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Can my puppy with worms still have playdates and socialize safely?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labradoodle | Female | unspayed | 2 months and 6 days old | 3.5 lbs

My 9.5 week old puppy has coccidia and hookworms, and is currently taking medication for both. Can she still have puppy playdates (although not in our yard-which may have residue of her feces) elsewhere? Like inside the house, outside on a quiet street. I worried she can't socialize at all until she is worm free. If she happens to poop and we pick it up/clean right away, would that be ok to still have a playdate?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 10th, 2018

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Unless she has feces on her hair and if she defecates when around other dogs, she will not pass on the worms just by playing with other dogs. However, you cannot say for sure whether or not she has microscopic eggs stuck to her fur or if she will defecate around the other dogs. I would play it safe and finish off the deworming medication and recheck the stool in 7 days (from starting the medication) before socializing her with any other dogs. If she defecates and you pick it up, there is no way to tell if you got every microscopic egg off the ground. If she does defecate outside, it is recommended to remove the top 8 inches of soil from the area to ensure you have removed all eggs. I would also recommend regularly cleaning her bedding so that she does not re-infect herself and that you are using a bleach solution (3 cups bleach to 1 cup water) to spray surfaces down. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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