Intestinal Worms in Dogs

A very persistent and common dog health problem is caused by intestinal worms. Having said that, it is not impossible to avert this problem if given proper care and attention. Ultimately, dogs are our pets and are a part of our family and we take care of them as we take care of our kids. However, due to our ignorance and lack of awareness, many a time some very important things are left unnoticed and we find ourselves in a panic situation not knowing what to do. In this article, you can learn about the different types of intestinal worms in dogs, the noticeable symptoms of this dog illness and also the treatment options that can cure this chronic problem of dog worms.

Types of Intestinal Worms in Dogs

• Hookworms: Hookworms are parasitic worms belonging to the group of eukaryotic parasites and they reside in the small intestine of the host, the dog in this case. Hookworms somewhat resemble roundworms. However, they have teeth with which they hook themselves to the intestines and feed by sucking blood.
• Tapeworms: Tapeworms appear like a long chain made with a number of segments that look like grains of rice. The new segments continuously form near the neck area and they keep shedding the mature segments at the end which consists of a large number of eggs. Tapeworms in the dog feed on nutrients which they absorb through the skin by hooking on to the intestinal wall of the dog. Infection caused by tapeworms are usually detected when these segments that look like grains of rice are seen around the anus of the dog or seen moving in freshly passed stool.
• Roundworms: Dogs get contracted with roundworm eggs from contaminated soil. These eggs hatch inside the intestine and through the bloodstream the larvae reaches the lungs. The larvae grow into adults after returning to the intestines. There is also a possibility of death due to intestinal blockage if roundworm infestation in dogs is severe. In female dogs, roundworms activate during pregnancy and that is one the stages where the puppies are infested.
• Whipworms: These worms are thin and long with a thick end, which gives them a whip-like shape, hence the name. The large intestine of a dog is where they live. The dogs are infected when they consume anything that is contaminated with whipworm eggs. It takes a couple of months for the larvae to mature into adults and then they feed on blood by digging their mouths into the intestinal walls of the dogs.

Symptoms of Intestinal Worms

If your dog is suffering from intestinal worms then you'll definitely observe a change in the behavioral pattern of your dog, for e.g., low energy, not eating, etc. While some worms in dogs, like tapeworms, can be identified with naked eyes, others like whipworms cannot be. So how do we understand if our dogs are suffering from any other kinds of intestinal worms? Given below are some very common symptoms of worms in dogs that can help you identify this problem.

• Vomiting
• Weight Loss
• Diarrhea
• Dull Coat
• Weakness
• Pot Belly
• Itching
• Worms or worm segments in stool, vomit, or around the anus
• Anorexia/Loss of Appetite

Canine Intestinal Worms Treatment

Although some mature worms can be detected in stools and vomit, intestinal worms in dogs are usually diagnosed by conducting a microscopic examination on dog stool samples. It is imperative that you consult with your veterinarian before buying any over-the-counter drug for this problem, as the veterinarian will be able to prescribe appropriate drugs after a thorough diagnosis. Generally, wormers that contain ingredients like febantel, praziquantel, pyrantel pamoate or ivermectin are effective against roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms and get rid of the worms. However, these wormers should not be given unless you consult your veterinarian.

Canine intestinal worms can be prevented with the help of some general points that you could easily take care of. Keeping the surroundings clean by properly disposing the egg containing dog feces is one of the important points you should be doing. Thus, proper dog care and regular check-ups could keep these blood-sucking intestinal worms away from your beloved dogs.