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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
This article has been viewed 18,072 times.
There are many different types of worms that can infect dogs. The worms of greatest concern are roundworms, tapeworms, filariasis, hookworms and whipworms. Each type of worm has a slightly different life cycle, but the symptoms of helminth infection in dogs can be the same in cases of different types of worms. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the type of helminth based on symptoms in dogs alone, but need to be tested. [1] X Research Source Prevalence of canine parasites based on fecal flotation. Iagburn, Lindsay, Vaughan et al. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 18, 483-509 However, being aware of the general symptoms, risks, and characteristics of different types of worms can help treat and care for your dog.
Steps
Recognizing a dog infected with worms
- Taking samples of the worms is much more useful than describing them to the doctor because most helminths look the same when viewed with the naked eye.
- Use a disposable ice cream stick or spoon to scoop up the stool sample and place it in a clean, tight-fitting container (your veterinarian can give you a special container for this purpose if you don’t have the right supplies). ).
- Store stool samples below 30 degrees Celsius and bring them to the veterinarian when possible (fecal samples do not need to be new to show signs of helminths).
- If your veterinarian requires a stool sample to be collected, you will need to collect a stool sample once daily for 3 consecutive days and place it in the same container. This step may be necessary in cases where a “false negative” result is suspected. Collected stool samples reduce the risk of getting unreliable results.
- Your veterinarian may perform a fecal analysis, which is the process of examining a stool smear under a microscope for eggs or larvae of worms. Or your veterinarian may send a stool sample to an outside lab for evaluation.
- There are many tests available but in practice, the ELISA test is the most common. This test looks for the presence of filariasis antibodies and causes discoloration if positive.
- Most veterinarians in high-risk areas for filariasis require annual testing as part of their dog’s wellness cycle before renewing or prescribing a monthly preventative approach.
- Worms or contaminated feces should be removed from children’s play areas.
- Wear gloves when handling or collecting feces contaminated with worms.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling animal feces.
- Roundworm is usually transmitted to puppies from an infected mother dog because the eggs and larvae cross the placenta to infect the puppies in the womb and the eggs are also secreted in the mother’s milk. Puppies should be dewormed as a matter of course.
- Tapeworms are caused by dogs eating the meat of animals infected with tapeworms or from ticks that contain tapeworm eggs. Therefore, hunting dogs or dogs with ticks are susceptible to tapeworm infections.
- Hookworms and whipworms thrive in moist soil and dogs are most at risk if left out in the lawn, especially in moist and warm conditions. Kenneled dogs that are released into the lawn have a high risk of infection with these two types of worms.
- Worms are spread only by insects such as mosquitoes and are therefore specific to insect-rich areas. High-risk areas are the Southeastern, Midwestern United States and along the Atlantic coast.
- Roundworms are becoming more common and are spread through fox droppings, slugs, and snails. Exposure to these objects is considered a risk factor.
Distinguish different types of worms
- Roundworms look like cooked pasta. They are 8-10 cm long but can also reach a length of 18 cm. Roundworms have round and smooth bodies.
- Wire cockroaches are distinguished by their flat bodies from the formed segments. Tapeworm lengths vary from species to species but average 50-250 cm. If tapeworms are seen in stool or vomit, they are usually loose segments, not whole bodies.
- Hookworms and whipworms are much smaller than roundworms and tapeworms. They are usually 0.5-2 cm long and extremely thin, like a thread or hair. Their small size makes them appear to be transparent and difficult to see without close inspection.
- Roundworms and heartworms can affect blood clotting, and some dogs can exhibit alarming symptoms such as uncontrolled bleeding after minor trauma.
- Take your dog to the vet right away if any of these signs are present. Although the procedure is expensive, immediate treatment results in better results.
- Tapeworms look like sesame seeds or small grains of rice caught in the hair near the dog’s anus.
- If you look carefully, you can sometimes see cream-colored, seed-like tapeworm eggs squirming around.
- For worm eggs, the difference can be difficult to detect, for example oval instead of round, with mucus plugs on one or both ends.
Prevention or treatment of helminths
- Some helminth infections in dogs can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea.
- Some cases of helminth infections can be fatal to dogs, especially filariasis and roundworm infections.
- Most veterinarians require a negative test result for filariasis before prescribing an oral dewormer.
- Many oral dewormers have a fleshy and chewable taste, so you can easily give them to your dog.
- Some companies produce chewable tablets that combine the treatment of heartworms with the treatment of lice.
- You can also use a topical product to treat your dog’s lice monthly. This product is usually applied to the nape, which is the back of the dog’s neck.
- Do not allow dogs near warm, grassy areas with other dogs that have not been dewormed.
- Do not let your dog come into contact with wild animals or prey.
- Avoid warm, humid climates with large populations of insects such as lice or mosquitoes.
- Do not let your dog eat or roll over in the feces of other dogs or wild animals.
- Most dewormers come in powder form that you can mix in your dog’s food or other foods like plain yogurt (talk to your vet before giving your dog human food).
- Most dewormers only need to be given once. But if your vet prescribes Fenbendazpe, you’ll need to give it several days. Fenbendazpe is a very mild dewormer commonly given to puppies.
- Be sure to read the directions on the dewormer packaging carefully and consult your veterinarian before giving any medication to your dog.
Advice
- Collect a dog stool sample while walking the dog.
- Lice control is a necessary step at any time of the year.
- Avoid letting your dog smell or eat feces and other dirty things. This often happens in puppies and will inevitably expose the dog to unwanted worms.
Warning
- Hookworms and roundworms can be transmitted from dogs to humans, so you need to be careful and know how to properly handle dog feces. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned that you or any family member may have a worm infection.
- Any helminth infection if left untreated for a long time can lead to death.
- Worms can only cause a dog to have a heart attack if not detected and treated early.
- If your dog shows signs of fatigue or diarrhea and vomiting, you need to take your dog to the vet right away.
This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
This article has been viewed 18,072 times.
There are many different types of worms that can infect dogs. The worms of greatest concern are roundworms, tapeworms, filariasis, hookworms and whipworms. Each type of worm has a slightly different life cycle, but the symptoms of helminth infection in dogs can be the same in cases of different types of worms. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the type of helminth based on symptoms in dogs alone, but need to be tested. [1] X Research Source Prevalence of canine parasites based on fecal flotation. Iagburn, Lindsay, Vaughan et al. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 18, 483-509 However, being aware of the general symptoms, risks, and characteristics of different types of worms can help treat and care for your dog.
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