Worming
Dogs are victims of several internal parasites frequently referred to as worms. The most common are the roundworms that infest most puppies at some time in their young lives and tapeworms that can be a big problem when flea infestations are high.
Evidence of roundworms and tapeworms can be seen without the aid of a microscope but other worms are not so easily diagnosed. Occasionally adult whipworms can be seen in the stool when the infestation has already caused some debilitation or weight loss in the dog.
Early diagnosis of the presence and species of intestinal parasite is important as not all worms respond to the same treatment .
If your dog has worms he may experience weight loss, blood in his stools, dry hair and vomiting. If you think your dog has worms you should take him to your vet as soon as possible.
While there are over-the-counter medications available these can be dangerous to your dog if they are not given in the correct dosage. You should also know that not all canine worms can be killed with over-the-counter medication.
Ignoring possible symptoms and necessary treatments can lead to serious illnesses and sometimes even the death of your dog.
It is extremely important to pick up after your dog after each elimination as roundworm eggs and tapeworm larvae will be discharged in your pets faeces and may lead to a possible transmission of a worm infection to both you and your children.
It is equally important to pick up after your dog whilst out walking and in parks and the countryside to prevent the possibility of infection to members of the public and other dogs and wildlife.
Can Intestinal Parasites be Prevented in Dogs?
There are a number of steps that can be taken to help protect a pet from becoming infected with intestinal parasites.
- Use effective flea control.
- Promptly clean all up all faeces from gardens.
- Puppies should be routinely wormed against parasites such as roundworms and hookworms when they are as young as 2 weeks old.
- Many of the monthly heartworm preventive medications can help prevent intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms.
The types of parasites prevented will depend on the product used.