Investigation of the Therapeutic Effectiveness of Thyme Extract in Puppies with Natural Ascariasis

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of thyme extract in puppies naturally infected with ascarids. Methodology: The study consisted of 20 puppies of different sexes (males and females), 2-4 months old, naturally infected with ascarid. The experimental units were given an oral 20% concentration of thyme extract for 3 days, and faecal oocyst counts were conducted on the 0th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th days starting from the day the treatment was started (day 0). Also, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT values in the blood were monitored on the 0th and 3rd days, together with daily clinical examination, to monitor possible toxic effects. Results: While the number of faecal egg counts in 2 puppies (10%) varied considerably, egg shedding in 8 (40%) of the treated puppies was zero. It was observed that in 10 of the puppies (60%), egg shedding was not completely zero. However, the oocyst counts decreased by 25% to 98.3%. It was also observed that the values of the measured blood biochemical values were within reference range and the puppies did no not show any clinical sign of toxicity during treatment. Conclusion and Recommendation: It was concluded that the thyme extract did not have any toxic effect in the puppies at the concentration studied, and it could be effective in the treatment of ascariasis.