One common problem of dogs is having parasitic worms. These parasites are quite voracious eaters, and will constantly fight (and eventually win) with your dog over the absorption of nutrition in the intestinal tract.
They also multiply quite rapidly, and would eventually overwhelm your dog. Your once perky little playmate will become this quiet, forlorn, and weak little thing that you can barely distinguish from its original self.
Common Types of Parasitic Worms on Dogs
To understand how worms affect your dog and how to eliminate them, you must know the common helminthes (parasitic worms) that infest your dogs.
Round worms
These worms are transmitted on your dog from the mother. They are transmitted during their gestational period in their mother’s womb, through breast milk, or through contaminated feces. If your dog is flea-infested, chances are he would also have an infestation of roundworms. These worms stay in your dog’s intestine and feed over the digested contents. They can grow for as long as 4 inches, and being voracious and proliferative as they are, your dog will manifest the following signs and symptoms:
- Failure to thrive or malnourished
- Dull coat even with the use of special shampoo
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting.
Do note that sometimes, your dog will not show any signs of worm infestation. In severe cases, cysts filled with larvae will be formed because they have migrated outside of your dog’s intestinal tract and into some body parts, particularly muscles. It is important to treat your dog of roundworms for they also infect humans.
Tapeworms
They are called as such for they resemble a flat ribbon, growing as much as 24 inches in length. The segments are just filled with eggs, and the worm propagates whenever the segments break off. What’s curious about tapeworms is that in order to be transmitted, they need to have a different intermediate host like a flea before it hatches.
Your dog will then ingest the host, and the larvae will continue to develop inside your dog’s digestive tract. These tapeworms feed on your dog by sticking itself to your dog’s intestinal wall, thereby sucking your dog’s blood. Tapeworm infection is manifested by:
- Anemia
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Dull coat
Tapeworm is most commonly seen in adult animals in comparison to young, immature ones. The eggs can remain dormant for up to a year if it does not find an intermediate host. Humans can be infected by these worms from salad greens that have been improperly washed, and they can do some damage by forming larval cysts in the lungs, liver, and even the brain.
Whipworm/Hookworms
Compared to the previously stated types of worms, whipworms/hookworms are less common. Another peculiar fact about this type of worm does not infect the dog via fecal-oral route. The worm infects your dog by penetrating the thick soles of his feet, causing some tender, oftentimes painful lesions. Other manifestations include:
- Severe weight loss due to diarrhea
- Blood loss
- Dehydration
- And in puppies:
- Blood tinged diarrhea
- Anemia
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
Your dog may or may not manifest these signs and symptoms in any type of intestinal parasitic infection. In heavy infestations, they show other symptoms such as:
- Distended, pot-bellied stomach
- Pneumonia
- “Scooting” – dogs scratching their irritated anus by sitting on the ground and dragging himself.
In other cases, you may even notice flat, whitish, translucent segments around the size of a rice grain on your dog’s bedding or stool. It is important to note that worms at the egg and larvae stage manifest no symptoms. When the infestation is already between moderate to severe, your dog will start having problems and also begin showing the different signs and symptoms stated.
Prevention and Cure
There is no definite way to prevent your dog from getting worms. But you can safely cure your dog using several medications recommended by your vet. Remember that these stated medications are only bought with the prescription of your vet.
1) Drontal Plus (Praziquantel) – this is a broad-spectrum medication that fights common dog worms such as roundworm, tapeworm, and hookworm but are safe for puppies as young as 3 weeks, and roughly 2lbs. It is important to take this drug according to the vet’s order, and you must raise some questions if you are confused over the treatment regimen. The dose can be given with food, and there is no need for a period of fasting when giving the medication.
You must note that Drontal Plus has some side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. If you notice some other unusual manifestations from the ones stated above, contact your veterinarian immediately.
2) Iterceptor Flavor Tabs: these tablets are given once a month. Its anti-helminthic property eliminates heartworm larvae and adult hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm. It can be given to dogs as young as 4 weeks. Side effects include drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, seizures, and weakness.
These parasites can cause some major health problems in dogs, and can even lead to death if left untreated. Make sure that you always bring your dog to the vet regularly so you can know immediately when your dog has intestinal parasites.
If you are buying a puppy, make sure that the breeder is regularly deworming the puppy starting at 2 weeks of life. This way, you will be sure that your puppy will not have that much problems when it comes to worms. You also must maintain your dog’s health by continuing with the deworming regimen.
