Don't Read Right After Eating....

Today's topic is internal parasites found in a dog. Yippee!

• Roundworms are present in all newborn puppies. They are about6 inches long and the thickness of a pencil. A puppy afflicted with roundworms will have a dull coat, foul "sweet-smelling" breath, and pot-bellied apearance. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and what is called "venomous pneunomia," which can open the wy for secondary bacterial infections. It is not preventable but easily treated if detected early.
• Hookworms are about one-half inch and attach themselves to the intestinal walls to suck blood. Not all puppies are born with it but some are. A puppy from a good breeder should not be infested with hookworms. A dog with hookworm disease will have a poor coat, and show signs of anemia (pale gums) and will have bloody or tarry poop. Both roundworms and hookworms can cause clinical disease in humans.
• Tapeworms are the largest but least harmful internal parasites. The flea is the most common carrier of the most common type of tapeworm. Another type can be ingested if a dog eats a dead rodent or rabbit. The most common symptom is the presence of segments in the poop. The segments are flat and up to one-half inch long. They may be moving. Some may also be seen near the(forgive me for saying this) anus of the animal. They will look rice-like when dried out. A dog with tapeworms may "scoot" or drag his hind end on the ground, but this is more commonly caused by impacted(sorry again) anal glands.
• Whipworms are small, threadlike worms. They are about 2 inches long and resemble miniature whips. They live in the cecum of the dog, or the "blind gut." Whipworms are harder to treat than worms in the rest of the digestive system, so prevention is important. Symptoms include weight loss, poor coat, and loose poop that may contain mucus. Some dogs can have a light infection and not show symptoms, but have a flare-up if subjected to stress. Whipworms lay eggs sporadically and are hard to diagnose.
• Heartworms affect the circulatory system rather than the digestive, as most other worms do. It is spread by mosquitoes and part of the routine at the vet is a test for the presence of these worms. They are silent killers, but new once-a-month medication for heartworms and other parasites makes this easily preventable. These worms can be up to 12 inches in length. They gather in the circulatory system, mostly in the heart. If the worms die too abruptly they can clog the system which will lead to the death of the dog. Plus, the agents used to kill heartworms are quite toxic. Symptoms vary according to primary site of infestation, but the most common are a lack of energy and a quiet, non-productive cough. The actual disease may take up to a year to develop after the dog has been infected.

So next time you lay eyes on Fido, look at him carefully- is he safe and healthy? A healthy dog has bright eyes, a shiny coat, a good appetite, and a good energy level. Is your dog healthy? He's given you so much- it's time to give a little more in return.