 |
| Poppy as a puppy |
During your puppy’s first few visits we will check a fecal sample for internal parasites and give your dog an oral deworming medication. Almost all puppies have roundworms, which can be transmitted to people so it is very important to treat for this even if the fecal test comes back negative. My favorite analogy for a negative fecal floatation is: when you go fishing you don’t always catch a fish but you know there are fish in the sea. Once your puppy has been on monthly Interceptor (which in addition to heartworm prevention also has a deworming medication) and his immune system is fully developed he is much less susceptible to internal parasites.
We then recommend that a fecal floatation be done yearly to ensure your dog is parasite free. While they are better able to clear a parasitic infection on their own it is possible for them to come across a reservoir of parasites in the environment (such as a dog park) and become infected. This is one of the many reasons that picking up your dog’s poop is so important, it helps prevent the spread of parasitic disease.
