Hi Everyone, one of my girls has just got over a nasty stomach bug. She came into season 7 days ago, at which point i would usually worm with Drontal ( i don't worm during pregnancy). However, on this occasion i didn't want to worm her as she had a nasty bout of diorhea and it seemed pointless, i also didn't want to make her any worse.

She has obviously ovulated early (my stud dog is telling me so) and is now likely to be mated this weekend. Vet said stomach bug all cleared up and she is fit enough to go ahead with mating. So, what would you do about worming? We will be travelling to stud dog tomorrow night by the looks of it. Shall i leave it or should i worm her now? I was going to do it this weekend, thinking that we would have a few days before mating but it doesn't look like that will be the case.

Thoughts please..

I worm mine at the start of the season they are to be mated on and then also worm with low dose Panacur for the last three weeks of pregnancy to remove encysted and to stop transference of awakened larval migration to the pups.

I know some wormers are safe to give if pregnant, but they don't do what the pregnancy dosing of Panacur does, just get rid of maternal worms if she has any.

If you think she might need worming  I'd get a faecal count first, and only worm if indicated.

Thankyou Brainless. I doubt she actually needs to wormed, i just routinely do it when they are being mated on this season but due to her upset tum i didn't. I have never wormed during pregnancy and wait til pups are 2 weeks old and do mum and babes then. Never had a problem and i guess it is just a case of better the devil you know.

My main concern is that if i worm her less than 24 hours before mating that it might be a problem.

Can't see it being a problem, with the actual mating/pregnancy,but if it makes her loose might be uncomfortable travelling, in the same way I would not do it the day before a show.

Worming in season and prior to mating will remove any mature worms in her system but it will have absolutely no effect on encysted worms that willbe activated by pregnacy hormones so if you don't worm in pregnancy the risk is pups born with a worm burden and risk then being poorly when you start to worm them from 2/3 weeks. Personally wouldn't worm her now but would do her with panacur 10% from day 40 to two days post whelp and then at same time as pups.

Worming in season and prior to mating will remove any mature worms in her system but it will have absolutely no effect on encysted worms that willbe activated by pregnacy hormones so if you don't worm in pregnancy the risk is pups born with a worm burden and risk then being poorly when you start to worm them from 2/3 weeks.

I always worm my bitches during the season -whether it is close to mating or not, and never during pregnancy. I did it once with Panacur and never again -that was the only time I have had a heavy worm burden in pups. Now I have no problems at all when I use Drontal during season and Drontal Puppy for the pups. I start worming pups at 2 or 3 weeks (depends on their size etc) and do mum at the same time. I think the very thought of giving a pregnant bitch worm treatment for  two to three weeks is very scary indeed and would never dream of doing it.

> I think the very thought of giving a pregnant bitch worm treatment for  two to three weeks is very scary indeed and would never dream of doing it.

I have done this now for Seven generations of my bitches, never had problem with bitches or pups and have never ever seen worms in either pups or adults.

The only time I had an issue was the only time of doing the puppy worming at 2 and 5 weeks following a pregnancy worming.  Vet had previously said 3 and 7 - 8 weeks.

I felt that this was too much for the pups who were basically worm free due to the pregnancy regime and I now worm them still using the Panacur but at 3 and 7 weeks an then ask they be wormed again at 11 weeks and monthly to 6 months.

As with many things there is no absolute one way of doing things. :)

I have always used Panacur 10% on my pregnant bitches, the same as Barbara.  My tiny breed have never, ever had a problem, so it's what I always recommend if asked.  To be honest, it is such a very tiny dose, it's not like you are flooding the bitches system.  And I never have any problems with worming my pups from 14 days.  I've always assumed that it's because they are already used to Panacur while in the womb.  As Barbara points out, we all have our way of doing things.

I worm with Panacur from day 40 - never had a problem. It avoids encysted worms causing a problem.
I then worm Mum again shortly after giving birth. I worm the pups 2, 5 and 7. First 2 times Panacur and then Milbemax.

Under the circumstances (tummy bug) I'd leave it now - we wormed before our bitches came into season, based on their normal cycle.  And then wormed again when we gave the puppies their first worming - at 2 weeks.   I have never wormed during pregnancy.   And only with my first 'litter' (solo puppy) did I see worms after being wormed - masses of 'em.   I hadn't pre-wormed mum so I learnt my lesson there (novice breeder at the time!).

My puppies were wormed from 2 weeks, and then every two weeks to the time they went home, with a full history of what worming had been done, when and what with (Sherleys syrup).  And with the advice the puppy was wormed again by around 3 months - depending then, on their vet's advice.  And again, apart from the first solo puppy, I never saw any worms from our puppies.

> My puppies were wormed from 2 weeks

What needs to be remembered that frequency of worming is dependent on the type of wormer.

Those that only kill mature worms (many of the old ones) need dosing every two weeks.  Those that kill immature stages, like Panacur, need only be given every three to four weeks.

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/merial/ascarids/asc_05a.html