What Causes Worms in Dogs?

Dogs are man's best friends, a known fact. If you are a dog owner and a friend to these canine beasts, don't you want to know more about their health? We shall ponder upon one common health concern of every pet parent, intestinal worms in dogs. This is one of the common infections your dog may fall prey to. Therefore, it is very important to know all about signs of worms in dogs as it will help start treatment soon. But, what causes worms in dogs? Before we look at the signs and treatment required, it is important we have a closer look at the causes of worms in dogs.

Signs of Worms in Dogs

Well, I shall cover the symptoms of worms in dogs first as it will help you understand the consequences of the condition better. Most of the time, dog worms have no symptoms. It is very difficult to judge if a dog is suffering from a worm infestation. Normally, a dog may show symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, etc. Your dog will have an unusually dull coat, suffer from loss of appetite, decrease in energy levels, pot belly appearance and may suffer from severe coughing. If you find that something is just not right with your dog, then you should think about getting your dog checked for intestinal parasites. There are 5 types of intestinal worms in dogs. In the following paragraphs, we shall continue our search on what causes worms in dogs.

Worms in Dogs: Causes

Worms that lead to many dog health problems include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms and heartworms. Most of the time the worms infiltrates in dogs when they eating infected stools, soil contaminated with worms, eating raw uncooked meat, flea and mosquito bite. Different worms have different mode of transmission. This will be discussed in detail when we have a look at the different worms in detail below.

Roundworms
Roundworms are zoonotic worms, that is, they can spread to humans from animals. Roundworms infect dogs who ingest contaminated soil or stools containing the roundworms egg or larvae. The eggs and larvae develop into an adult worm which goes on with its life cycle. It continues to affect the health of the dog till it is not got rid of completely. Puppies contact roundworms from their mother in the uterus or through her milk. The infestation causes diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat, weight loss and pot belly appearance. These worms can be observe the worms in the dogs stool as well as vomit.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms infect dogs after they ingest fleas infected with the worm. Tapeworm causes abdominal pain, nervousness, vomiting, weight loss and severe itching around the anus. You can see broken, moving parts of the worm in the dog stool as well as around the dog's anus.

Hookworms
Hookworms too are zoonotic and can infect humans from infected dogs. Hookworms are too small to be visible to the naked eye. They infect the dog when it eats infected dog feces containing the worm. It causes loose stools, blood in stool, bloating, gas, dull coat and anemia in dogs. You will find the dog eats unusually more than what it used to, but does not seem to gain any weight, instead loses it. This is because the hookworms uses it teeth to dig into the walls of intestine and suck the blood of the dog. Puppies are infected from their mother in the uterus or while nursing.

Whipworms
Whipworms are very nasty intestinal worms in dogs. They are the ones that are most difficult to get rid of once it infects. They too are passed on when one dog eats infected soil, feces or tends to step into stools or mud containing the worms. When it licks it paws, the worms get transferred into the intestines. This worm causes bloody stools, unusual appetite, bloating, abdominal cramps, dull coat in dogs. It also leads to anemia, weight loss and loss of energy in the animal.

Heartworms
Heartworms are the potentially life-threatening worms that if untreated can lead to premature death of a pet. These worms can spread through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are carriers of the diseases and transfer the worm into the blood of the dog while feeding. These worms travel down to the heart muscle through the blood and lead to many complications. The symptoms are not often observed in the early stages and appear when the infection has reached an advanced stage. The symptoms, however, include lethargy, appetite loss, breathing difficulty, unusual tiredness and coughing. This condition requires medical help immediately or it could lead to congestive heart failure and death. Learn more about how to get rid of dog worms.

This was some information related to what causes worms in dogs. A regular check up with the veterinarian will help in early detection and elimination of these worms from your dog. Make it a point to pick you the feces and discard them once your dog is done. This will help prevent other dogs from sniffing, eating the feces and getting infected with parasites. Prevention is always better than cure and therefore a bit of care will help prevent spread of intestinal worms in dogs. For more details, speak to the veterinarian and get more details. And remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog.