puppy hair problems

by Duana
(Spencer OK)

We have 2 beagle puppies and One of them is losing hair. They are 10 weeks old, and we lost 2 of their litter mates to worms.

We are treating them now for worms, and they do not seem to be feeling bad, one has developed a bald spot on his tail and on his side, he also has bumps that are rough under his chin and his stomach is really large.

Is this worms too?


Hi Duana
I'm not sure if you've got the medication from a veterinarian, or if it's an over the counter product. Worms in puppies really need to be treated by a vet, as it's important to know exactly what kind of worms and how bad the infestation is.

Over the counter medications are not very effective and can have unwanted side effects. To have a puppy actually die from a worm problem is rare, especially so young as it takes a while for the worms to cause that much damage.

Are you sure that is what caused the loss of your puppies? Have you had a vet examine them? If not, I'd strongly suggest that you take them for a check up so you can rule out any other health issues.

The rash/bumps and bald spots could indicate allergies, or mange. Mange is caused by tiny mites, and can be diagnosed by your vet taking a skin scraping, and then treated with shampoos or dips. Allergies can also be diagnosed by your vet.

The enlarged tummy, could well be worms as they fill up the digestive tract and take all the nutrition from the food. If this is the case, the medicine is not working, and to give these puppies a fighting chance they really need to see a vet asap.

Best of luck!