SMOKIN HEMI
12-23-2007, 04:28 PM
Worms are an ugly fact of pet ownership; vigilance and proper treatment can minimize or (in some cases) prevent infestations. Daily removal of feces from your dog's exercise area is of key consideration; when walking your dog away from home, do not allow him to investigate the droppings of other animals. Use the baggies a good owner always has on hand to pick up and dispose of his (or any other) droppings. Use appropriate vermicides in your yard only if necessary, and then under the advice of your vet. Routinely present fecal samples at exam time, and any time a case of worms is suspected.
The presence of worms can cause any one (or any combination) of the following symptoms: diarrhea (perhaps bloody); weight loss; dry hair & skin; a general poor appearance; a tendency to potbelly; and sometimes vomiting (in which there ~may~ be worms). However, a healthy dog in good condition is not usually severely compromised by the occasional infestation, and may not show any signs of worms. Prevention is important in maintaining a healthy pet; specific diagnosis of worm types is necessary because different worms respond to different medications. Never combine worm medications, and if your dog is on heartworm preventative medication consult your vet prior to any further treatment or medications.
Roundworms
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? It is a similar riddle with roundworm. Roundworm is by far the most common of the parasitic worms infecting canines. Because roundworm can be ingested from contaminated soil ~or~ transmitted from bitch to puppy, there are very few dogs that have not had an active case in their lifetime. In the intestine of the dog the female roundworm can grow, up to 7 inches long and produce up to 200,000 hard-shelled eggs per day, which can exist in the ground for years.
Once a roundworm egg has entered your puppy's intestine it hatches and the resultant larvae is carried to the lungs through the bloodstream. The larva then crawls up the windpipe and is swallowed, returning to the intestine to grow into an adult, or it can encyst itself in tissue and lay dormant for varying periods of time. Times of stress seem to activate the encysted larvae and treatment is then required (there is no effective treatment for the egg or encysted larval stages). The latter stages of pregnancy are a time of great stress on the system and many puppies contract the roundworm from their mother inutero or through her milk. It is for this reason that many Breeders routinely deworm their dogs (puppies and all) after litters, especially if all the dogs share the same outdoor yard. Deworming the pregnant bitch will not prevent the passing of the worms to puppies and it is therefore advisable to wait until after delivery and treat everyone altogether. Roundworm treatment for the puppies can be as early as 4-6 weeks and is a different medication from that prescribed for the adult dogs.
Roundworms can be seen in the stool (or sometimes vomit) of your dog and looks similar to bean sprouts or spaghetti. Puppies with untreated roundworm can exhibit a potbellied look and will generally appear not to thrive. Roundworm is treated simply with oral dewormers. Because dewormer is a type of poison, and dosages must precisely calculated, it is most advisable to obtain it from your vet.
Whipworms
Whipworms are difficult to see with the naked eye; they look somewhat like strands of thread with one end enlarged. They live in the large intestine of the dog. Because heavy infestations are uncommon, a fecal float may not reveal the presence of eggs and repeated exams may be necessary to complete the diagnosis.
Hookworms
Hookworms are contracted similarly to roundworm through contaminated soil, or from the mother inutero or passed through her milk. They are small, thin worms that grow to adulthood in the intestine where they fasten to the wall and suck blood. Although a severe hookworm infestation can kill a puppy, chronic hookworm infection is usually not a problem in the older dog. Symptoms of infestation include diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and progressive weakness.
The presence of worms can cause any one (or any combination) of the following symptoms: diarrhea (perhaps bloody); weight loss; dry hair & skin; a general poor appearance; a tendency to potbelly; and sometimes vomiting (in which there ~may~ be worms). However, a healthy dog in good condition is not usually severely compromised by the occasional infestation, and may not show any signs of worms. Prevention is important in maintaining a healthy pet; specific diagnosis of worm types is necessary because different worms respond to different medications. Never combine worm medications, and if your dog is on heartworm preventative medication consult your vet prior to any further treatment or medications.
Roundworms
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? It is a similar riddle with roundworm. Roundworm is by far the most common of the parasitic worms infecting canines. Because roundworm can be ingested from contaminated soil ~or~ transmitted from bitch to puppy, there are very few dogs that have not had an active case in their lifetime. In the intestine of the dog the female roundworm can grow, up to 7 inches long and produce up to 200,000 hard-shelled eggs per day, which can exist in the ground for years.
Once a roundworm egg has entered your puppy's intestine it hatches and the resultant larvae is carried to the lungs through the bloodstream. The larva then crawls up the windpipe and is swallowed, returning to the intestine to grow into an adult, or it can encyst itself in tissue and lay dormant for varying periods of time. Times of stress seem to activate the encysted larvae and treatment is then required (there is no effective treatment for the egg or encysted larval stages). The latter stages of pregnancy are a time of great stress on the system and many puppies contract the roundworm from their mother inutero or through her milk. It is for this reason that many Breeders routinely deworm their dogs (puppies and all) after litters, especially if all the dogs share the same outdoor yard. Deworming the pregnant bitch will not prevent the passing of the worms to puppies and it is therefore advisable to wait until after delivery and treat everyone altogether. Roundworm treatment for the puppies can be as early as 4-6 weeks and is a different medication from that prescribed for the adult dogs.
Roundworms can be seen in the stool (or sometimes vomit) of your dog and looks similar to bean sprouts or spaghetti. Puppies with untreated roundworm can exhibit a potbellied look and will generally appear not to thrive. Roundworm is treated simply with oral dewormers. Because dewormer is a type of poison, and dosages must precisely calculated, it is most advisable to obtain it from your vet.
Whipworms
Whipworms are difficult to see with the naked eye; they look somewhat like strands of thread with one end enlarged. They live in the large intestine of the dog. Because heavy infestations are uncommon, a fecal float may not reveal the presence of eggs and repeated exams may be necessary to complete the diagnosis.
Hookworms
Hookworms are contracted similarly to roundworm through contaminated soil, or from the mother inutero or passed through her milk. They are small, thin worms that grow to adulthood in the intestine where they fasten to the wall and suck blood. Although a severe hookworm infestation can kill a puppy, chronic hookworm infection is usually not a problem in the older dog. Symptoms of infestation include diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and progressive weakness.