All dogs are born with worms; some few get through without treatment, like some children do, but every puppy I have ever bred was treated for worms at from six to eight weeks old, or as soon as they were weaned, and this is the only safe and sure plan to follow, for you make no mistake by so doing. Worms are, without doubt, the cause of the death of more puppies, in various ways, than from all other diseases combined, destroying life when their presence is not suspected. Except in rare cases, they do not do much damage until after puppy is weaned, when they get their work in, and I hardly ever treat for worms under six, and generally not until they are eight weeks old, or just after being weaned. In the last two years, however, I have had puppies show signs and pass worms in considerable quantities as young as three, and in some few cases, two weeks old, and I have then treated them with small doses of vermifuge, but they must be very small doses, and careful in what you use at this age, for as a rule, very little medicine should be given to a puppy before it is weaned. To be safe and sure, you do not need to wait for the usual signs of worms in puppies, but just make up your mind to the fact that all pups are born with worms - and you won't miss it. When you buy a puppy, find out if it has been treated; if not, do so at once, for you can be sure it has them, and proper remedies are now made that are perfectly safe to use, and harmless should puppy not have any worms.

There are several worm remedies made for dogs that are safe and reliable. When I have to give puppies treatment for worms before they are weaned, I have used Clayton's Vermifuge in small doses, and with good success, (see what he says in his ad. as to this), and also "Vermilax," (see Vermilax Co.'s ad. also). Both this and Clayton's are in liquid form, and can graduate the dose easily. As some remedies are put up in capsules that would be too heavy a dose for puppies, and even older small toy dogs. An overdose might not kill the dog, but would of course make it sick. I also use "Sergeant's Sure Shot," and have for years, as it was gotten up by my old friend, Polk Miller. It is put up in liquid form, also in capsules. In the liquid form you can give small doses, using judgement as to age and breed. I, also used for a long time, Glover's Vermifuge, and it is an old and reliable remedy, all right for grown dogs and larger breeds, but a little too strong for puppies and toy dogs, unless in small doses.

There are several remedies advertised as quick workers, some claiming "thirty and sixty minute results", and I am afraid this is too quick to be safe as they may contain Areca Nut, a dangerous drug to ever use, as it shoots through the dog like lightning, but, if any of it remains in the dog, it means inflamation of the intestines, and most always a dead dog. It is a very old remedy, too old, used in years gone by when they did not know so much as we do now. In my article against Tape Worms, I warned against the use of Areca Nut.

Better give too small a dose, than an over dose, of any Vermifuge, and give it oftener, or, as long as you see signs of the dog having worms. The three principle kinds that infest dogs are:

First

The Common Round or Stomach Worm, of a pale, pink or flesh color, pointed at both ends and from two to six inches long; in appearance very much like the common earth or fish worm; this kind is most common in puppies.

Second

The Tape Worm, which is made up of flat sections joined together, and these sections being from a quarter to an inch in length, and in color nearly white, the tail being the largest and longest section, which gradually gets smaller and shorter toward the head to such an extent that it looks to the naked eye as fine as a thread. Under a strong glass this part will look like a lot of very small beads strung on a fine thread. Here is where to look for the head, which is described by Stonehenge as follows: "The head is small, and generally hemispherical, broader than long, and often as truncated anteriorly; the four mouths, or oscula, are situated on the anterior surface, and surround the central rostellum, which is very short, terminated by a minute opical papilla and surrounded by a double circle of small recurved hooks." The head can seldom be seen or found with the naked eye. It is larger than the neck but yet too small to be seen unless under a glass.

Third

The Maw Worm (or pin, or thread worm, as it is variously called) is located in the rectum and is nearly pink in color, and from a half to an inch long. These are the least dangerous of all worms, but cause great irritation. They are passed adhering to the feces. In puppies these sometimes cause partial paralysis which disappears after the worms are passed. Some authors claim that the maw worm are segments of the tape worm, but I think it is a separate species altogether. The common round stomach worms which inhabit the stomach and small intestines are most to be feared of all, being more peculiar to puppies, causing irritation of the stomach and intestines, indigestion, fits, diarrhea, and obstruction of the bowels. Your puppy has a much greater chance to live when the worms are gotten rid of, as their presence leads to so many dangerous complications.

Fourth

Hook Worms - these you will find treated under a special article elsewhere.

Dalziel says: "The varieties of worms Infesting dogs are very numerous, far more so than dog owners in general have the slightest idea of, but some varieties fortunately are rare. A variety has been found in the eye, another in the nasal sinuses, where it causes great irritation; the cruel Thread Worm finds its way into the heart, producing a most painful death; Borne are found in the blood, the liver has its parasite, so have the kidneys and urethra."

As has been the custom of writers and owners of dogs to classify them under the headings of round-worm, maw-worm and tape-worm, I have in this article done the same ,as these are the kinds that mostly concern dog owners.