What are the Causes of Worms in Dogs

If your dog is a pup, chances are that you have at least heard about the problems that worms can pose to their health. Worms are a common affliction for dogs, primarily those under six to eight months of age. They are as common as flea bites and just as easy to cure, if not easier - if you know what you are doing. If you don't know what you are doing and you are a first time dog owner, that is okay too; your vet should know all that you don't know about worms and how to rectify the problem. Just in case, here are the basics and causes of worms in dogs.

Roundworms

Roundworms are the worms that are most generally found in puppies, and they are easy to cure. Generally, you can buy a treatment for roundworms that is given to your dog orally; they will release the worms through their excrement, dead later on. Puppies who suffer from roundworms tend to have round, bulging bellies even if they haven't eaten all day and the pot-belly syndrome can get increasingly worse as these worms can grow up to seven inches or more in length. The causes of worms in dogs as far as roundworms are concerned are in the soil; these worms can lay eggs that are protected by a hard shell. The eggs come out in a dog's excrement and can live in the soil for as long as it takes for them to be swallowed. Once the dog eats the soil, the worm larvae travels up the dog's throat, finally landing in the intestine where they grow unless they are eliminated. Other than soil contamination, mother dogs can transfer roundworms to their puppies during pregnancy.

Hookworms

Hookworms are another type of generally found parasitic worm. The causes of worms in dogs of this type are very similar to roundworms. Like roundworms, they can come into contact with dogs through pregnancy or infested soil. This is a type of parasite that is generally found in puppies and if left unchecked, it can kill a puppy so it is imperative to ensure that puppies are dewormed, even if you are not sure whether or not they are infected.

These are just a few of the numerous different types of parasitic worms that can harm your dog. If you suspect that your dog is infected with worms, the best thing that you can do for him or her is to take them to the veterinarian. Deworming services are fairly inexpensive and a stool check and standard deworming is usually part of the routine checkup for younger dogs. Be sure to clean up your dog's excrement from the yard as often as you can and consult your vet if you are in doubt. While they can infect adults and even people, these types of worms are more common in dogs and can kill if not treated correctly.

Natalie is the author of WormsInMyPet.com. Visit her site for more tips on eliminating and preventing worms in your dog.