First things first y'all...I am not a veterinarian. I cannot give professional medical advice! What I can do… is speak from my personal experiences.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way.. let’s talk about something no one warns you about.
Welcome Home to your new baby! Now… Watch the Poop.
Any time you bring a new dog into your home (especially from a shelter) you need to immediately be on Poop Watch. Like, detective level focus.
That very first potty break... get to inspecting lol
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Is it loose?
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Is it discolored?
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And most importantly… do you see little worms or parasites wiggling around?
Because yes. That happens.
Ask me how I know.
Stewie’s First Potty Break…
When I brought Stewie home, I was feeling emotional, proud, and ready to be a professional dog girl. Then he "went" for the first time… and it was absolutely riddled with worms.
Riddled. Like I screamed a little. I called the rescue that I was fostering him through freaking out.
Was it alarming? Yes. Was it gross? Extremely. Was it the end of the world? I thought so.... but it wasn't.
The Good News: This Is Super Common (yay!.. kind of?)
Worms are very common in shelter dogs. Shelters do their best, but high intake, stress, and unknown histories mean parasites happen. A lot. As startling as it may be when you see them with your own eyes…you did nothing wrong, and neither did your dog.
You’ve got this. So here's what to do lol…
Acting Out of Caution (My Favorite Approach)
If you see worms..or even if you don’t and just want to be proactive..you can use a dewormer.
What I personally use: Panacur
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It can be purchased on Amazon
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It’s safe for nursing moms
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It’s commonly used and well-tolerated
Important:
Read the instructions, not just the label, for proper weight and gram dosing. Follow it!!
Usually, one round does the trick. But If you notice continued evidence of parasites.. Knock out another round.
If you have other animals in the home that may have been exposed, you can also give them a dose as a precaution.
If your resident animals are on a flea/tick/worm prevention (like Simparica Trio.. this is what my babies are on), that helps protect against spread and gives you an extra layer of peace of mind. Highly recommend having everyone on a solid preventative plan & speaking with your vet about this!
And Again, call the Vet When You’re Concerned
Even though worms are common and manageable, reaching out to a veterinarian is always best practice!
There is zero shame in calling your vet and saying, “Hi, I’m stressed and my dog’s poop is weird.”
They’ve heard worse. I promise you.
My Final Reassurance
Finding worms in your new dog’s poop can be shocking, gross, and mildly traumatic. But it’s also fixable, common, and not a reflection of the care you’re providing.
You noticed, you came here to find out what to do, and you’re doing great.
….Stewie is thriving now, worms long gone… and if I survived that first potty break, you can survive this one too.
You’ve got this!