Worms!!?!?!?!?!

[MyDearSam]

On top of the food issues, or maybe this is the cause, but Sam has 'em! I can't figure out how. He hasn't been outside or anywhere away from home. I thought we were doing better. He was eating the Simply Nourish Chicken and Rice Stew, about half a cup a day.

On Thursday, I noticed he was doing the butt scoot boogie. I checked his bottom, and there was a small piece of poop stuck in the hair. I got that out, and didn't notice any more scooting.

On Friday, his poop was softer, but still formed, and had a tiny bit of mucus. Yesterday there was more mucus, and I thought I saw a worm, about 1/2 inch long. Today we had to go out for a while, and when we got home, he had some serious pudding poo! And of course he was excited to see us, so he tromped all through it.

I scooped him up and straight to the bathtub. There was a big gob of poo stuck to his butt. I had to use shampoo and my fingernails to work it out. There were several worms stuck in there. He's also barely eaten today, like less than a third cup of food.

HOW did he get them? His last fecal was clean. His next vet appointment is Friday, but I'm going to call first thing in the morning and see if I can go ahead and bring him in.

Sorry this is all over the place. The stress of worrying about my little guy is really starting to get to me big time.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

He could have picked them up anywhere. Lol. My baby got them one time and I freaked! It just happens. The important part is getting rid of the critters! I would suggest seeing your vet. Mine gives a one time pill and the worms were all gone!

[bchgirl]

Does Sam have fleas? The symptoms you describe sound like tapeworms. They get them from ingesting fleas.

They are easily cleared up with a shot and using a flea preventative

[MyDearSam]

No. No fleas. DH is highly allergic to bites, so we would know immediately if we had an infestation. The cat doesn't go outside, so she can't bring them in. And we treat the yard twice a year. Plus, Sam hasn't been biting or scratching.

[bchgirl]

There are only two worms visable to the naked eye. Round worms are contracted from the mother's milk. The other is tapeworms...they come from fleas.

[LillysMom70]

Your baby may have a mild case of fleas, like Lilly did when I got her. They literally only found one on her and I hadn't seen any at all, on me or in the house. She had tapeworm which was really easy to treat. They told me they really like the animals, so to treat the animals and more than likely no more fleas. So far, so good!

[lynzy420]

wow, this made me so queasy...blechhhhh...but great info here, thanks.

[bobohyde]

My previous dog would get worms from eating cat poop of the cats that would come into our yard to go to the bathroom. Anyway, ever since then I've used Interceptor, which is a monthly heartworm preventative that also kills internal parasites. Since Interceptor is unavailable right now, Columbo will go on Heartguard Plus when we run out, which also kills internal parasites. Columbo is not above eating cat poop if he can find it. I suggest you check into that since they need to be on heartworm preventatives anyway. Then you don't have to worry about it.

[Marilize]

Take a fecal sample to the vet to find out if he has worms. My dogs will sometimes scoot along the floor when there's a bit of poop stuck in their hair, but they stop when you take it off. Don't just deworm for the sake of it - worming medications are still toxins and you don't want to make him sick.

[mperran1974]

Please keep us posted on Sam. I'll be thinking of you.