WORMS! What are the chances my dogs catch them from dog I babysat tonight? (labrador, clean)

[Hopes]

I just got done babysitting my neighbors 9 month old puppy.

When he picked her up, he MENTIONED she was recently diagnosed with worms. She's on medicine but I think it's only been for a few days so far.

What are the chances my dogs will catch worms from her? How long should I wait before I take poop to the vet for testing?

I'm most concerned about the risks to my oldest dog's health.

That's why I want to have the poop checked as soon as it would be reasonable time period that worms would show up.

[Hopes]

I just looked on a website that says dogs should be wormed every three months.

WHAT? My dogs have never been wormed while I've owned them.

I've owned my lab since he was old enough to be weaned from his mother. My basset came from a rescue at 11 months old.

I've never heard of routine worming. Our vet just checks stools.

When to worm your puppy or dog - Symptoms of Worms in Dogs

[Keeper]

What kind of worms? Tape worms are the most common and those are caused by fleas. They are not contagious unless your dog gets some of the fleas.

I wouldn't put much faith in that website. I have NEVER heard of anyone worming their puppy every 2 weeks from 2-6 weeks unless they had worms. That is irresponsible and deadly IMHO. Sounds more like a commercial for OTC junk

[foxywench]

to contract worms it depends on the kind of worms they are.

tape can be contracted 3 ways...consuming a flea infested with tapeworm lava or consuming a fly infested with tape worm lava, consuming raw meat/fish that is infested with tapeworm.

the other species of intestinal parasitic worms are contracted by consuming the worm/eggs themselves, so your dog would typically have to eat the infested dogs poop to contract the worms. (or any infested poop, rabbit is a common one for carrying round and hookworm)

i only de-worm as nessicary.

[snofarmer]

I have never heard about a flea carrying tape worms, and I am very suspect as the larva would be bigger that the flea let alone a adult tape worm could eat a flea.
Rabbits, mice, squirrels can carry tape worms and would be the most likely source.


But I bet we are talking about round worms.
Is it possible yes, likely, no.

It is mostly transferred by contact with the infected feces or from consuming the feces from an effected dog or passed to the pup at birth from an infected 8itch.

Worming should be done(start) at 5-6 weeks of age then repeated in 3 week intervals. worming is done 3 times.

[Hopes]

He said the puppy had two different types of worms but he couldn't remember which type. I'll call him today and have him get the info for me.

[latetotheparty]

agree that is possible, but not likely......

the other owner should be able to consult his vet visit record and see what kind of worms .... to put your mind at ease, maybe call your vet tomorrow and tell them what is going and see what they recommend......

and if your dogs are on heartguard PLUS, it protects against round and hook worms.... but i believe not tapeworms... but tapeworms require consumption of an infected flea or animal, such as rabbit or squirrel.....

[Hopes]

The puppy has tapeworm and roundworm. (She ate a dead rodent she found on a walk in the woods.) She's been on medicine for a week.

And she had a poop accident in our house last night. My husband discovered it this morning and cleaned it up this morning.

[lifelongMOgal]

As LTTP wrote, possible but not probable. Pooper scoop the yard if the pup did its business there besides in the house. With medicine x 1 week I expect whatever she shat was dead.

[Hopes]

Thanks for the advice and reassurance!

I'm not normally a hypocondriac about my dogs, but my labrador is a very elderly 14 year old.

I could see him going downhill quickly if he got worms. He already has enough trouble absorbing nutrients from his food.