π¦ Deworming a Toy Poodle
Our world is not always as safe as it seems. Even a puppy that lives indoors can come into contact with parasites without us noticing — on the street, in the park… or even through our own shoes.
When you bring your puppy home, it has usually already received its first deworming treatments. But this is not something you do once and forget.
π It’s an ongoing process π and a basic part of dog care.
Here we’ll explain clearly:
What types of parasites exist, how they affect your dog and how to prevent them.
β How Do Dogs Get Worms?
Here comes the uncomfortable part. π π The ground has a story to tell: Pigeons, cats, other dogs, rats…π none of them follow hygiene rules, π they do their business wherever they want, π and leave more than just “memories” behind,
π Your own shoes Yes, you’re part of it too — without realizing it. π You walk outside, step on contaminated areas, and come back home.
Bringing parasite eggs on your soles πΆ Sniffing, licking… being a dog. A puppy explores the world with its mouth: sniffing, licking,
tasting everything. π And that’s where it all begins. π¦ Fleas (bonus surprise). A single flea can act as a “carrier,” π transmitting other parasites like tapeworms.
β οΈ Quick summary: Your dog doesn’t need to do anything unusual, just living a normal dog life is enough.
π The world is full of things we don’t see… but they’re definitely there. π
π¦ Internal Parasites
These are parasites that live inside the dog’s body, mainly in the intestines. You often can’t see them — but they’re there.
π Intestinal worms (roundworms)
π The most common type. π Puppies can be infected even before coming home.π Transmitted through soil, feces, objects…
β οΈ Can cause: diarrhea, bloated abdomen, weight loss. π Sometimes the dog looks fine… but is already infected.
𧬠Tapeworms
π Mainly transmitted by fleas. π Appear as flat segments (like “grains of rice”)
β οΈ If there are fleas, there is a risk of tapeworms.
π¦ Protozoa (Giardia, etc.)
π Not worms, but microscopic organisms. π Very common in puppies. β οΈ Can cause: persistent diarrhea, digestive problems.
π Sometimes not detected on the first test.
β€οΈ Heartworm (Dirofilaria)
A parasite that lives in the heart and blood vessels. π Transmitted
through mosquito bites. π No direct contact with other dogs is needed.
π Even indoor dogs can be infected. β οΈ Can cause:
• coughing, • fatigue, • serious heart problems.
π In advanced stages, it can be fatal.
π Risk in Spain: higher risk in: humid areas, Mediterranean coast,
Andalusia.
π Lower risk in: drier or colder regions.
β οΈ Important: π A dog can have parasites without obvious symptoms. π That’s why deworming is not something you do “when you see a problem.”π It’s prevention, not reaction. π
β How Often Should You Deworm?
There is no single answer for all dogs. It depends on lifestyle, environment… and real risk. But there is a simple baseline:
πΆ Puppies
π Every 2–4 weeks until the initial protocol is completed, because they are the most vulnerable, π this is not something to improvise.
πΎ Adult dogs
π Every 3 months (general recommendation). But this may vary: more frequent if there is contact with other animals, if the dog spends a lot of time outdoors or in the countryside, if there are children at home.
π¦ Heartworm prevention
π Monthly treatment (depending on the product), π especially in areas with mosquitoes. π This is not occasional — it’s continuous.
β οΈ Common Mistakes with Deworming
β “I only deworm if I see worms”
A classic mistake. π Most parasites are not visible. by the time you see them…
they’ve already been there for a while, π you’re late.
β “My dog stays at home, it can’t get infected”
Not exactly.π You can bring parasite eggs on your shoes, π also on
clothes or hands, π the risk comes in with you.
β “Once a year is enough”
No.π In most cases, it’s not enough, π especially for small or active dogs,
π deworming is regular, not occasional.
β “If there are no symptoms, everything is fine”
A dangerous mistake. π Many dogs show no symptoms, π but they can still carry parasites.π What you don’t see… is still there.
β “Fleas have nothing to do with worms”
They do. π Fleas can transmit tapeworms, π one problem leads to another, π everything is connected.
