Worms in Dogs – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
There is a pretty wide variety of worms in dogs. Each and every one of worm species will have a negative effect on a dog. However, most of the time, your dog’s immune system will kill them and flush them away. But if the worms infestation has reached a dangerous point, it can cause lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and even death. Fortunately enough, all species of worms can be detected on time and the vet will be able to get rid of them effectively.
What causes worms in dogs?
Let’s first name some of the most common types of worms that affect dogs:
- Tapeworms
- Heartworms
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
These worms are actually a part of our lives. We can find them everywhere. Not a pleasant thing to think of but they can easily enter your dog’s system. The typical ways in which your dog can get them is when eating infested soil, feces, carrion, or raw or undercooked meat. Keeping a worm-free environment for your dog is nearly impossible, especially given that they love to lay on the dirt and all that. However, you can observe certain hygiene measures that greatly reduce the risk of infestation.
What are the symptoms of worms in dogs?
Every worm has a way of infecting your dog and symptoms will depend on the type of worm your dog has. Heartworms are the most dangerous as they can particularly bring heart failure to your dog. Besides that, at least the worms we have mentioned here will cause the following symptoms in dogs:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Coughing (This is an advanced stage of heartworm, so you should seek for the veterinary soon.)
- Appetite loss
- Lethargy
- Loss of energy
- Bloated belly
- Itching and skin irritation
- Anemia
- Mucus or blood in feces
What do I do if my dog has a worm infestation?
If you are caring enough, you will see worms in your dog’s feces. However, this does not mean that your dog is sick. Some dogs are, in fact, born with worms. If your dog starts to show some of the symptoms described above, however, it is time to visit the vet.
Here in Dogalize we have all the information you need to better care for your dog. You can find information on how to keep your dog´s environment as clean as possible in order to avoid a worm infestation.