedding. Essentially puppies tend to gravitate towards a particular area to eliminate, usually in a corner somewhere. Once they hit five or six weeks old and many of the puppies will retreat to that potty area for their potty needs. We notice that a high sided litter box tends to prevent them from easily playing in their poop. In addition, we have been told repeatedly that our puppies transition from their litter box training to an outside potty schedule within a few days to a week at most.
HOLISTIC AND NATURAL PREVENTIONS: In the last nine years that we have been actively in business as Bline’s Awesome Aussies, we have been using the doctor recommended worming protocols, however, in the last three years or so, we have been diligently attempting to find natural healthy options, as these medications tend to upset the healthy biome in their digestive systems, which tends to make the parasites flourish even more. It is really like a double edged sword. We discovered this product when looking for a wormer for our Goats: Omni WormGuard Plus with Immune Boost and Probiotics for Puppies
RESEARCH: I am an internet researcher and have been ever since the development of easy access to wireless information online. I will spend hours looking for reputable websites, soaking up information on data they have collected. Several spices and herbs have been shown to be effective in parasite control. We have used many of these in various and different ratios. However It was a very time-consuming endeaver to create these custom mixes, and we were not showing a significant improvement. A year ago we discovered during my searches, a website called the Holistic Horse. My daughter raises horses and luckily her horses do not seem to be as susceptible as dogs and puppies, as they seem to fight off the parasites, much more efficiently on their own.
THE HOLISTIC HORSE: This website produces many formulations for lots of different animals. The Omni WormGuard Plus with Immune Boost and Probiotics for Puppies, seems to be the ideal blend of immune boosting support, natural diatomaceous earth, and loads of probiotics to support the digestive system. We have noticed the best control over our resistant hook worms when we are consistently using this powdered product with our goats and our puppies for every single meal.
NEW PRODUCT RECOMMENDED FOR OUR PUPPY PARENTS: In the process of providing supportive information to our new Puppy Parents, regarding all aspects of Puppy raising, we are encouraging you to explore the use of the Omni WormGuard Plus with Immune Boost and Probiotics for Puppies for the first couple months to provide extra support for their puppy’s growth and development. In addition, we have created an important
document which highlights the importance of reducing stress during the transition into their new household, stress on their bodies will release hidden parasite, larva that was hiding out in the tissues of their intestines. We are excited to get feedback from our new puppy parents in the next year, as to how effective this new protocol will be in the health of our puppies!
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