β “I only worry about it in summer”
Mistake. π Some parasites are active all year round, π especially in mild climates, π it’s not just seasonal.
β “There’s no risk in the city”
False. π Pigeons, rats, dogs…π all leave invisible “gifts” behind, π the city isn’t cleaner — π it just looks that way. π
π¦ External Parasites
These are parasites that live on the dog’s skin. π They are easier to see… but that doesn’t mean they are less dangerous.
π·οΈ Ticks
π They attach to the skin and feed on blood, π they can transmit serious diseases. β οΈ They are not always visible at first glance.
π The longer they stay attached, the higher the risk.
π₯ In this video, you’ll see the life cycle of ticks and something that surprises many owners: π things that seem enough… but aren’t,
π situations where the parasite survives without problems,
π not everything is eliminated by basic cleaning,
π not everything dies with water or the washing machine. π
π¦ Ear Mites
They’re tiny. Very tiny.π Without a microscope… you won’t even see them. But now imagine this:
π something inside your ear
π moving
π itching
π and never stopping
π Doesn’t sound very pleasant, right?
That’s exactly what a dog feels when it has ear mites
π₯ In this video, you’ll see how to remove them properly.
π¦ Fleas
Fleas are small… but very bold π And here’s a truth that surprises many people: π your dog is not their home,
π it’s their restaurant… and their taxi. π They jump, bite… and hold on while feeding, π they don’t live permanently on the dog.
π they don’t have a “stay” mechanism — they just bite. π They eat… and then leave. π And what happens next?π Every flea that has fed… goes off to reproduce. π
You apply a pipette and think: “that’s it, problem solved.” π Not exactly.
β οΈ How it really works
π A flea can bite your dog…π or your leg.
π “I don’t like this restaurant anymore… I’ll find another one.”
π‘ How to eliminate the problem (for real)
π Collar (like Seresto) + pipette. π Treat all animals, not just the one you see with fleas. And most importantly: control the environment.
π At home: regular cleaning, special attention to floors, corners, and textiles. πΏ Terrace or garden: remove dry leaves (their favorite place), cut the grass, keep the area clean. π Real (and very common) case: Sometimes the problem isn’t just your dog.
π neighbor’s cats, π animals passing through the area. In my case, the neighbor’s cats brought fleas every summer.π Solution: find a way to treat them too. β οΈ The key point: π it’s not just about treating the dog, π it’s about breaking the cycle.
π If you don’t control the environment… they come back. π It’s not just one flea. It’s an invasion in progress. π
π¦ Mosquitoes
They seem harmless. Small, annoying… and nothing more. But it’s not that simple.
π For a mosquito, your dog is not a victim…π it’s just a quick stop.
It bites and leaves. And with that simple action it can: transmit parasites,
infect your dog without you even noticing. π One second is enough.
β οΈ The real problem:
π You don’t see it coming, you can’t control it. It doesn’t depend on other
dogs. π It only takes one mosquito. β What can it transmit?
π Heartworm (dirofilaria)
π Leishmaniasis (through sandflies — a type of mosquito).
π¦ Leishmaniasis
A serious, chronic disease.π It can affect the skin, internal organs, and overall health.π Symptoms may take time to appear.
π when they do… the disease is often already advanced.π The dog may look healthy… and not be. π
And here’s the “fun” part: π you’re relaxed, π your dog is at home, π window open… summer…π and the problem has already entered. π‘ How to protect your dog: π antiparasitic collars, spot-on treatments (pipettes), vaccines.
β οΈ The key point: π it’s not a “street problem”, it’s an environmental problem, π if there are mosquitoes… there is risk.
π Not all mosquitoes are just annoying… some are dangerous. π
πΎ Lice in Dogs
Lice in dogs are rare… but they do exist. And most importantly: they don’t only appear in stray dogs. They can also appear in a clean, well-cared-for dog that lives at home.
π You can even bring them back after a walk or a trip to the beach. Your dog may have lice… and you might not even notice. They don’t bite the way you expect, they don’t jump, they don’t just disappear π and by the time you see them…
They’ve already been there for a while. π₯ In this video, I explain how to detect them. And why the typical treatment often doesn’t work π