Do you know how to deworm a puppy naturally? We have recommended some effective and home remedies techniques to treat and prevent worms in your dog.
The relationship between humans and their dog companions has been nothing short of pure mutual friendship. This friendship, however, is hindered by the spread of pathogens among canines. These pathogens are transmitted via invertebrate worms such as hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms. Showing negligence towards the impact of even a few of these worms can be detrimental to your dog’s health. Indeed, they pose a considerable threat that ranges from digestive diseases to pneumonia to even death.
As for how dogs, and particularly puppies, catch these worms, they can either be transmitted via their mother before or after birth, from infected soil, or fleas carrying these worms.
That said, the pet community has shown significant attraction towards canine health and towards battling these worms, starting from puppies. That is why the pet community such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP) have introduced the process of deworming, which is, for the most part, done through veterinary medicine, but several dog owners believe that administering medicine to treat worms is coupled with its threats. This brings us to the purpose of this article, which attempts to display how to get rid of dog worms without resorting to drug-based products and medicine.
Table of Contents
The Advantages of Naturally Deworming a Puppy
Chemically-producing can often do more harm than good. This has mainly been an issue in the pharmaceutical sector responsible for producing medicines to treat humans. However, the dangers of drugs have been discovered to have both favorable and unfavorable consequences for canine health. Similar to the culture of the essential oils, a band of pet owners has deemed natural deworming as the safest option to treat puppies.
They claim that natural products used for deworming are chemically-free, thus they yield a lower risk of chemical toxicity. Additionally, since these deworming products are “natural”, puppies’ immune systems would not resist them, as the name suggests. Lastly, in conjunction with their ability to be used along with other chemical or non-chemical deworming solutions, these natural products function as a detoxifier of the compounds found in deworming drugs, mainly Sulfur, Arsenicum Album, and Nux Vomica.
Symptoms of Worms in Puppies
Recognizing the warning signs of puppy worms helps you decide the next steps, along with the severity of your puppy’s condition. Fortunately, worming can be effortlessly discovered simply by mere observation. For instance, most intestinal worms can often be visible from excrements, vomit, and around the anus.
Furthermore, if your puppy has undergone noticeable weight loss, this may be a sign of worms. Other symptoms include lethargy, constant bottom rubbing on the ground, and excessive hunger. However, a few intestinal worms are asymptomatic and require a professional veterinary exam to detect them.
How to Deworm a Puppy Natural Ways
The groundwork of the perfect puppy is health. The basic formula of health maintenance for humans and the majority of pets is dieting. It can be the sole savior of your puppy’s health to ensure a worm-free digestive system.
Natural deworming chiefly relies on the consumption of natural productions, especially vegetables, that fortify dogs’ immune systems, considering that more than 70% of the immune system relies on nourishment. Therefore, the following are a few vegetables that immensely facilitate the natural removal of intestinal worms:
1. Fermented Carrots:
Carrots are a superb source of Vitamin “A” and other vitamins. Unsurprisingly, they boost your dog’s eye health, but they also cleanse their skin, improve their dental health, and strengthen their immune system. Whelan, K. et al. define fermented foods as the foods that are produced under controlled microbial growth, and through enzymatic processes.
In other words, they contain bacteria that are beneficial for the gut microbiome and ultimately the immune system. Fermenting carrots is fairly simple: place a few carrots in a covered jar, add water, salt, then brine, leave the jar to ferment the carrots for a few days at a temperature of around 70° F (21° C), and lastly place it in a fridge until you are satisfied with the texture and taste.
2. Kefir:
Kefir the fermented version of milk. Its texture is similar to that of yogurt. Along with its outstanding ability to help puppies get rid of worms, it is easy to digest. It is often suggested to pick the non-dairy kefir such as coconut kefir or goat milk kefir. One to two teaspoons of kefir a day should tremendously help your dog’s digestive health.
3. Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar has many health benefits on most organisms. As for how it helps with the deworming process, it renders the infected puppy’s digestive system inhospitable for pathogens due to its augmentation of alkaline levels. That said, simply add no more than 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your puppy’s water.
4. Cucumber and Pumpkin Seeds:
A common tropical American remedy to tapeworm infections is the consumption of cucumber and pumpkin seeds. They serve as a natural repellant, preventing entry of worms. If your puppy has no issue with eating chopped cucumber, you can resort to adding a few seeds of cucumber and pumpkin to your dog’s food since the seeds hold the prominent health benefits.
Whether your puppy has just gotten rid of their pesty worms or was never infected by them in the first place, prevention is better than scurrying to the rescue, seeking for a cure. All you mainly have to do is to regularly take your puppy to a vet to check for any worms that cannot be detected with the naked eye. Make sure to dispose of your puppy’s feces immediately so that they do not attempt to lick them. You should also maintain your puppy’s skin health by checking for any flees since they can carry worms and other parasites.
For any more concerns on how to deworm a puppy naturally, we recommend that you visit your local veterinarian for further aid and confirmation.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1995). Recommendations for Veterinarians; How to Prevent Transmission of Intestinal Roundworms from Pets to People. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000424/p0000424.asp
Team Homeopet (2019). Worming your dog – is there a natural alternative? Retrieved from: https://www.homeopet.com/worming-your-dog-is-there-a-natural-alternative/
Whelan, K. et al. (2019). Fermented Foods: Definitions and Characteristics, Impact on the Gut Microbiota and Effects on Gastrointestinal Health and Disease. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723656/
