Roundworms in Dogs

Roundworms are parasites in dogs that look like a spaghetti that is about 4 to 7 inches in length. This parasite is also known as ascarids and commonly found in the intestines of dogs as well as cats. Roundworms are a common occurrence in puppies as the larvae is passed on to them in their mother's womb itself. In this article, we shall learn a bit about roundworms in dogs and their treatment.

What is Roundworm in Dogs
Ascarids or roundworms are intestinal parasites that infect intestines of many animals including humans. There are two types of roundworms that can affect dogs like Toxoscaris leonia and Toxocara canis. The most common of the two that affects dogs is Toxocara canis. Roundworms live in the dog's intestines and live on feeding the partially digested food. They do not attach themselves to the intestinal walls like the hookworms. These roundworms tend to swim in the food and pass their microscopic eggs through the dogs stool.

Causes of Canine Roundworms
Roundworms in dogs can be passed on through ingestion of eggs, transport host or larvae that enters the body of the puppy in utero or through mother's milk. The dog may eat transport host like other animals and insects that carry roundworm larvae like cockroaches, earthworms, rodents and even chickens. Puppies may get roundworms as they may be present in the mammary glands of the mother and milk of nursing puppies. Puppies and adult dogs may also swallow roundworm eggs that hatch within their body. These larvae may migrate through liver, muscles and lungs and finally reaching the intestines. These larvae mature and reproduce new eggs that are passed out of the dog body through stools. Thus, completing the life cycle of roundworms in dogs.

Symptoms of Canine Roundworms
The common roundworms in dogs symptoms are as follows:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Pot bellied appearance especially in puppies
• Dull hair coat
• Coughing, in case the larvae travels to the lungs

Some of the less commonly seen symptoms of roundworms in dogs are:

• Intestinal obstruction
• Intussusceptions, that is damage to intestinal tract
• Pneumonia in dogs
• Death

How to Treat Canine Roundworms
If you are looking for treatment for roundworms in dogs, then you need to contact the dog's vet. He may suggest some medications like pyratel, fenbendazole, piperazine, etc. for treating roundworms in dogs. The conventional treatment for roundworms in dogs is generally aimed at killing the adult dog worms. Many deworming products may have adverse effects on very young puppies and dogs. Therefore, you should always seek veterinarian advise before trying any medication.

You can always go in for homeopathy as a natural treatment for roundworms in dogs. You can even mix half to 2 cloves of fresh, chopped garlic in the dog food for treating roundworms in dogs. Two teaspoons of oat barns or grated carrots added to each meal will help in getting rid of the worm from the intestine.

How to Get Rid of Canine Roundworms
If you are wondering how to get rid of roundworms in dogs, then this information may help you. You need to worm your dog 4 to 5 weeks before breeding to minimize the chances of transmission from mother to the pup. As the smart little roundworms can penetrate the mammary glands of the mother, it would be wise to worm the litter as soon as possible after they are born.

You should also get rid of mouse or mice infestation in or around your house. These rodents are carriers of roundworm eggs and larvae. If your dog comes in contact with the rodents or eats one up, they may development symptoms of roundworms. Also, avoid taking your dog to places where other dogs defecate. If your dog eats up an infected stool of another dog, he may get infected. You may find this appalling, but it is a fact that it is the second most cause of roundworms in dogs. You should keep an eye on your puppies or dogs stools and bottoms. Watch out for tiny white worms that look like rice. This may be a sign of parasitic infection and you need to seek medical attention.

This was some information related to how to treat roundworms in dogs and getting rid of these parasites. You should carry out frequent treatment of roundworms in dogs as reinfection is very common. There is no medication that can kill larvae or cysts and therefore, take frequent precautions related to your dog health problems. I hope this article on roundworms in dogs has helped you find some useful information related to this parasitic infection.