Worms and deworming in dogs and puppies

Your dog looks and acts like he's in great shape. He couldn't possibly have worms, right? Wrong! Just about all puppies are infected with intestinal parasites, passed on through the placenta or from their mother's milk. Adult dogs can get worms from eating feces or dirt that contains parasite eggs. 

Kinds of dog worms

Roundworms

There are two types of Roundworms and they are the most common Worm infestation in dogs – and puppies in particular. The symptoms of Roundworms include: pot-belly appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat and weight loss. You may even see this type of Worm in your dogs vomit or feces. They look like pieces of spaghetti up to 6 inches long or longer. All puppies should be regularly wormed from two weeks of age (and all adult dogs wormed every year) to guard against roundworms. Puppies should continue to be dewormed every 3 weeks for the best results.   This type of Worm is usually treated with oral medication, with follow-up fecal screenings. This is one of the types of Worms that can be transferred to humans, but good hygiene will usually eliminate this threat.  If you have a puppy, make sure to pick up his feces and make sure you encourage your children to wash their hands after playing with the new puppy.  Routine deworming of the new puppy and good hygiene are the best for preventing any problems with you and your family. 

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are also very common; they are transmitted by fleas. Common Tapeworm symptoms include abdominal pain, nervousness, severe itching around the anus, vomiting and weight loss. You may or may not notice any symptoms in your dog, but you may notice this worm in your dogs feces or in the hair around your dog's anus. The broken sections, which may still be moving, will give the dog's stool a rice-like appearance.  If you see these, tell your veterinarian so your dog can be properly dewormed.  Tapeworms must usually be treated with a prescription oral or injection dewormer medication. Over-the-counter dewormer medication is usually not strong enough to clear this kind of Worm infestation.

Whipworms

Whipworms can only be seen under a microscope. Symptoms of a Whipworm infestation include anemia, weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool and lack of energy. Puppies kept in unclean environments and dogs who live in warmer climates are most susceptible. If the eggs are shed on grass by an infected animal, they can remain infectious for more than a year, even in cold climates!  Whipworms can be difficult to get rid of in the environment; make sure you routinely scoop up your yard to prevent the eggs from getting established in the soil. These Worms can be difficult to treat with over-the-counter medication, but there are very effective prescription treatments. In order to treat whipworms, your dog will need to receive medication for 3 consecutive days and have it repeated every 3 weeks until whipworm eggs are no longer able to be detected in the feces.  This is because only adult whipworms are killed with deworming medications and it takes approximately 3 weeks for the parasites to develop into adults. 

Hookworms

Bloodsucking hookworms are also a threat to your dog. Hookworms can not be seen with the naked eye, so they are usually diagnosed by your Vet with a test. The symptoms of Hookworms include: bloody stool, anemia, weight loss, dull haircoat, pale gums, diarrhea, low energy level, and a pot-bellied appearance. Good hygiene is essential when these parasites are around. If an infected dog must lie on damp, dirty bedding, the larva can cause skin irritation. Routine deworming that starts at 2 weeks of age and continues every 2-3 weeks as your puppy is growing is effective at killing hookworms. This parasite is usually treated with oral medication, follow-up fecal screenings, and in the worst case, a blood transfusion. This is the other type of Worm that can be transmitted to humans. Good hygiene and cleaning up after your infected dog can prevent a human infection.

Heartworms

Although easily preventable, untreated Heartworm infections are potentially fatal. The symptoms usually don’t show until the last stage of the disease, and include pot-belly, coughing, lack of energy and dull coat. Because symptoms do not appear until its too late, it is best to use a over-the-counter preventative medication to stop these worms before they endanger your pet's health.

Treatment of parasites and multiple deworming

The key to treatment of parasites is correct diagnosis since the medication must be effective against the parasite your pet has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. And whipworm is unusually resistant to many drugs. Your veterinarian can best determine the culprit and prescribe the appropriate medication. Diagnosis may require microscopic examination, so you should take a fresh fecal sample to your veterinarian. Some parasites may require multiple dewormings. And never assume your dog doesn't have worms just because you don't see them in his stool.

To avoid reinfection, good hygiene is essential. Make sure your dog is free of fleas. Always clean up after your dog when he defecates. As mentioned earlier, some worms can be passed from animals to humans. About 10,000 children annually, for example, are infected with roundworms. You and your family can avoid problems by washing your hands before and after handling your dog. Never handle feces directly, wear gloves to protect yourself.