Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forums and was hoping someone could offer me some advice regarding worming your bitch during pregnancy.  My bitch is (hopefully) pregnant with her 2nd litter.  I've previously been advised not to worm a bitch during pregnancy although I've since been told by another person that you can worm during pregnancy.  I wormed her with drontal just before she visited the stud dog. With her 1st litter I did the same thing but didn't worm her during her pregnancy and didn't seem to have any problems.  Also how about frontlining?  I've also been told not to use frontline during pregnancy.  Is this right?

Any advice appreciated!!
Kaye

Hi Kate

Welcome to the forum.  :-)   Frontline spot on is a definite no for a pregnant bitch.  And Frontline spray is ok - but why would you want to Frontline?  I never routinely use a flea treatment on my dogs, and only resort to Frontline spray when I see one of the little beggars.  And I have not used it in almost 5 years.  So it does depend on the individual dog.  I can't be the only breeder that never sees fleas. I guess, to a certain extent, it does depend on where the dogs are exercised.

However, I once had a pregnant bitch - only found one flea on her - but blasted with Frontline spray and drowned the blighter.  She whelped with no problems, and it didn't hurt her unborn pups.  I wouldn't however, blast a bitch with chemicals if she didn't have fleas.

I too Drontal my bitches prior to mating, but this has nothing to do with the worms that bitches get just because they are pregnant.  ALL bitches have encysted worms that are woken up by pregnancy hormones.  That is why you start worming at day 40 of gestation, until 2 days post whelp.  Panacur 10% suspension is licensed for use in pregnant bitches, and is my wormer of choice.  This means that pups are born 98% worm free, so all they have to do is thrive.  :-)  I have used it for many years, and start pups on it at 14 days.  When you say that you didn't worm the bitch during pregnancy last time, and didn't have problems, your puppies would still have been born with a worm burden.  I've actually known one breeder of Cairns that lost a whole litter due to a horrendous worm burden.  There is no excuse for it!

I never flea treat either and have not had one yet. In 4 years.
I milbemax as soon as they come in season then again 2 weeks before they are due.
Then mum and pups at 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 weeks,
EVERY breeder is different but this has never caused me any problems.

I only Frontline if fleas are seen...none seen so far this year.
My bitch gets Panacur 10% suspension from day 40 until 2 days after whelping..have never had a problem.
The pups are also done at 3 weeks and every 2 weeks until 11 weeks.

On advice of my vet I used Milbemax single treatment during pregnancy.For the pups I used Panacur and followed instructions given.There are a number of options open to you but this regime worked for me.Good luck.

Milbemax does not (as far as I know) deal with encysted larva (and it isn't licensed for pregnancy) so rather pointless using it if you wormed the bitch before mating. 

The daily dosing with Panacur from day 40 at reduced dosage is designed to kill the encysted larva the bitch caries which is activated by pregnancy hormones, to minimise transference into the unborn puppies.

>Milbemax does not (as far as I know) deal with encysted larva (and it isn't licensed for pregnancy)

Yes it is; "Milbemax can be used in pregnant and lactating bitches and in breeding animals."

Before giving Milbemax I checked its coverage and efficacy.It is indeed licensed for use in pregnancy.

I am another who never regularly uses flea treatments. In the last 15 years I have never seen a flea on my dogs and they do not show any signs of them. If it's not broke don't fix it is my motto... Ticks I remove as soon as I see them but the risks of pumping toxins into my dogs outweighs the risks of contracting any problems with ticks. (Just my way of doing things) I may be wrong (Sure someone will tell me !) but as I understand it the products to get rid of ticks do not stop them attaching but do make them drop off sooner. I therefore think the damage from Lymes could already have got into the system so the risks are still there. My girls are wormed every 3 months with Milbermax and are done during pregnancy. I have never had a wormy litter yet. In fact in the last 5 litters have never seen a worm in pups after worming them.
Milbermax is not suitable for all breeds though so make sure...
Aileen

but does it act on larval stages and encysted larva???

I have no idea Barbara but the proof of the pudding as they say is in the eating and I have no trouble at all with worms in pups.
Aileen

When people post a question on the forum, I wish they would acknowledge our replies.

I always wonder if they have read the posts.

Hi, sorry for the delay in reply. Thanks for the replies everyone has cleared that up in my mind now