Roundworms in your dog can turn into a persistent problem causing sickness. As a dog owner, it's important to keep a diligent eye on your dog's behavior to know when she is feeling ill. Ticks, fleas and worms consider your dog an ideal host. An uncontrollable bout of roundworms in your dog isn't only unhealthy for your dog, but it can affect you and your children.
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What are Roundworms?
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Roundworms are a common parasite that live off of the food in a dog's intestines. The roundworm's life cycle consists of eggs, larvae and worms that can grow up to 8 inches. Roundworms constantly produce eggs that can survive in dirt and lay dormant for years.
Contracting Roundworms
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Adult dogs can contract roundworms by eating vermin infested with the parasite or licking contaminated dirt off of their bodies. Pregnant dogs with a roundworm infection pass the parasite onto their offspring. Puppies pick up the roundworms in the womb or after birth. Humans can contract roundworms. Children are especially susceptible to roundworms because they play in dirt and put their hands in their mouths, ingesting the parasite.
Symptoms of a Roundworm Infection
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Signs that a puppy is sick from roundworms are a potbelly, dull coat, failure to gain weight, coughing, hiccupping and sometimes convulsions. Adult and young dogs infested with roundworms suffer from vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. When a dog experiences an extreme case of roundworms you can see wriggling worms in his stool. A child combating a roundworm infection can come down with fever, coughing, asthma or pneumonia.
Are Roundworms Harmful?
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Roundworms travel through the blood into the dog's lungs, causing coughing. The larvae can migrate to the liver and the brain. In adult dogs, roundworms pose no serious health related problems. Puppies that show no outward signs of a roundworm infection can combat the problem with a nutritious diet. Eventually the number of roundworms will decrease as the puppy grows older. It is time to call the veterinarian when the puppy displays symptoms of a roundworm infection and the signs don't diminish. A puppy with a serious infection of roundworms can develop a ruptured bowel. Roundworms in a child can make their way through the body's tissues, causing damage such as liver enlargement, fever, allergic reaction or eye infections. Adults with roundworms may experience mild symptoms like diarrhea, but will not have any lasting health issues.
Treating a Roundworm Infection
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A puppy with a severe roundworm infection should be treated with deworming medication prescribed by your vet. The medication is usually administered every two weeks until the puppy reaches 16 weeks old. Diagnosing a human with a roundworm infection is done with a blood test. Humans with a roundworm infection are given antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory medications.
Preventing a Roundworm Infection
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Puppies can receive a dose of preventative worm medication at two weeks old. A vet can check your dog annually for the presence of roundworms by examining a stool sample, or the dog can be given medication every six months to prevent roundworms. Eliminate the possibility of your child becoming infected with roundworms by routinely cleaning up and disposing of your dog's feces. Teach your children to always wash their hands after petting the dog and playing outside. Restrict your children from playing in areas where your dog defecates.
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