How to Prevent Worms in Dogs

Adopting a pet is an easy task, as compared to the care they require. So, you have a responsibility to take care of them properly. Caring for a dog involves meeting its dietary requirements, taking care of health-related problems, proper training and grooming. It is a big responsibility to take care of a pet dog. If you are planning to adopt a dog, make sure you understand the requirements of that specific breed, beforehand. This will make things easier for you, once you bring the pet home. As far as health problems are concerned, dog worms are very common in almost all breeds. These intestinal parasites can cause several unpleasant symptoms in your dog and will be detrimental to your pet's health. So, it is always better to prevent worms in dogs.

What are Dog Worms

Dogs are prone to get infested with internal parasites that are commonly referred to as dog worms. There are five types of worms in dogs and they include hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, tapeworms and heartworms. While hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms are intestinal parasites, heartworms infest the heart as well as the blood vessels of dogs. The term dog worms usually denote intestinal parasites.

The most common among them are roundworms that are mostly found to infect puppies when are they are in the uterus or while feeding. In other words, the source of infection is the infected mother. Even ingestion of an infected animal or its feces or soil with roundworm eggs can cause this condition. Roundworms cause a pot-bellied appearance in dogs, along with weight loss and various other symptoms. You may find these worms in the feces and vomit of the affected animal. It can also lead to human infection. As in case of roundworms, hookworms can also affect the dog, while it is inside the uterus or while feeding. This infection may cause loss of appetite, pale gums, diarrhea, anemia, dark and tarry stools and even death. Hookworms cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Tapeworms are also common in dogs and in this case, ingestion of fleas with tapeworm eggs is found to be primary cause of infestation. In this case, the symptoms of worms in dogs include itching of the anus, scooting, lethargy, weight loss and white rice-like segments near the anus of the animal (may be seen in his bedding too). Sometimes, you may find a one or two long, flat, white-colored worm in the vomit or feces of the animal. Whipworm infection is usually caused by intake of water or food contaminated with the worm eggs. In large numbers, the dog will develop anemia and loss of weight. Even though, they are not intestinal parasites, heartworms can be fatal for dogs, if not treated on time. Heartworm larvae are carried by mosquitoes and are transmitted through mosquito bites. As these parasites grow in large numbers, the animal will have cough and chest pain.

How to Prevent Dog Worms

As in case of many other diseases, prevention is the best method in case of dog worms too. In most cases, the puppies are often found to develop infection from the mother, at a very early stage. So, you have to start the preventive measures, as soon as possible.

• The very first thing you have to do is to test your puppy for worms, as soon as they reach three weeks of age.
• If there is any infestation, get them dewormed within three to six weeks of birth. If you opt for vermicide, it will be better to administer it through injections, as oral vermicides may cause digestive problems in puppies.
• Apart from the above said, you have to check for worm infestation in your dog, once in every year. This is best done with the help of a vet. Take your dog to the vet and make sure you carry a stool sample of the animal. In case of outdoor dogs, you may increase the frequency of such check ups.
• It is always better to monitor the dog, when they are outdoors, Don't allow them to feed on the feces of dogs or other animals. Equally important is to prevent them from eating the carcass of other animals.
• If you take your dog outdoors, prevent it from mingling with stray dogs and other stray animals. It is always better to use broad spectrum preventive products, so that you don't have to use different ones. Some of the heartworm prevention products are meant for other worms too.
• You must control fleas in your house and premises, as well as those in your pet's body. This is because fleas are the most common cause for tapeworm infestation in dogs. There are various flea control products in the market and you may choose the best suited one.

In short, proper care is sufficient to prevent worms in dogs. Even though, not life-threatening in small numbers, large infestation of worms may cause severe discomfort to the dog and may sometimes lead to its death. So, it is always better to prevent their infestation at the first place and let your dog live a life free of worms. If you notice any symptoms of dog worms, get the animals diagnosed and treated at the earliest.