Possible Pin Worms and Apple Cider Vinegar
Answered by: Kerry Hackett
Question from: Jennifer
Posted on: February 27, 2007

My 4 yr old dog has digestion proplems. I started giving him Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for it and it helped him digest his food better and stopped him from throwing up. But now I’ve noticed pin worms in his stool. Are they being expelled due to the ACV? I took him to the vet recently and they didn’t even tell me he had them. I noticed him eating a lot but not gaining weight. I mentioned this to the vet but it wasn’t addressed. Should I continue with the ACV, and if so how long? I usually give it to him once a month. This is the first time I’ve noticed pin worms. I’ve only given it [ACV] to him for three months. This is all new to me so please help me cure my baby.

As far as I’ve ever seen or heard, dogs do not carry pinworms. However, tapeworms can be found in dogs and have been mistaken for pinworms. As for the apple cider vinegar, I have heard of it being used for a myriad of conditions including many forms of parasites, fungal infections, urinary crystals and arthritis, but I cannot comment on whether it is effective or not. Therefore, it is possible that the use of ACV contributed to the expulsion of possible tapeworms. For further information on worms, please see this website (www.richters.com) for postings entitled, "Heartworm and Tapeworm Prevention" and "Cats and Tapeworm"; even though the latter is directed at cats, the information still holds true for a dog. In addition, the information regarding diet found in these postings may be of interest in terms of your dog’s digestive complaints. You may find that once on a good, homemade diet, your dog does not need the ACV to help with his digestion after all.

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