Pampered Dog Blog

Worms in dogs are a frequent problem for UK pets and their owners. They can lead to ill health and distress in our pets and can re-infest them at any time. All over the world there are many types of worms in dogs and in the UK we are fortunate enough to have to deal primarily with only two. They are known as the roundworm and the tapeworm.

Roundworms are problematic because they are passed from one animal to another and many puppies are even born carrying them. This type of worm resembles short lengths of spaghetti. Adult worms live in the intestines of the dog where they feed on the contents. This means that the partially digested food is eaten by the worms, forcing your dog to share its dinner. The amount of worms present depends on whether the infestation is very severe or not, but it is possible that dozens of worms could be present at any one time. Of course, it follows that a dogs which is being forced to share its food with large numbers of parasites will become malnourished. A severe infestation of worms in dogs might be identifiable by the animal’s dull coat or apparent lack of energy. The dog may also suffer with diarrhoea and vomiting. Puppies with roundworms typically have a swollen abdomen and delayed growth. If a puppy with roundworm is left without treatment he or she could die from intestinal blockage. However, do remember that worms in dogs do not always cause the appearance of symptoms. Regular worming treatment is therefore very important.

In adult dogs, the larvae of the worms move around the body until they settle in cysts in the muscles. Even worming treatment cannot eliminate the larvae when it has formed a cyst in a muscle. The larvae can remain inactive in the dog’s body until they reawaken during a time of stress. They will normally reactivate when the dog is pregnant and migrate to the womb to infest the puppies. This means it is very important to worm all puppies.

Worms in dogs are a problem that can actually affect humans as well. Children are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to come into contact with worm eggs in contaminated soil or sand whilst playing. Worm larvae migrating through the human body can cause lasting damage if they reach the back of the eye. Regular treatment for worms in dogs is therefore vital to protect the health of the entire family.