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Dogs can be home to a number of different types of worm, namely hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm and heartworm. Worm eggs pass to the dog through faeces, infected soil, mother’s milk, and mosquito bites. Some varieties also pass to humans.
Hookworms cause anaemia in young dogs. Puppies can contract hookworms in the uterus and the dam can infect puppies through her milk. Symptoms in puppies include bloody diarrhoea, weight loss and weakness. Severe hookworm infestation can kill puppies. Adults can take in hookworm from infected soil but they are not as serious for adult dogs as they are for puppies.
Tapeworms are transmitted to dogs who eat fleas and who eat wildlife infested with tapeworms or fleas. The dog sheds flat segments of the tapeworm containing the eggs in its faeces. These segments move about shortly after excretion. They look like grains of rice when dried and can be found either in the dog's stool or stuck to the hair around his anus. Tapeworms cannot be killed by the typical over-the-counter wormer; see your vet for appropriate treatment.
Roundworms are found in the intestines of nine out of ten puppies, causing pot-bellies and poor growth. The worms may be seen in vomit or faeces; a severe infestation can cause death by intestinal blockage.
Roundworms can grow to seven inches in length. Females can produce 200 thousand eggs in a day, and these can exist in the soil for years. Dogs become infected by ingesting worm eggs from contaminated soil. The eggs hatch in the intestine and the resulting larva are carried to the lungs by the bloodstream.
Roundworms do not typically infest adults. However the larvae can activate in bitches during the last stages of pregnancy and infest puppies. Worming the bitch has no effect on the larvae and cannot prevent the worms from infecting the puppies.
Whipworms are common in dogs in the United States, but less common in the UK.
Dogs can be infected by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with whipworm eggs. The eggs are swallowed and, within three months, the larvae mature into adults in the large intestine where they feed on blood. Adult worms lay eggs that are passed in the faeces. The eggs must remain in the soil for about a month to mature and be capable of causing infection.
Small numbers of whipworms cause no signs, but larger numbers can result in inflammation of the intestinal wall. Large amounts of mucous are produced by the inflamed intestine. Sometimes haemorrhaging into the intestine occurs, and anaemia can result. Dogs may have diarrhoea and lose weight.
Whipworm eggs can live in soil for years and animals should be restricted from known contaminated areas. Faeces in the garden should be picked up on a daily basis.
Heartworm is caused by a parasitic roundworm which is spreads through the bites of mosquitoes. It is most common in North America, and rare in the UK. Although called ‘heart’ worm, the adult worm resides in the lung arteries, occasionally migrating to the heart.
Once a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, the larvae take around seven months to mature into adult worms which can grow up to twelve inches in length. A dog can have as many as 250 of these worms in his system.
Early signs include a cough, especially on exercise, and exhaustion upon exercise. In the most advanced cases where many adult worms have built up in the heart without treatment, signs progress to severe weight loss, fainting, coughing up blood and, finally, congestive heart failure.
Treatment is tough on the dog, lengthy, and does involve risk, although healthy adult dogs do have a good prognosis.
There are a number of conventional preventatives on the market although one, ProHeart 6, was taken off the market due to unacceptable side-effects, only to be reintroduced alongside much controversy.
Hookworms cause anaemia in young dogs. Puppies can contract hookworms in the uterus and the dam can infect puppies through her milk. Symptoms in puppies include bloody diarrhoea, weight loss and weakness. Severe hookworm infestation can kill puppies. Adults can take in hookworm from infected soil but they are not as serious for adult dogs as they are for puppies.
Tapeworms are transmitted to dogs who eat fleas and who eat wildlife infested with tapeworms or fleas. The dog sheds flat segments of the tapeworm containing the eggs in its faeces. These segments move about shortly after excretion. They look like grains of rice when dried and can be found either in the dog's stool or stuck to the hair around his anus. Tapeworms cannot be killed by the typical over-the-counter wormer; see your vet for appropriate treatment.
Roundworms are found in the intestines of nine out of ten puppies, causing pot-bellies and poor growth. The worms may be seen in vomit or faeces; a severe infestation can cause death by intestinal blockage.
