Canine worms

Dogs maybe infected with several internal parasites. They are commonly referred to as canine worms. The most common are the roundworms which usually infest puppies. Tapeworms can infest canines if they have a problem with fleas.

Roundworm and tapeworm can be seen with the naked eye. However other types of worms are not easily diagnosed.

Types of canine worms:

There are three common types of worms that can infect dogs:

*Roundworms:

Female roundworm produces thousands of eggs each day which are found in the soil. Puppies ingest these eggs when they play in this contaminated soil. The eggs are then hatched in the pup’s intestines. The larva enters the bloodstream into the puppy’s lungs. They can also crawl up to the windpipe which will cause the puppy to gag or cough. Once the larva has been swallowed, they live in the puppy’s intestine and mature as adult roundworms.

Symptoms:

Common symptoms of a roundworm infestation are a pot belly and poor growth. Severe infestation can also cause intestinal blockage which could prove fatal.

Roundworms normally do not infest adult canines. However, the larvae can encyst in body tissues of adult bitches and get activated during the last stages of pregnancy to infest puppies. The pup can also be infested by the mother’s milk.

Treatment:

There are over-the-counter dewormers available for roundworms. But it is advised to visit the veterinarian who can provide with medication to treat intestinal parasites.

*Tapeworms:

Tapeworms are normally transmitted by fleas. A canine highly infested by fleas is susceptible to get tapeworms. They can also be transmitted if they hunt and eat animals that are infected with tapeworms or by fleas which has been on wildlife.

Symptoms:

If the dog has tapeworms, it sheds eggs or segments of tapeworms in its stool. These segments are flat and move about shortly after excretion. They look like rice grains and can be stuck to the hairs around the dog’s anus.

Treatment:

Tapeworms cannot be killed by over-the-counter medications. Therefore a visit to the veterinarian is a must to treat tapeworms.

*Hookworms:

These are intestinal parasites that infest the dog through contaminated soil that is infested with hookworm eggs. They are small, thin worms that stick to the walls of the intestine and suck blood. Severe infestation of hookworms can be fatal to young puppies.

Symptoms:

Dogs infested with hookworms will show symptoms such as weight loss, anemia and diarrhea.

Treatment:

Hookworms need a veterinarian’s attention. It is diagnosed by examining feces of eggs under the microscope.

Prevention:

To prevent human infestation or re-infestation to the dog, remove dog feces from back yards routinely and have the dog's feces checked frequently in persistent cases.

It is advisable to take the dog to a veterinarian in case of canine worm infestation to avoid excess dosage of dewormers which are poisonous and can make the dog sick.