Intestinal worms are a condition that pet owners need to be careful about; it is an ongoing process that involves cleanliness, hygiene, regular fecal exams, and of course having a pet insurance policy that covers the conditions.
Infections can happen when dogs ingest uncooked meat that contains parasites or by eating a small animal such as a fly that is already a host to the parasites. Toilet hygiene becomes very important and therefore you should always clean up doggy poop and dispose it. Testing for these worms involves microscopic stool tests that the vet carries out to confirm presence. Regular testing is important because the symptoms usually manifest themselves only at an advanced stage.
A loss in appetite, loss of weight, and blood in stool are signs that the dog may be infected with parasitic worms.
Here are the five common worms that infect dogs –
Tapeworms – These long and segmented worms are commonly found parasites in the intestines of dogs. You can actually see the dried segments being passed with stools. If you notice the dog suffering from bouts of vomiting, showing disinclination to food, and signs of abdominal pain then these symptoms could indicate tapeworms. Tapeworms can grow up to more than 20 inches in length. These parasites are transmitted through fleas.
Whipworm – These intestinal infestations are found predominantly in the large intestine where they stay attached to the walls of the intestines and suck blood. The tricky thing with these worms is that they can very quickly form a mass that will obstruct the passage in the large intestine causing the dog to suffer from bloody stools, intestinal bleeding, dehydration, weight loss, and anemia. Treatment can consist of several rounds of medication before the intestinal tract is fully cleansed of these worms.
Heartworms – These are considered to be the most dangerous parasitic infection because these can lead to fatalities from congestive heart failure. Heartworms enter a dog’s system through infected mosquitoes that deposit the larvae on to the skin of dogs. These larvae burrow their way through the skin and travel to the heart via a blood vessel. Heartworms can grow up to twelve inches in length. Symptoms take years to develop. Treatment is expensive and risky; the best course of action is to administer preventive medicine regularly.
Roundworm – These are commonly found worms that are found in the canine intestinal tract. A pregnant female can pass the worms to unborn puppies; these can also be transmitted through the mother’s milk. Inside the body, the roundworm can remain dormant for years. The eggs attain the larval stage in the lungs and then travel to the intestines where they mature. These worms can reach up to seven inches in length. Symptoms of roundworm parasitic infestation include vomiting and diarrhea. Medication can help clear the intestines of these worms.
Common types of worm infestations in dogs
Dogs are susceptible to worm infestations that can severely affect the quality of their life, cause you to lose money on treatment, and in some cases fatalities occur. Fleas and ticks are the most common transfer agents for worm eggs and larva into the dog’s body. Apart from these, soiled earth and unclean food ingested by your pet dog can give worms an entry to inside the body.
Training the dog to maintain good toilet hygiene is important; the spot in the backyard or wherever else the dog defecates should be cleaned everyday. When taking pet insurance for your pet dog, see that the insurance package covers preventive and treatment costs for the different types of worms that can infest a dog.
Here are the main types of worms that canines are susceptible to –
Heartworms – Amongst the most deadly of parasitic infestations, heartworms are very difficult to treat but fortunately preventive medication is easy to give. Mosquitoes carry heartworms. The larvae are deposited on to the skin of the animal by infected mosquitoes; from here the larvae travel to the heart where they can eventually attain a length of up to twelve inches. Symptoms are usually detected late; these include bloody stools, dehydration, bleeding in the intestines, etc.
Tapeworms – These are common intestinal infestations; in fact as a pet parent you may have actually seen dried rice grain like pieces in dog poop. These are broken off tapeworm segments that get discarded. Fleas transmit tapeworms. If left untreated, these worms can attain a length of up to twenty inches. Symptoms of tapeworm infestation include vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, etc.
Whipworms – As the name suggests, these worms are whip-shaped and found mainly in the large intestine where they can form an agglomeration which can block the intestine. These worms suck blood and can result in symptoms like blood in stools, weight loss, anemia, etc. The vet may have to carry out treatment in several rounds before the worm infestation is removed totally from the dog’s system.
Roundworms – Roundworms can enter a dog’s system even before it is born if the mother is a carrier. Nursing dogs can pass roundworms to their pups. Eating contaminated food can lead to this infestation as well. Roundworms can remain inactive for years, after this they achieve larval stage in the lungs and then end up in the intestine where they can grow up to seven inches in length. If your dog experiences bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, take it to the vet for a checkup. A course of medication will help remove the roundworms from the animal’s body.
