No matter how happy and healthy your puppy seems, it probably is carrying worms and internal parasites that it got from its mother. These pests--which include roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whip worms--can cause intestinal problems and anemia as well as other ailments.
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Roundworms
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Roundworms are long and white; you will see them most often in the puppy's feces. Roundworms can cause your puppy to have intestinal ailments, weight loss, an extended belly and a dull coat. It's possible for people to become infested from handling a puppy with worms. Clean up after your puppy and then wash your hands thoroughly.
Hookworms
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Hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal lining and ingest blood, which can cause diarrhea and anemia. They also can infest people as well, causing skin and intestinal diseases.
Tapeworms
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Tapeworms are segmented worms with heads that also attach themselves to the intestines and feed on the infected animal's blood. These worms can grow to up to 20 inches long. Fleas and lice carry these worms as intermediate hosts; when those insects infest animals, they can transmit the worms to the animals. Tapeworm infestations can cause abdominal discomfort and vomiting. People can pick up tapeworms from fleas and lice.
Whip Worms
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Whip worms are shaped as their name suggests, with a thin head and much thicker tail section. Dogs ingest whip worm eggs by drinking contaminated water. The eggs hatch in the dog's body, and the worms then travel to the intestine, where they dig into the lining and live off the animal's blood. Severe whip worm infestations cause intestinal inflammation, anemia and sometimes hemorrhaging. The species of whip worms that infests dogs usually does not attack human beings.
Diagnosis and Treatment
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Determining what type of worm infestation a dog has usually requires a veterinarian or technician to examine a fecal sample under a microscope. The type of worm infestation will determine what treatment the vet prescribes for the dog. Vets usually recommend that puppies be treated for worms regularly from about the third weeks of their lives till they are about a year old.
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