At one time or another, almost all dogs suffer from worms. Worms are internal parasites that live on or in the dog. Several types of worms can infect dogs. Some are easy to treat and others nearly impossible. When it comes to canine worms, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. Get all puppies wormed and keep an eye on adult dogs for signs of infestation. If a dog gets worms, early detection and treatment can save him much suffering and you much money.
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Roundworms
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Roundworms lay thousands of eggs in the soil every day. When a puppy plays in infected soil, he can ingest the eggs. Once the larvae have been swallowed, they grow to adulthood in the intestines. From there, the larvae get into the bloodstream, where they end up in the lungs. Once there, the worms work their way up the windpipe, causing the puppy to gag. Roundworms seldom infest adult dogs. Common signs to look for are a potbelly, poor growth and gagging up the worms in their larval stage. Roundworms respond to many treatments. Many can be purchased over the counter and administered by the owner, but veterinary care is the best route to ensure that all of the worms are killed and don 't recur. Veterinarians typically precribe stronger, more effective medications.
Tapeworms
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Tapeworms are typically transmitted by fleas. A dog with fleas must be treated quickly, because the more fleas the dog has, the greater the chance of being infected with a tapeworm. Signs of tapeworm include continuous eating without weight gain and the presence of visible worm segments in the dog's feces. Veterinarians must prescribe tapeworm medication because no over-the-counter medications are available for their treatment.
Hookworms
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Hookworms are another intestinal worm that infests dogs through contaminated soil. Dogs can also get hookworms or roundworm from the feet of birds. The bird lands on infected soil, the eggs get on its feet, the bird lands in a yard and drinks from the dog's water bowl or eats from the food dish, where Fido later laps up the eggs. Once the eggs are ingested, they hatch and grow in the intestines by attaching themselves to the intestinal wall. Puppies can die from severe infestation of hookworms. Symptoms of hookworms include weight loss, anemia and diarrhea. Hookworms need veterinary care to ensure that all of the worms and their eggs are killed.
Heartworms
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Heartworms are the deadliest of all canine worms because they live in the dog's heart. The dog's chance of survival is better when heartworms are detected early, but without treatment, death is certain. The cost of treatment can be high because the treatment takes four to six weeks and the dog has to be under constant medical care for the entire course of medication. The best approach to heartworm is year-round prevention. You can choose from many preventative medications on the market.
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