My 3-month-old puppy has diarrhea and is depressed. Could it be worms?

Poor Blue! I'm sorry that he's pooping out worms. It's very common for puppies to have intestinal parasites, so don't worry - they're very easy to treat in most cases :) Depending on the type of worm that you are seeing, you may be able to get an over-the-counter dewormer such as Panacur or Strongid to treat the problem yourself, if you wish. But if he has tapeworms (which look like flat, wiggly grains of rice), a prescription dewormer from your vet would be required to get rid of them. In addition to deworming him, I would also recommend getting him in to the vet as soon as possible for his first puppy exam and vaccines - until he is properly vaccinated, he is at high risk of coming down with a potentially fatal illness like parvo or distemper.

These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs and fecal analysis) may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for submitting your question regarding Marmaduke. He needs to see his veterinarian again. Fecal testing will be performed. If it was done on his first visit, it may be repeated or additional tests recommended. Depending on his results, medication will likely be prescribed. A diet change to a prescription low fat diet may be beneficial as well. I typically do not recommend extended fasting on puppies as is common in adults with diarrhea. He is growing and needs to eat. I hope this information helps!

Inflammatory bowel disease is not common in a puppy but it could be dietary intolerance from something in the diet. Other potential causes include Giardia, bacterial overgrowth, or pancreatic insufficiency. Your veterinarian likely has a ‘next step’ already planned. I recommend to discuss Mable!s diarrhea with your veterinarian. They may want to try an antibiotic and a probiotic along with a bland diet to see if that resolves the diarrhea. They may also recommend protozoa testing, a fecal culture and/or pancreatic enzyme testing. A diet trial with a hydrolyzed protein is another potential option. Since there are many causes of diarrhea, each one needs to be worked through. I hope this helps and best of luck.

I recommend you take your puppies to the vet, along with a sample of their feces so the vet can run a fecal test if they so choose. Your puppies need regular deworming, as infestations of worms can make them very sick, and severe infections can be deadly. Worms in the stool (dead or alive) are cause for concern, and some types of worms can even be transmitted from dogs to humans and make them sick. Black stool may indicate blood, which requires treatment by your vet. The link below contains information on roundworms, and there are links to information on hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms within the body of the text. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951364 . Good luck, and I hope your puppies feel better soon!

These signs could be compatible with a colitis, which is an inflammation of the last part of the colon possibly secondary to the parasite infection, usually related to dietary indiscretion. As a first approach, I would suggest to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Just because you don't see worms doesn't mean they aren't there. In fact, hookworms are the worms that cause anemia (and subsequently white gums) and they are so tiny you cannot see them with the naked eye. There are other intestinal parasite, like coccidia, that are microscopic as well. I would recommend bringing a fecal sample to your vet to have it analyzed so you can make sure you are treating all the parasites the puppy may have. Also, keep in mind, most puppies need multiple dewormings to get all of the parasites. Giving her moist food is fine, it will also help hydrate her since she isn't drinking great. Good luck with the little guy.