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Five types of parasites
or more commonly known as worms are problematic as they infect
dogs. There are heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and
whipworms. The type of worm that will infect canines depends on
the area you live. Here is why these worms are so bad for your
dog.RoundwormsRoundworms usually spread
during pregnancy or in feces or nursing and are capable of
causing serious problems in dogs. If puppies get infected by
roundworms, it can be fatal. As roundworms eat the food of your
canine, it can cause the following symptoms:
-
Belly
pain
-
Diarrhea
-
Dull
coat
-
Potbelly
-
Vomiting
-
Weakness
-
Weight
loss
HookwormsHookworms usually live in
the canine’s small intestine and suck the host’s blood. Adult
canines get hookworms when they clean themselves or through its
skin. These worms pass on to the puppies if their mother is
infected. Canines that have hookworms exhibit the following
symptoms:
-
Anemia
-
Coughing
-
Diarrhea
-
Inflammation of small
intestine
-
Lining of ears, lips,
and nostril become pale
-
Poor
appetite
If canines don’t receive
treatment for hookworms on time, it can be
fatal.HeartwormsHeartworms infect canines
when mosquitos bite them. Hookworms can grow up to 14 inches and
live in the arteries that carry blood to the lungs and the heart
of the canine. When heartworms infect canines, they cause the
following symptoms:
-
Allergic
reaction
-
Bulging
chest
-
Difficult or rapid
breathing
-
Dry and soft
cough
-
Nosebleed
-
Lethargy
-
Seizures
-
Weight
loss
If the canines don’t
receive treatment for heartworms, they will attack the heart and
block the flow of blood. As a result of this, the canines will
collapse, suffer from shock and their red blood cells get
destroyed. Within a few days, the infection will prove
fatal.WhipwormsThe area where large and
small intestines meet is where you will find whipworms. They feed
on their hosts by sucking their blood. Canines pick them up by
grooming or from contaminated soil. Whipworms can cause the
following symptoms in canines:
-
Anemia
-
Bloody
diarrhea
-
Dehydration
-
Large bowel
inflammation
-
Weight
loss
Whipworms cause serious
problems when there is a large number of
them.TapewormsWhen canines swallow
fleas or lick themselves, they can get infected by tapeworms.
Tapeworms attach to the intestine and absorb the nutrients of the
canines. Tapeworms are made up of tiny segments that are as big
as a grain of rice. There are no signs of infection when
tapeworms infect canines. However, on rare occasions, the
following symptoms can be observed:
-
Diarrhea
-
Distended
abdomen
-
Irritability
-
Lethargy
-
Poor skin or
coat
-
Weight
loss
Treatment The type of treatment
given by the vet depends on the worm infecting the canine.
Fenbendazole and Pyrantel pamoate is used to treat hookworms and
roundworms. To treat tapeworms, the vet will give Epsiprante and
Praziquantel. For whipworms, the canine will receive Febantel and
Fenbendazole. If the canine has tapeworms, Epsiprantel,
Fenbendazole, and Praziquantel are
effective. Always consult the vet
before giving any medications to your canine. If you have any
queries, feel free to leave a comment below.
What to
Do if There Are Worms in Your Dog's
Poop
When parasitic worms get inside your pet’s digestive tract, they
cause suffering and severe medical problems. One of the best ways
to check whether your dog is infested is to regularly check for
worms in your dog’s poop — that’s right, as unpleasant as it may
sound you should be looking for worms and eggs in your dog’s
feces. If you spot them, contact your vet to start treatment as
soon as possible. Here’s what to look for:
These feed on your dog’s blood, causing malabsorption,
dehydration, diarrhea, and anemia. Dogs usually
acquire hookworms and other parasites by eating
feces containing the worms. However, hookworms can also
burrow into your dog’s skin, entering at the paw pads from
contaminated soil.
A dog with hookworms may have loose, dark, or bloody stool, and
suffer from weight loss and dehydration. At those signs, your vet
will need to check your dog’s stool. If hookworms are found, you
can treat your pet with Drontal , Panacur C for dogs,
or another deworming medication. If the infestation is very
serious, your dog may need iron therapy and a blood transfusion.
While your dog’s shedding the hookworms, you should be careful to
clean up all feces immediately to ensure that your pet doesn’t
get reinfected.
Roundworms can infect an adult dog that’s ingested the
microscopic eggs while grooming (licking off contaminated dirt),
by eating an infected rodent, or via coprophagia (the
medical term for eating feces).
It can take several months for symptoms such as a bloated
belly, weight loss or
changes to your dog’s coat to appear. The most obvious sign will
be bouts of diarrhea that contain
worms up to several inches long. You’ll need to administer
several rounds of deworming medication to kill
worms in various stages. Be sure to choose a medication that
targets roundworms.
Theses string-like parasites cause severe irritation to the
intestines and colon. As with other pathogenic worms, keeping
your dog away from contaminated soil and poop is the best way to
prevent infestation. Because whipworms can survive in their egg
stage for up to five years, you should clean up after your pet
right away so eggs that pass in dog poop won’t contaminate the
area.
Symptoms of whipworm are very similar to those from other
parasitic worms. While dogs pass whipworm eggs in their stool,
these are microscopic so a vet needs to examine the feces to make
a diagnosis. Treatment includes typical deworming
medication.
Fleas carry tapeworm eggs. If your dog eats one of these fleas,
the tapeworm eggs will be ingested. They then hatch and attach
themselves to your dog’s intestinal tract. If you notice the
typical symptoms of a parasitic infestation (diarrhea, weight
loss), check your dog’s feces for wiggling pieces of a tapeworm
or its eggs, which resemble grains of white rice. You should also
check your dog’s rectum in case pieces of the tapeworm have stuck
to the fur.
Iverhart Max or
another deworming mediation will help to dissolve the tapeworm or
paralyze it so it can be excreted. Make sure to pick a dewormer
that works on all types of intestinal worms like Panacur C dog
dewormer to provide complete protection.
More on Parasites
Parasites and Worms in Dogs
and Cats
How Testing for Heartworm
Changes With Life Cycles
Can People Get Heartworms?
This information is for informational
purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the
professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your
veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been
verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.