A Munchkins To Love Article:

Bugs and worms and protozoa--OH MY!!!

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So, how did my precious puppy get these nasty worms?
Well he/she got them from mama and mama got them from grandma and so on and so on.  It passes through the mother's milk into the puppy's own system.  Also, mama being the good mama that she is, cleans her puppies constantly--well at least at first--so she reintroduces the worms back into her system.  As the puppies get older, mama kind of  let's the cleaning duty slide as she takes up other duties--like teaching her puppies proper dog behavior.  And so, puppies can continually introduce and re-introduce worms to each other.  Older puppies also will get worms by just being in the environment.  Playing where other puppies or dogs have played or just being around the feces that have unknowingly come into the house.  Parasites are everywhere and are impossible to keep completely under control.

And they are everywhere.
All dogs have parasites all the time.  It's a fact of life--especially canine life.  Dogs being what they are are continually coming into contact with parasites.   However, parasites do not have to be a controlling aspect of your dogs' life.  A normal, healthy dog, under normal, healthy conditions will have a properly strong immune system which is able to control the population of the parasites in their system.  It's when the immune system is compromised or immature (as in a puppy) that parasites can become a problem.  Worms are the most common problem in dogs.  But there is hope.  There are plenty of medications on the market today that can help control these nasty things.

Can I prevent these nasties from getting my puppy?
No, it's nearly impossible to avoid them.  They are everywhere in the environment.  But, you can prevent these nasties from getting a good hold on your puppy/dog.

How will I know my puppy has one of these nasties?
*Intestinal worms are very evident in stool samples.  If you see a puppy with a dull coat and enlarged stomach but thin everywhere else, that puppy probably has a pretty serious infestation of worms.
*Heartworms are a little harder to detect until in the later stages of infestation, which is why it's so important to do testing and treatment routinely.
*Mites can look like dandruff on the skin--although if it looks like dandruff, it could very well be dandruff.  You may notice what looks like sand particles on the skin.
*Fleas are very easily detected.  You can see the adult, or see the sand-like particles that are the eggs, also your dog will scratch.
*Giardia and Coccidiosis show up most commonly as diarrhea.  A puppy can have normal diarrhea in stressful situations (like going to a new home), and if food is switched too quickly or in the case of a food allergy.  However, that puppy will most likely retain a good appetite and still be very playful.  But, a puppy with giardia or coccidiosis will have watery, bloody diarrhea and a loss of appetite.  They won't be as playful and will seem sick.  This is a potentially dangerous situation and needs vet attention immediately.

What can I do to help my puppy?
*While you are waiting for puppy to grow up, be very mindful of following your vet's advice for routine care.  Regularly scheduled fecal examinations and follow up medication are very necessary in the first year of a puppy's life.  After that, even adults need periodic examinations and treatment.  Discuss with your vet your needs based on your lifestyle.  An animal that is out and about often is going to need treatment more often than one that never leaves the house.  However, even the dog that never leaves the house will still need periodic treatment.  It's just the nature of this particular nasty.
*Keep the puppy's living area (especially the potty place) clean.
*Keep the puppy's exposure to outside contaminants to a minimum for at least the first 6 months.  Even beyond that if your vet feels the need.  Romps in the park or visits to pet stores might be better delayed until the puppy is older.
*Be aware of your puppy's friends.  Avoid other animals where you are not sure if the animal's owners are conscientious of these problems.

Is there something I can do to control them?
Absolutely.  A clean environment--clean pen, water and food dishes--goes a long way in controlling these critters.  And routine care--medication and testing--can also help in early detection which also makes for quicker resolution of these problems.  Proper nutrition is important as well--no dumpster diving for doggies, please.

And what is a protozoa--mainly Giardia and Coccidiosis????
It's a small organism that lives in the intestines.  They can cause all kinds of problems and can be difficult to avoid, control and impossible to eliminate.  They are both present in the environment.  They are sturdy little opportunists that grab at the chance to get a hold of your little darlin' and make life miserable.  But they can also be treated--although catching it early is essential.  These are the most nasty of the nasties and can cause the most trouble.  They tend to crop up in times of stress (weaning, going to a new home, even changing food can be stressful).

And what about these Mite bugs?
That's another one of those things mama passes on--mites.  Some are pretty harmless like dandruff mites, but others can be pretty nasty, like mange mites.   However, none of them are serious as long as the immune system is strong and mature.  Sick dogs and puppies have the biggest problem with them.  There are medications for this as well, even though these can be stubborn bugs sometimes.

What can my breeder do to help me with this?
*Puppies should have been treated for regular dewormings, and treatments to remove the mites and/or fleas.
*Parents should be on a routine treatment for heartworms and other parasites normal for the area.
*There's not much a breeder can do for Giardia and Coccidiosis as it is so common, but cleanliness is essential to keep the spread of this under control.  Some breeders will use prophylactic measures to contain the development of these nasties, but it still is impossible to completely avoid it.