When it came time for their interstate transport, I was required to take them to a 100% allopathic veterinarian for their Veterinary Certificates of Inspection (VCIs). The receiving states wanted confirmation that the puppies were free of New World Screwworm: a parasite not found anywhere near us, but Texas remains under quarantine for certain states, so the inspection was mandatory.
I've also recently started giving mom and babies homeopathic nosodes made from the individual parasites — coccidia and giardia specifically, from our Homeopathic Nosode Kit. That's a different piece of the puzzle than the hookworm supports above, but it seems to be keeping those populations at an absolute minimum too, usually under five eggs per fecal slide, which makes me very happy.
But the vet’s fecal exam showed seventeen hookworm eggs on a full-litter slide, and she required that all puppies be wormed twice with Panacur before departure. I complied, reluctantly, to meet transport regulations. For most of the puppies, this routine worked to bring back clean fecal results. But for a couple of them, the hookworm population went down slowly, as you normally see with natural immunity. This caused the vets to want more doses of Panacur given, and one ended up with gut dysbiosis I traced back to the chemical wormer. The gut terrain shifted into an overgrowth of clostridium, which caused rectal bleeding. This took time and dietary changes to shift back.
Understanding Parasite Balance and Life Cycles
- Roundworms can pass through the placenta or milk, so mild loads in young puppies are common and often self-resolving.
- Hookworms can penetrate skin, migrate through tissues, and also pass through milk. They thrive in warm, moist climates: exactly like ours in the southern U.S.
- Whipworms infect primarily through ingestion of mature eggs in soil, usually affecting older dogs.
- Tapeworms require an intermediate host such as fleas or prey animals.
- When the terrain is strong, healthy gut flora, robust immunity, low inflammation, these parasites rarely cause symptoms. When the terrain is weakened, stress, poor diet, chemical exposure, loads can rise.
Conventional Veterinary Recommendations for Pregnant Dams
- Routine deworming during pregnancy, often starting around day 40
- Continuation through lactation
- Use of pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole (Panacur), or ivermectin-based preventatives
- Prophylactic treatment regardless of fecal results
However, widespread use of pyrantel pamoate has contributed to parasite resistance, especially in hookworms. As a result, Panacur is now the more effective allopathic option when chemical worming is unavoidable.
One caution worth knowing: the FDA has been tracking reports of bone marrow hypoplasia and pancytopenia (a serious blood-cell deficiency) in dogs given fenbendazole for longer than its labeled three-day course. As of the agency's most recent communication, twelve cases had been confirmed, all tied to extra-label use — treatment courses of five to fourteen days rather than three. At the labeled duration, this specific risk hasn’t been documented in the same way; the concern the FDA raised is specifically about extended or repeated courses.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Dear Veterinarian Letter Regarding Adverse Events Associated with Extra-Label Use of Fenbendazole in Dogs,” accessed July 22, 2026,
Holistically Oriented Veterinary Recommendations
Holistically minded veterinarians take almost the opposite approach.
Instead of routine chemical deworming, they focus on strengthening the terrain so parasites cannot thrive. Their recommendations typically include:
- Raw, species-appropriate diets to maintain gut integrity
- Colostrum and probiotics for immune modulation
- Herbal and homeopathic supports during pregnancy
- Fecal monitoring rather than automatic deworming
- Non-toxic environmental hygiene
- Avoidance of monthly preventatives that suppress immunity
The philosophy is simple: a healthy dam produces parasite-resistant puppies. Chemical intervention is reserved for symptomatic cases, not routine prevention.
Natural Remedies Some Holistic Pet Parents and Breeders Use
These aren’t all interchangeable. Some are broad-spectrum, and a couple are noted specifically for hookworm in the sources below. Dosing is by body weight; check with a holistic vet before combining several at once. Note which ones are safe during pregnancy and nursing.
Remedy | Dosing | Primary Targets |
Notes |
| Raw pumpkin seeds, ground | ¼ tsp per 10 lbs body weight, 1–2x daily | General, not species-specific; also commonly used for tapeworm | Safe during pregnancy and lactation |
| Black seed (black cumin) | ¼ tsp per 10 lbs daily (halve if using oil) | Broad-spectrum; specifically noted for hookworm: adults, larvae, and eggs | Safe during pregnancy and lactation |
| *Food-grade diatomaceous earth | 1 tsp/day (small dogs) up to 1 Tbsp/day (55+ lbs); 12 days on, 1 week off | General, gut pH, not species-specific | Avoid inhaling dust when mixing |
| *Apple cider vinegar | ¼–1 tsp daily in food or water | General, gut pH, not species-specific | — |
| *Olive leaf extract (12%+ oleuropein) | 300 mg small / 500 mg medium / up to 1,000 mg large, 2x daily, ~8 weeks | Noted specifically for hookworm in source material | Give with food |
| *Chamomile (glycerin tincture) | 0.25–0.50 ml per 20 lbs, 2x daily | Roundworms and whipworms specifically | Slower-acting than other options |
* Not recommended during pregnancy or nursing
Comparison: Conventional vs. Naturally Oriented Veterinary Approaches
Conventional Veterinary Approach |
Naturally Oriented Veterinary Approach |
| Routine deworming of pregnant dams |
No routine deworming unless symptoms appear |
| Monthly preventatives for adults | Terrain-first philosophy: strengthen immunity and gut health |
| Prophylactic treatment regardless of fecal counts | Raw feeding as foundational prevention |
| Focus on parasite eradication | Use of herbs, homeopathy, and nutritional supports |
| Reliance on pyrantel, fenbendazole, and ivermectin | Fecal monitoring with emphasis on counts, not just positive/negative |
| Parasite presence = automatic treatment | Parasite presence = evaluate symptoms, not panic |
When Parasites Persist or Become Chronic
In these cases, gentle supports alone may not be enough. The dog may require constitutional homeopathic treatment from a qualified homeopath. This addresses the underlying susceptibility rather than the parasite itself, restoring vitality from within.
Practical Guidance for Breeders
- Learn to read your own fecal slides; it’s empowering and educational.
- Teach buyers to ask for quantitative results, not just “positive” or “negative.”
- Remind them that a few eggs do not equal disease.
- Encourage observation of symptoms before reacting.
- Support the terrain with nutrition, herbs, and homeopathy. Use chemical wormers only when necessary and rebuild the terrain afterward.
- Show buyers the microscope slide so they understand what a low load looks like and don’t feel pressured into unnecessary chemicals.
Visual Reference: Parasite Egg Identification Chart
For a size-verified, to-scale reference covering all ten of these parasites—shape, key shell features, and confirmed measurements for each—download our free companion piece.
Closing Thoughts
When breeders understand the natural life cycle of parasites and the power of nutrition, they can prevent heavy loads without chemicals. The microscope becomes a teaching tool, not a weapon of fear.
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0 Comments
Flo Swick
How can I get a copy of the natural deworming chart you put in your article
Jeff
Or another option: Take a screenshot of the table and print it, or paste it into a document and print it.
Jeff
Flo, thanks for your question! I'm assuming you are referring to the table under the heading "Natural Remedies Some Holistic Pet Parents and Breeders Use". You can just print the article, or you can copy the table and paste it into any software that supports tables (Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are two examples) and print it from there.