Roundworms can grow to seven inches in length. Females can produce 200 thousand eggs in a day, and these can exist in the soil for years. Dogs become infected by ingesting worm eggs from contaminated soil. The eggs hatch in the intestine and the resulting larva are carried to the lungs by the bloodstream.
Roundworms do not typically infest adults. However the larvae can activate in bitches during the last stages of pregnancy and infest puppies. Worming the bitch has no effect on the larvae and cannot prevent the worms from infecting the puppies.
Whipworms are common in dogs in the United States, but less common in the UK.
Dogs can be infected by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with whipworm eggs. The eggs are swallowed and, within three months, the larvae mature into adults in the large intestine where they feed on blood. Adult worms lay eggs that are passed in the faeces. The eggs must remain in the soil for about a month to mature and be capable of causing infection.
Small numbers of whipworms cause no signs, but larger numbers can result in inflammation of the intestinal wall. Large amounts of mucous are produced by the inflamed intestine. Sometimes haemorrhaging into the intestine occurs, and anaemia can result. Dogs may have diarrhoea and lose weight.
Whipworm eggs can live in soil for years and animals should be restricted from known contaminated areas. Faeces in the garden should be picked up on a daily basis.
Heartworm is caused by a parasitic roundworm which is spreads through the bites of mosquitoes. It is most common in North America, and rare in the UK. Although called ‘heart’ worm, the adult worm resides in the lung arteries, occasionally migrating to the heart.
Once a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, the larvae take around seven months to mature into adult worms which can grow up to twelve inches in length. A dog can have as many as 250 of these worms in his system.
Early signs include a cough, especially on exercise, and exhaustion upon exercise. In the most advanced cases where many adult worms have built up in the heart without treatment, signs progress to severe weight loss, fainting, coughing up blood and, finally, congestive heart failure.
Treatment is tough on the dog, lengthy, and does involve risk, although healthy adult dogs do have a good prognosis.
There are a number of conventional preventatives on the market although one, ProHeart 6, was taken off the market due to unacceptable side-effects, only to be reintroduced alongside much controversy.
The health of an animal is key where worms are concerned. Healthy dogs rarely have worm infestations. A diet of fresh raw foods with garlic, vitamins and minerals, will help to repel fleas and mosquitoes, and reduce the likelihood of worms.
When a dog eats raw meaty bones and other biologically appropriate foods, they pass through the digestive system within four to six hours. Most of this food is metabolised and utilised by the dog. Faeces are small, hard and dry. The dog has energy left over to maintain and repair tissue and bodily functions.
When a dog is fed processed pet food containing a high proportion of grains, on the other hand, it takes twelve to fourteen hours for the dog to try to metabolise these foods. Worms thrive on processed pet food and have lots of gloopy residue to keep them in place. The dog is exhausted trying to process this junk.
It’s known that wild animals are resistant to heartworm, and suffer at most only light infestations before becoming immune. As many as 50% of dogs in areas with high heartworm infestations become immune after being infected. Most do not acquire more heartworms after being infected by a few, even if mosquitoes continue to bite them, so the extent of infestation is limited.
What does this tell you? Does it tell you that the dog’s strength and vitality, and his immune system, need to be supported in order to prevent worm infestation? A wholesome diet, regular exercise, limited drug use and the avoidance of commercial flea products will produce a healthy, vital, dog.
If all of the above are in place, you shouldn't need to worm your dogs regularly. Ask your vet to check a stool sample if in doubt. Most naturally reared dogs never need worming, but I don't rule out the use of conventional worming products in severe cases of infestation.
There are a number of natural worming products. These include Diatomaceous Earth, Verm-X, garlic (which is anti-worm), grapefruitseed extract, and a number of homeopathic remedies. Arbrotanum 3x is a good worm preventative. A homeopathic combination of Cina, Granatum and Filix mas help prevent roundworm and tapeworm in pets.
You can find natural wormers (and detox treatments) on our online store at http://CHCStore.weebly.com
Healthy dogs that are fed a natural raw diet can go through their whole life without getting worms at all. For peace of mind or as a preventative you may wish to use natural wormers as per the link in the previous paragraph. Otherwise, if you suspect your dog may have worms you can get this checked via Wormcount.com
There simply is no need to use harsh chemical wormers from pet shops and vets etc as a preventative, and only in extreme circumstances would they ever be needed to treat a condition.
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