I just got a puppy two days ago. They said she didn't have worms yet today she obliviously does because she had them in her stool. I am worried she could spread this to our cat. Should I keep the puppy away from the cat? They are just now starting to get along and play with each other. They exchange toys. Should I put the toys away so they don't swap their salivia??? Should we stay away from the puppy? What can the puppy infect? I am a little nervous about this because my cat had them before and it was hard to get rid of for him.

I am really freaking out here. I talked to the vet and got an appt but I am anxious about my cat and contracting the puppy's worms.

Also, we bought a crate for the puppy and she refuses to be locked in it. She will sit in it and even with the door closed, it's when she hears the lock or knows it's locked she freaks out and barks. What should we do for that?

Thanks for any help.

A really distressed newbie.

Hi,
First of all, get some good worming tablets from the vet - I use Drontal Plus with my dogs. Puppies need worming about every 2 weeks till they are 3 months old, then every month till they are 6 months old, then every 3 months for the rest of their lives. Cats carry a different type of worm to dogs, so your cat will need a different wormer - again, your vet will know what's best. Pet shop wormers are no good - they simply aren't strong enough. Worms aren't passed in saliva - only worm eggs in stools. The eggs need to be exposed to the air for about 24 hours before they become infective, so if you clean up carefully after your pup, then wash your hands, you will be fine.

About the crate - why do you need to lock it? Just having it shut for a short time would be fine, I would have thought - many people never shut the crate door at all!

Relax, and try to enjoy your puppy - what is her name, and what breed is she?
:)

Thanks for the advice. You have calmed me down. :)
Roxy is the puppy's name and she is an aussie shep mix.
I will ask the vet about Drontal Plus.
I didn't know that dogs had to be regularly dewormed. I thought it was just a puppy thing. Good to know.

Lately she tries to get to the carpet cleaner I use while I clean up one of her messes. That is why I feel the need to lock the crate. She prefers the couch over the crate...if I move she walks right out of the crate.
Again, thanks for the advice.

My puppies have always loved the game of "killing the mop" when I try to clean the floor! After about 5 minutes of using puppy as much as the mop itself, I put the pup in the garden for a couple of minutes while I finish the job properly.....I've never used a crate at all, but can see how they would be useful when you're travelling and staying in strange places.
:)

I would guess the vet would just give you some worming tablets or granules to give her. Puppies should be wormed at about 8 weeks and again at 12 weeks, but if they have a bad infestation i think you can treat them at 10 weeks too. They shouldn't be too hard to get rid of, and once they are gone a dog should be wormed regularly (i think its something like twice a year - the vet will advise you) as a preventative measure, as dogs have a tendency to eat strange things when out on walks and can even get them through ingesting fleas. I don't know about the cat - i don't think you can catch worms through saliva, but you should worm your cat as a preventative measure anyway, as cats can pick up worms from all sorts of places, especially if they catch mice or birds.
With the crate i would try and wait until she is very tired and then put her in and shut the door. Once she has fallen asleep you can try locking it. The worst thing you can do is to respond to a barking dog by letting it out as they then believe that barking will get the owner to let them out. I always tried to wait until my puppy was quiet before returning or letting her out.

Know exactly how you feel abou the worm situation. Been there, done and been cured. Trust me and follow the advice you have been given and your puppy will soon be clear of the dreaded ( ) that was a swear word !

Margaret