Dogs & Puppies Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Worms in Dogs’

Worms in dogs, although normally not serious, are one of those little problems that seem to come back a lot, particularly for puppies. This is because of how their life cycle works. Because worms in dogs can cause health problems, to humans as well as dogs in some cases, it is important that as dog owners we intervene and try to break the worms in dogs cycle and keep it broken.

The roundworm is the most common type of dog worm we see in the UK because most puppies are born infected. In puppies this infestation causes swollen bellies and may delay growth whilst in humans it may rarely cause blindness.

Like other types of worms in dogs, the cycle can be broken with a little understanding. The cycle begins when a female puppy is infected from her own mother, either in the womb or as a pup through the mother’s milk. Inside the infected puppy, some worm larvae will migrate via the bloodstream to the muscles where they will lie dormant in indestructible cysts. In the event of pregnancy in later life, the larvae will be reactivated and will move through the blood to infect the puppies.

Not all the larvae in the young puppy will form the cysts previously mentioned. Rather, some will stay in the intestine and become adults. Once mature, after feeding on the partly digested food in the intestine, the adult worm releases eggs which are passed from the dog with the faeces. In the environment, the eggs pose an infection risk to other dogs and even humans. For people it is the touching of contaminated soil rather than the handling of puppies which poses an infection risk.

There you have the cycle: to break it adult dogs muct be treted every three months. As they are so prone to worm infection, puppies should be treated every two weeks from the ages of two to twelve weeks and once a month thereafter until they reach six months. Dog owners must take responsibility for picking up after their dog and making sure their family practices good hand hygiene in order to reduce the risk of worms in dogs for other dogs and other people.

The most frequently seen type of worms in dogs in the UK is the roundworm. This is due to the lifecycle which is virtually impossible to break. Indeed, the lifecycle more or less guarantees that puppies will either be born with an infestation of pick one up very soon after birth. Treatment for this type of worms in dogs cannot be neglected because it is so prevalent and potentially harmful to humans.

Roundworms are either transmitted to puppies in the womb before birth or via their mother’s milk soon afterwards. Also, dogs can pick up this sort of worms from contaminated faeces. The larvae of this type of worms in dogs have the ability to migrate through the body’s internal organs, are coughed up and swallowed, allowing them access to the digestive system which becomes their home as they mature. Adult worms will then eat the semi digested food available to them in the intestine before releasing eggs to be passed out with the host’s faeces. Other larvae migrate into various tissues of the body where they lie dormant but still viable. Later, when the dog becomes pregnant they will become active and infect her puppies. Worming treatments will not kill larvae. This makes it very hard indeed to stop round worms in dogs.

Puppies suffer the worst symptoms of this infestation: vomiting and diarrhoea are common, as is lethargy and stunted growth. Puppies will very often have a swollen stomach. In serious cases roundworms will kill a puppy by entirely blocking its intestine.

There is no available treatment which can kill worm larvae and so puppies need frequent treatment to remove any infection. Also, adult dogs can easily pick up infestations because worm eggs can remain viable for a long time.

What is really concerning about this type of worms in dogs is its potential to harm human health as well. In humans, worm larvae are known to cause blindness as well as damaging the internal organs. It is children who are most at risk of picking up worm eggs from contaminated soil or sand because of their propensity to put dirty fingers in their mouth.

Worms in dogs are a common problem in the UK. They cause distress and ill health in our dogs and they can re-infest our pets at any time. All over the world there are many types of worms in dogs and in the UK we are fortunate enough to have to deal primarily with only two. They are the roundworm and the tapeworm.

Roundworms are most problematic worms in dogs because they are passed from animal to animal and most puppies are even born with an infestation. Roundworms look rather like short lengths of spaghetti. Fully mature worms live in the dog’s intestines and feed off its contents. This means that the partially digested food is eaten by the worms, forcing your dog to share its dinner. The amount of worms present depends on whether the infestation is very severe or not, but it is possible that dozens of worms could be present at any one time. Of course, it follows that a dogs which is being forced to share its food with large numbers of parasites will become malnourished. Severe infestations can lead to loss of energy and a dull coat. Diarrhoea and vomiting might also be caused. In puppies, roundworms may cause a distended abdomen and delayed growth. Puppies which are not treated for their roundworm infestations can actually die from intestinal blockage. However, do remember that worms in dogs do not always cause the appearance of symptoms. Regular worming treatment should still be used.

