How To Treat Canine Worms

Canines can become afflicted with several different types of internal parasites, commonly called "worms." The most prevalent type of worm that dogs may have is roundworms and tapeworms. Roundworm infestation can be quite high in puppies. Tapeworm infestation may also be a problem for your canine, especially if he has fleas.

If your dog has worms, he may experience weight loss, blood in his stools, dry hair and vomiting. If you think your dog has worms, you should take him to the veterinarian. While there are over-the-counter medications available, they can be dangerous to your dog if they are not given in the proper dosage. You should also know that not all canine worms can be killed with over-the-counter medication.

When your take your puppy in for his vet visit, you should also take a stool sample from your puppy. The vet will look to see if your dog has any microscopic worms which may also need to be treated.

Roundworms

1. A female roundworm produces hundreds of thousands of eggs each day. These eggs are deposited in the soil. When Fido plays in contaminated soil and ingests worm eggs, they will hatch in your pup's intestines. The larva is then carried into your puppy's lungs through the bloodstream. Once in the lungs, the larva will crawl up your pup's windpipe and get swallowed. This will normally cause your puppy to gag or cough. Once the larva has been swallowed, they will live in your pup's intestines and grow into adult roundworms.

2. If your pup has roundworms, he will have a pot-bellied appearance. Your pup may also have poor growth.
3. Roundworms can be seen in a pup's stool and even his vomit.
4. Roundworms can grow up to seven inches long.
5. A severe infestation of roundworms can be very dangerous. It can cause an intestinal blockage which can lead to your pup's death.

Tapeworms

1. Tapeworms are transmitted through fleas.

2. Your dog may be susceptible to tapeworms if he is a hunting dog and has ingested a "game" animal which has tapeworms. Likewise, your dog may get tapeworms if he ingests fleas which have been on wildlife.
3. If your dog has tapeworms, you may see eggs or "segments" in his stool. These segments will move for a while after they have excreted from your dog. They are flat and resemble rice. These segments may also become stuck to the hairs around your dog's rear.
4. Tapeworms cannot be killed by over-the-counter medication. You will have to take your dog to the veterinarian for treatment.