Symptoms Puppy Has Worms
How Worms In Dogs Affect Your Family
Worms in dogs are a common problem in the UK. They cause distress and ill health in our dogs and they can re-infest our pets at any time. Across the entire world there are many types of parasites which are grouped under the term ‘worms in dogs’ but in the UK we deal primarily with just two. These are the tapeworm and the roundworm.
Roundworms cause difficulties when they are passed from one dog to another and more so when most puppies are born with an infestation. Roundworms look rather like short lengths of spaghetti. Adult worms live in the intestines of the dog where they feed on the contents. This means that the partially digested food is eaten by the worms, forcing your dog to share its dinner. Depending on the severity of the infestation, dozens of worms could be present at any one time. Of course, it is logical that under nourishment will be a consequence of a dog having to share its food. Where infestations are particularly severe, the dog will have a dull coat and appear to be lacking in energy. Other symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. In puppies, roundworms may cause a distended abdomen and delayed growth. If a puppy with roundworm is left without treatment he or she could die from intestinal blockage. It is of course important to note that many infestations of worms in dogs are symptomless. Regular worming treatment is therefore very important.
In adult dogs, some worm larvae can migrate around the body, settling in muscles and forming cysts. When the larvae has formed a cyst it cannot be killed by regular worming treatments. The larvae can remain inactive in the dog’s body until they reawaken during a time of stress. They normally become active during pregnancy and infest unborn puppies by migrating to the womb. This is why it is so important that all puppies are wormed.
Worms in dogs can actually cause problems for people as well. Because they are more likely to come into contact with soil or sand that has been contaminated with worm eggs whilst playing, children are especially at risk. The worm larvae can migrate though the human body and can lead to permanent damage to the eye sight if they settle at the back of the retina. Regular treatment for worms in dogs is therefore vital to protect the health of the entire family.