In adult dogs, the larvae of the worms move around the body until they settle in cysts in the muscles. Even worming treatment cannot eliminate the larvae when it has formed a cyst in a muscle. The larvae has the ability to lie dormant in the adult dog’s body until a time of stress reactivates them. They normally become active during pregnancy and infest unborn puppies by migrating to the womb. This is why it is so important that all puppies are wormed.

Worms in dogs are a problem that can actually affect humans as well. Children are especially at risk because they are more likely to come into contact with worm eggs in soil whilst playing. The worm larvae can migrate though the human body and can lead to permanent damage to the eye sight if they settle at the back of the retina. Regular treatment for worms in dogs is therefore vital to protect the health of the entire family.

Many can be easily confused when they first broach the subject of worms in dogs. Do a bit of research can you can have somewhat of an information overload. Some of this information will be important, some of it will not.

Most don’t have time to do thorough worms in dogs research. There is enough to worry about with the dog, without becoming an expert in its healthcare.If this is the case, then here are the three most important things that you should know about worms in dogs.

1. Puppies

Puppies are at particular risk to worms in dogs. Their immune systems have not developed to the same strength as fully grown dogs. It is often the case that they are born with worms. The worms will have been passed on by the mother.

As soon as a puppy is born, they should be dewormed by a vet. Any worms the pup has will be rid here. Heed this advice closely, as a serious infection can be fatal to a puppy.

2. Deworming

Anually, you should have your dog professionally dewormed. Set a reminder in your calendar so that you do not forget to take your dog to the vets.

Have your dog dewormed regularly, regardless of whether they show any symptoms. The reason for this is that often a dog can have a worm infection without displaying symptoms. This is the best way to fight the battle against worms in dogs.

3. Children

Worms in dogs can be dangerous to humans, especially children. Again, the reason for this is that children have weaker immune systems than adults. Children should be kept away from dog fesces and forced to wash their hands at regular intervals. If you do not do this then you risk your child’s health.  

Responsible dog owners should understand the consequences of worms in dogs and the potential harm they can cause to people too. Worms in dogs are internal parasites which can lead to ill health in dogs as well as humans.

Although worms in dogs do cause damage to their health, there are often no symptoms until the damage is already being done. Worms in dogs are undoubtedly hard to spot but look out for vomiting and diarrhea as well as general loss of condition. Roundworms and tapeworms are the two types of worms in dogs.

Roundworms

Pale white or beige in color, roundworms look as though they are coiled like a spring and may grow up to 100mm long. You may be able to see them in your pet’s feces or vomit. The way in which dogs become infected with roundworms is by eating their larvae, allowing adult worms to develop inside the body. Later, new eggs are passed through the dog in his feces, restarting the chain again. The most common form of roundworm, Toxocara Canis, sadly affects the health of people, and notably children. When children ingest eggs as a result of contact with contaminated soil, larvae can grow in their bodies and migrate around the body. If they reach the eyes, the larvae can potentially damage the eyesight. This is one of the main reasons why dog owners should always pick up after their pet.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms look like flat segments filled with moving eggs which look a lot like grains of rice and you might be able to see them in the dog’s feces or around his anus. Dogs become infected with tapeworms by swallowing fleas carrying their larvae whilst grooming. Once inside the dog, the adult worm can grow up to 5 meters in length.

With worms in dogs, as with many conditions, it is true that prevention is better than cure. It is therefore important to ensure your dog is wormed every three months. Young puppies require worming even more regularly than that. You can buy effective worming medication from both pet shops and the vet’s surgery: your vet will be able to advise you which is best.