Heartworm aside, would you use worm preventives?

[Adina P]

At Rosco's annual vet check-up, the vet tech (or assistant?) recommended Interceptor since I had a baby that will soon frolic about and put things in her mouth all day long.  However, the vets here don't recommend heartworm preventive meds except if we travel to a higher risk area (it is pretty much non-existent in my town).  So...the Interceptor recommendation would be solely to prevent other parasitic wormies.  Would any of you use worm preventives if it wasn't for heartworm?  Rosco lives a pretty darn low risk lifestyle.  No swimming in lakes/ponds.  No dog parks or woody areas.  P

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

I think if not on HW preventative year round, it's a good idea to deworm dogs every once and while........They don't have to be near water or even around other dogs to pick up parasites.....Wildlife (squirrels, rabbits, racoons, skunks, possum, deer etc.) that find their way into your yard can carry round worms, hook worms, whip worms and tape worms and spread them in their feces.

Certain larvae can live in soil for long periods of time.... If Rosco happens to be a connaisseur of Rabbit poop he could very easily contract worms that way or just from having contact with infected soil in your yard and then licking his paws.........

So the answer is yes..I would do year round Interceptor even if Iived in a low HW risk area just for that reason. Even more so if I had a baby in the house just to be safe....

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My vet does not recommend heartworm medication for our area either. The few times we have gone to places where heartworm is found we have left our dogs at home. I think dogs should be immunized for what they are in danger of getting and not over immunized for things that aren't necessary to your area. Just my opinion. We had cats and dogs and babies without a problem. This may be outdated thinking though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Doesn't plain old ivermectin take care of all sorts of worms? My understanding is that for most breeds (not collies or related herding breeds), it's very safe and is given to very young puppies to deworm them. But I'm not sure.
I would try to find out what the risk to Natalie is; maybe ask your pediatrician if any of his patients who live with dogs have gotten worms from the dog. If he tells you he's never heard of that, I think you have your answer.

[April Cliber]

No, I wouldn't. There are a few (less expensive) treatments for parasites. I like pyrantel and/or panacur. If I were you, I'd treat him with those every couple months just to make sure he doesn't have anything. They are both safe and will quickly take care of any problems.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

I don't believe there is any recommendation to routinely use a dewormer for older dogs. This site mentions some good preventatives- hand washing, no bare feet etc.http://www.happyk-9.com/dog-worms.html

[Adina P]

I wash my hands. But an infant/toddler isn't going to wash her hands...let alone the stuff she puts her mouth on. But at the same time worm infestation is NOT common in people even though some awful things ARE possible.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

You have to wash her hands ...regularly throughout the day and at obvious times as normal.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

I am not getting the vet tech's logic... how can a baby eating dirt infect a dog that doesn't eat dirt? Unless your baby stuffs the dog's mouth with parasites she digs up in the yard - but that doesn't seem very likely!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's the other way around. I think the vet is saying the baby could get worms if she eats dirt that has been contaminated by Rosco...if he got worms, and if Natalie ingested something that had come into contact with soil that had larva from Rosco.

[Adina P]

Yes. It was purely from a 'protect your child' stance.

[Wendy and Eddie]

I'm loving the image of Natalie frolicing (is that a word?) around, scooping up stuff with each chubby little hand and shoving it into her cute little cheeks. By "stuff" I mean anything that looks enticing to a toddler, not dog "stuff." :-)

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

Hehe - didn't occur to me that a child can get parasites from dogs!!! I seriously doubt this is an issue unless you leave the baby unattended in places that may be contaminated (such as dog parks), which I'm sure you won't!!! You can teach your baby that dog poop is yucky and smelly and shouldn't go into the mouth. Who knows, she may even become your pooper-spotter by the time she's walking!