Dogworms, what ever pet owner ought to know about them
Dogworms–What>There are five kinds of dogworms your k9 can get: heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms. As a dog owner, you’ll want educated yourself so that you’ll be able to detect the warning signs–early.
Early detection is vital because each type of dogworm will call for a form of medical care. Sometimes the signs of a dogworm infestation can be difficult to detect. Other times the signs (like diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss) are much simpler to detect. With that in mind, it’s wise to have your dog tested regularly.
Important Note: Some kinds of dogworms can be transmitted to humans. To promote good hygiene, it is vital for pet owners to wash their hands and clothes regularly after playing outside with their dog-especially before mealtimes.
5 Familiar Dogworms -Which Do You Want to Overcome?
>>Roundworms
There are 2 kinds of roundworms: Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine. They are one of the most prevalent kinds of dogworms. An infestation of round worms, mostly found in puppies, brings about a pot-bellied appearance.
Causes: Sometimes puppies can become infected before birth, through their mother’s uterus or through her milk. Puppies can also contract roundworms by ingesting another infected animal or infected soil.
Roundworm eggs reside in soil. And when a puppy ingests the infected soil, the roundworm eggs will hatch in his intestines. Those worms can in turn create more worms. Early Detection: Roundworm Symptoms include pot-bellied appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat and weight loss. Look for warning signs of Roundworms in your dog’s feces or vomit. They have a spaghetti-like outline and can grow to nearly 7 inches in length.
Prevention & Treatment: Puppies between 2 & 12 weeks old should be dewormed every 2 weeks. Puppies between 12 weeks and six months old should be dewormed once a month. Puppies older than six months of age are less prone to roundworms. Even so, continue to have your dog looked at at least yearly (or more often if he’s considered “high risk”).
>> Whipworms
Dogs contract whipworms by ingesting their eggs. Those eggs live in the dog’s colon and are not observable to the naked eye. Once infected, the worms fix themselves to the puppy’s intestinal walls and feed off them, causing intestinal bleeding.
Common symptoms may include anemia, weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea (with blood or mucus in the stool) and lack of energy.
Prevention & Treatment: You can treat your dog’s whipworms effectively with fenbendazole (whose brand names are Panacur or Safe-Guard). You can administer the medical care for 3-5 consecutive days for most parasites. Then, consult with your veterinarian to see if a second round of treatment is recommended.
