In response to our topic last week on the nutritional aspects of pet care, one reader jumped the gun and asked whether one could deworm and vaccinate female animals when they are pregnant. Let us consider these issues this week.
Deworming during pregnancy
Scientists discovered many decades ago that puppies in the womb can be infested with worms, long before they are born.
This infestation of the foetus with worms originates from the worm burden of the mother. So, obviously, it would make sense to deworm the mother before and even during pregnancy. However, certain dewormers (especially those based on chemical compounds called “organo-phosphates”) are pretty strong. The manufacturers advise us to use only on healthy animals. Really what they are saying is that we should use these dewormers only on animals that are not under stress conditions.
Well, I can think of only a few situations in which there is less stress for the female dog/cat than pregnancy. Furthermore, if the animal is heavily infested with worms, then that in itself represents a stress factor too. In other words, one should keep far from these dewormers that are known to contain active ingredients which could create more damage than good. Your veterinarian can give you the appropriate advice. I prefer to conduct a general check-up on the pregnant animal at least twice (once every three weeks) during its pregnancy. The caregiver may wish, under the advice of his/her veterinarian, to deworm the prospective mother dog/cat just prior to mating (when she is in heat).
In addition, I should mention that as the worms die from the application of dewormer (tablets, syrups, capsules, injections, etc.), they seen to give off toxic substances that makes the host animal ill. Of course, we now have a dilemma. If we underdose the dewormer so that its strength does not adversely affect the animal, then the worms don’t receive the full blast (potency) of the dewormer, and therefore can quickly develop a resistance to the chemical in the dewormer. On the other, hand, if we over dose, we can damage the animal.
Should we vaccinate during pregnancy?
Again, allow me to refer to the manufacturers. Many of the vaccinations contain live viruses – even though these viruses may be attenuated (weakened). It is pretty much accepted that the live virus (pertaining to the disease against which you are inoculating) could elicit a reaction that could end in an abortion (miscarriage). The rule therefore is simple. Do not vaccinate your pet when she is pregnant.
But I will let you in on a “secret”. During my 52 years as a veterinarian, it has come to my knowledge that, on rare occasions, pregnant animals have been unwittingly vaccinated. Not once have I experienced a consequential miscarriage. Only when one sees the puppies being born (and a check is made on the date the animal was vaccinated) does one realise that the pet must have been pregnant – perhaps a week or two – when the scheduled inoculation was administered. Of course, no one bothers to tell the vet that the bitch had mated. This behooves us veterinarians to be especially careful when questioning the client prior to the vaccination of the patient.
Advice on miscellaneous treatments during pregnancy
1. Try not to bathe your dog with chemicals (anti-tick/flea preparations, etc.) during pregnancy. Within the same context, you might be well advised to take off the flea and tick collar during pregnancy. If an immediate invasion of ticks and fleas follows, then we may have to introduce other methods to counteract the scourge. While I am on this subject, allow me quickly to mention that when the puppies/kittens are suckling, please do not use any chemicals on the mother dog/cat.
2. If it can be avoided, please do not use antibiotics on the mother dog/cat during pregnancy.
3. Hormones should not routinely be administered during pregnancy unless there is a dire need therefor. And then, only under Veterinary supervision. In my view, a reproductive hormone intervention is generally taboo, and is only to be used as a last resort and for a very specific reason.
4. If it is not absolutely necessary (and it usually is not), do not X-Ray the pet during the first weeks of pregnancy.
