All dogs are vulnerable to worms. The worms range from harmless roundworms to the fatal heartworms and common tapeworms. While medications prescribed from a veterinarian can combat some worms, prevention is the main method of defense. Know what symptoms to look for, steps to take and necessary preventative measures to ensure your dog is not plagued with worms.
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Symptoms
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Watch for the following changes in your dog as they may be symptomatic of worms: change in appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, worms in the stool or on their fur, fatigue and coughing. Take your dog to the veterinarian and have either a blood or fecal sample taken. This will determine if a parasite is present. If not, a prophylactic medicine can be administered to prevent heartworm infection. If the fecal or blood sample tests positive for worms, the vet will prescribe medication. Take care and follow the instructions carefully to eliminate the worms.
Common Dog Worms
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Tapeworms, roundworms and heartworms are the most prevalent in dogs. However, degree of severity in which they can hurt your dog vary quite a bit. Tapeworms are usually transmitted through fleas so a consistent de-worming regimen will not help. The best way to establish if there is an infestation of tapeworms are egg sacs near the dogs anus. The sacs look like grains of rice. For this type of worm, a prescription from your vet is the only way to fight off a tapeworm infection. Roundworms are an internal parasite usually found in puppies. They get this in utero from a roundworm infested mother. Roundworms are also taken care of with antibiotics from the vet. Heartworms can be fatal if they are not treated. These types of worms permeate the muscles of a dog's heart and are transmitted from mosquitoes. Prevention is extremely important because of the invasive nature of these worms.
Prevention Is Most Important
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A vet can prescribe antibiotics for dogs, but the best thing to do is use preventative medications monthly from your vet. Have them screened twice a year for worms. Control the fleas on your dog as they can carry tapeworms. Do not let them eat animal carcasses as these are an ideal breeding ground for worms. Remember that all dogs are susceptible no matter where they live, the climate, the number of other pets in the house or what they are used for (e.g. family pet, show, hunting). Always worm them on a monthly basis and be on guard for any symptoms they display.
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