Signs & Symptoms of Parasites in Puppies

As the owner of a new puppy, its important to know what to look for when evaluating whether or not your pet has a parasite. Most puppies are born with worms; it's important to place them on a course of de-wormer as soon as possible. If you don't, your puppy will soon begin to exhibit symptoms of infestation. Puppies are vulnerable to two basic types of infestations, known as internal and external parasites. If you suspect that your puppy is infested, take it to the vet for evaluation and treatment.

  1. Symptoms of External Parasites

    • External parasites are those that live on your puppy's skin and hair. They can cause itching, skin irritation, pustules and fur loss. The most common external parasites are fleas and ticks. If your puppy has fleas, you may notice small white and black specks in their fur. These are the fleas and their eggs. Your puppy may also have numerous scratches from itching and small, red bumps, caused by flea bites, along their legs and tail. If your puppy has ticks, you will notice wart-like bumps on the puppy's skin. Ticks carry a number of diseases, all of which can cause your puppy's health to deteriorate. If your puppy seems sluggish and has been exposed to ticks, the puppy may have lyme disease.

    Symptoms of Internal Parasites

    • Common canine internal parasites include ringworms, hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, heartworms and whipworms. If your puppy has an internal parasite, it may exhibit coughing, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, vomiting, a pot-bellied appearance or a dull coat. The puppy may scrape its bottom along the ground. If you suspect that your puppy has worms, examine its feces. Some worms, but not all, pass through the digestive tract, appearing as white specks or strings in your puppy's excrement. Internal parasites are usually contracted by eating or sniffing infested excrement, although these parasites can also be passed to your puppy through insect bites or raw food.

    Symptoms of Long-Term Exposure

    • If left untreated, both internal and external infestations can cause serious health conditions in your puppy. Fleas can make your puppy vulnerable to unpleasant skin disorders and infection. As noted, ticks carry lyme disease. Intestinal worms, such as the roundworm and tapeworm, steal nutrients from the digestive tract, making it difficult for your puppy to grow. Over time, this type of infestation can lead to a serious nutritional deficiency or starvation. Other types of worms, such as heartworms, attack the the heart and lungs. Untreated heartworms can cause irreparable damage, leading to heart and respiratory distress. The good news is that with proper prevention and treatment, the negative impact of infestations can be minimized or eliminated.

    Treating Symptoms

    • If your dog has fleas, the vet will probably prescribe an oral medication to kill them. For ticks, a topical salve is usually enough. To prevent ticks and fleas, always screen and comb your puppy after it has been outside. By doing so, theres a good chance that you will remove any external parasites before they have a chance to breed and infest your puppy. To prevent internal parasites, have your puppy dewormed early and frequently. Other preventive measures include keeping the yard free of feces, feeding the puppy only cooked food, keeping the puppy's crate clean and watching what the puppy sniffs and eats. Once the puppy reaches adulthood, be alert for infestation symptoms and take the dog to the vet if you suspect deworming may be required.