A fecal float test is an important part of a dog's annual wellness exam, according to the Pet Education website. Several types of internal parasites affect dogs, and a fecal test will detect worm eggs that are shed in the stool. Treatment for worms is given as multiple doses spaced a few weeks apart, since the medication does not address all stages of the life cycle. Some monthly heartworm medications also include anti-worm medications, although these generally do not address tapeworms.
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Roundworms
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The most common intestinal worm in dogs is the roundworm, Toxocara canis, according to the Pet Education website. Dogs ingest the roundworm eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae pass through the intestinal wall into the tissues, where they can remain encysted for years. T. canis larvae can also be passed from mother to puppies, through the placental barrier or by nursing. Toxascaris leonina also affects dogs, but it cannot be passed directly from mother to puppies. In severe infestations, dogs will pass adult roundworms, which look like spaghetti, either in the stool or by vomiting, according to the Pet Education website.
Hookworms
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Hookworms are also common in dogs. Like roundworms, they can be passed from mother to puppies through the uterus and milk. They can also enter the dog through the skin. Hookworms attach to the intestinal wall and feed off the dog's blood. A severe hookworm infection can lead to diarrhea or anemia. According to the Pet Education website, dogs can contract three species of hookworms--Ancylostoma caninum; Ancylostoma braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala.
Whipworms
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Adult whipworms are shaped like whips, hence the name. Trichuris species vulpis and campanula affect dogs; cats and humans each have their own species of whipworms, though T. vulpis infection has been reported in humans. Whipworms are extremely hardy. It is nearly impossible to eliminate them from infected ground areas without replacing the soil or paving it over.
Tapeworms
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Numerous species of tapeworms infect dogs, but the most common is Dipylidium caninum. This tapeworm is carried by fleas and passed to dogs when they ingest the flea. Tapeworms are segmented worms, and the end segments are routinely shed in the stool. These segments look like grains of rice and are often the first sign of a tapeworm infection in dogs. Other tapeworms that affect dogs include Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, Diphyllobothrium latum, Spirometra mansonoides and several members of the Taenia species.
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