I have been asking both veterinarians and breeders about worming my bitch and puppies and I am getting conflicting advice. I had wanted to worm her @40 days like so many seem to do but was afraid as nobody seemed to be on the Same page. the puppies are now a week old so now I am again asking when to start the worming process and again mixed answers. My vet is saying to wait until they have their first visit for shots others are saying to start at 4 weeks. ALso at what point is it safe to worm the mother as well as starting her back on flea treatments.
Thanks

Absolutely do not wait until pups are old enough to be vaccinated -that could really cause a huge worm burden and a serious problem. You'd have thought a vet would be aware of that!! What age you start worming at depends on what product you use but it tends to be either 2 or 3 weeks. Personally I use Drontal puppy suspension and do the first at 3 weeks, then 5, 7, 9 and 11 -obviously for pups that go at 8 weeks the new owners have to do the 9 and 11 week worming.

I'd never flea treat any of my dogs unless they had fleas -been years since any of them have needed it.

Hi not sure if your in the uk? we start to worm at 2weeks old for pups and mum is done at the same time and every 2weeks till pups are 12weeks old ,mum is still done till she has stoped feeding her pups. this is done useing donital puppy for pups and donitol plus for mum ,the only safe flea treatment is front line SPRAY for pups and mum put ive never had to use this has mum or pups have never had fleas..you must make sure anything you use if you dont live in the uk is safe for mum while shes feeding.

> My vet is saying to wait until they have their first visit for shots

   

I don't believe it!  Glad he's not my vet!

I worm bitches from 40 days of gestation.  As your bitch hasn't been wormed, there is every likelihood that pups will have a heavy worm burden.  Start worming pups at 14 days, and mum too.  I'm so shocked that your vet hasn't advised worming every fortnight from 14 days.  Depends which wormer you use, as to the procedure.  I will only use Panacur, some breeders like Drontal.  But pregnancy hormones will have had your girl full of worms.  She should be done every time pups are dosed.

As to flea treatments - I would hope that a nursing bitch didn't have fleas.  I don't use flea treatments on dogs that don't need it.  Of course, the vet will encourage you to do it every month, he has to think of his sales!  But why cover a dog in chemicals that are not needed!

Took too long typing.  Posted and see the 2 replies before mine.  Looks like we are all singing from the same hymn book here.  ;-)

We usually do Jean. :)

> Absolutely do not wait until pups are old enough to be vaccinated -that could really cause a huge worm burden and a serious problem. You'd have thought a vet would be aware of that!! What age you start worming at depends on what product you use but it tends to be either 2 or 3 weeks. Personally I use Drontal puppy suspension and do the first at 3 weeks, then 5, 7, 9 and 11 -obviously for pups that go at 8 weeks the new owners have to do the 9 and 11 week worming.
>
> I'd never flea treat any of my dogs unless they had fleas -been years since any of them have needed it.

Same here, and again I've never flea treated a pup, but we've not had fleas to need to treat, I would be very wary about putting chemicals on a new pup