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Why is my puppy passing a white worm after heartworm medicine?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | English Bulldog | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 21 days old | 17 lbs

I gave my bulldog puppy (16 weeks old) her heart worm medicine last night, 24 hours later a white worm is hanging out of her butt. Is this normal? Should I take her into the vet?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on February 6th, 2018

Heartworm preventative medications also kill intestinal worms such as hookworms and roundworms, so it's not uncommon to see a puppy pass some worms in the stool after getting a dose of heartworm prevention. As long as Ginger is acting normal, this shouldn't be cause for concern. She will likely finish passing the worm the next time she has a bowel movement. You can take her outside for a potty break to see if she needs to go, or gently wipe her rear end with a warm washcloth to see if the worm will come out easily.
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