A Guide to Worms in Dogs
Worms in dogs and the potential health risk they pose not only to the pets but to people as well should always be at the forefront of responsible dog owners’ minds. A type of internal parasite, worms in dogs can cause ill health in both humans and dogs.
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 diarrhoea as well as general loss of condition.There are two types of worms in dogs: roundworms and tapeworms.
Roundworms
Roundworms can appear to be coiled in the shape of a spring, can grow to around 10cm in length and are pale white or beige coloured. You might be able to see them in your dog’s faeces or sick. Roundworm larvae find their way into the dog’s body when they are ingested and adult worms then develop inside the dog’s body. When further eggs are later passed out of the dogs in faeces, the life cycle is completed. The most common form of roundworm, Toxocare 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. For this reason, dog owners must always pick up after their dog.
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 faeces or around his anus. Dogs become infected with tapeworms when they swallow fleas whilst grooming because fleas carry tapeworm larvae. Once inside the dog, the adult worm can grow up to 5 metres in length.
With worms in dogs, as with many conditions, it is true that prevention is better than cure. Therefore worming your dog every three months is important. Young puppies require worming even more regularly than that. Many effective wormers are available from pet shops and veterinary surgeries at affordable prices: ask your vet for the most appropriate one.