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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - To worm or not to worm?
| Hi everyone. Next Wednesday Duck is due for another blood check. Our vet had talked about prescribing some worm medication at that visit and I'm just wondering if we should go ahead or not. Maybe some of you have had experience with this. I'm not talking about heart worm - we are fortunate enough that we don't have to worry about it in our area. Duck is presently taking 5 mg. pred/day, cyclosporine and azathioprine - quite the cocktail! I'm just concerned that worming meds will interact with all that or maybe stress his liver too much. Your thoughts would be most welcome! Thanks. deb and Duck |
| Debbie BC Canada |
| Debbie, Did you ask your vet why he wants to prescribe Duck some worm medication at your next visit? At one of your previous vet visits have you taken a stool sample in to check for worms? What type of worm medication is your vet talking about prescribing, one for round worms, tape worms, whip worms or something else? The only way to know if a dog has worms is to take in a stool sample and have the vet do a fecal exam. After such an exam a vet can prescribe the proper med if one is necessary, if one is not necessary, it is pointless and even dangerous to give wormining medications to even a healthy dog, what does that say about giving such medication to an AIHA/IMHA dog. I have fecal exams done for my non AIHA dog, Maddie, from time to time, they always come up clean. Only one time in my life have ever used worming medication on a dog of mine.That was on Margo, a rescue dog who had been wondering outside and eating all manner of dead things, such a birds and so forth to just keep alive.before we adopted her. With her we saw the worms, did a fecal test, got the worming medication and that was the end of it. Please ask your vet lots of questions about this and if you feel the need, take in a stool sample for the fecal exam but think long and hard about just giving worm meds without the proper testing. |
| Joanne MN |
| Joanne, thanks for your advice. I was feeling uncomfortable about worming just as a matter of course and that's why I asked the question on this forum. I totally agree with your approach and will do fecal testing of all my dogs, not just Duck if it seems that worming is necessary. I feel very comfortable with this course of action. Thanks. deb and Duck |
| Debbie BC Canada |
| Hi Deb, I just want to back up what Joanne has said. In Israel, most young vets routinely prescribe worming medication every six months. My first vet in Israel was an older experienced vet who did not routinely worm. My 17 year old dog (who has since gone to the bridge a few years ago) never received worming medication and never had worms. My current vet is younger and does the standard worming every six months to a year. I stopped all non-essential meds after Benson got IMHA and told my vet that I would worm him if there was an indication of worms or a positive fecal sample. The same for my non-IMHA dog McKenna. Like Duck, Benson was on many serious IMHA meds - I did not want to give him another med (potentially unnecessary) with possible side effects. All is well so far - no worms and no worming meds. Very best of luck to you and Duck, Aden |
| Aden Jerusalem |
This thread was discussed between 10/01/2008 and 11/01/2008
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