One of the most common problems a dog may have is worms. These parasites can cause serious damage if they are not treated immediately.
That’s why it is very important to get to know everything about worms in dogs, including the causes and ways to treat worms. Never ignore the signs of worms in dogs as they may lead to long-term health. You may also be interested to read symptoms of worms in cats.
What are worms in dogs? Worms are basically small parasites that are common in most dogs. There are several types of worms in dogs, such as roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms and heartworms. The symptoms of worms in dogs also rely on the type of the worm and breed of the dog.
Let’s see the common symptoms of worms in dogs and the best ways to treat it.
Common Symptoms of Worms in Dogs
There are some common symptoms of worms in dogs. The symptoms actually are different depending on the types of the worms. However, let’s see them generally. Here they are the common symptoms of worms in dogs:
- Â Vomiting
If your dog is vomiting, then it might be one of the signs of worms. Almost each type of worms is known to cause vomiting. Dogs with whipworms may vomit a yellow-green substance, while dogs with other worms may vomit visible worms.
However, vomiting can also be triggered by other health issues, such as indigestion. If you notice your dog keeps vomiting, it’s better to bring him immediately to the vet. Remember vomiting is a sign of another health problem.
Spend time reading home remedies for your vomiting dog. They are safe and easy to follow.
- Diarrhea
Soft stools and diarrhea may be the result of worms in dogs. Prolonged diarrhea may lead to dehydration which is very lethal to your dog. It is important to bring your dog immediately to the vet.
Dogs with hookworms may have blood in their stool. Bloody diarrhea develops as the infection gets worse and it may lead to chronic bloody diarrhea if it is not treated.
Diarrhea is not always caused by worms. It may also be caused by food. Prevent your dogs from getting diarrhea by avoiding these foods that can cause diarrhea in dogs.
- Low energy
Worms can also cause your dogs to be lethargic and less active than normal. The worms can cause this lack of energy as they are taking blood and nutrients from your dog.
Hookworm is a common parasite that is dangerous to kill puppies as it causes loss of blood. In adults, blood loss is also life-threatening if it is not treated immediately. So, if your dog is low on energy or weak, immediately contact your vet.
If you have puppies at home, make sure you know these tips on how to treat ringworm in puppies so you know what to do later if it happens.
- Other symptoms
There are also some other symptoms your dog may show while he is infected by worms, such as weight loss, visible worms in fur or feces, itchiness and signs of skin irritations, dull coat and change of appetite.
How to Treat Worms in Dogs?
After knowing all the causes of worms in dogs, then it is time to know the best ways to treat worms in dogs. Here are several ways to treat worms in dogs:
- Call the vet
Once you think that your dog might have worms, then you should contact your vet immediately. Why? It is because if worms are left untreated in dogs, the intestinal parasites may migrate to other organs in your dog’s body, including the heart, lungs, liver, eyes and even brain. This condition may lead to worsening sickness and even death.
- Deworming
After your vet diagnosed the worms your dog has, then it is time to do deworming. Remember to use deworming medication prescribed by your vet.
Your vet may prescribe an oral or injectable dewormer that will kill both the adult and larval worms. Your vet may also recommend your dog to have monthly topical or oral flea prevention since tapeworms can recur when there are fleas in your dog’s environment.
Oral dewormers can be used to treat hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm infections but they must be only administered according to your vet’s instructions.
It may also require multiple doses to kill any larvae that may have hatched even after the first dose was given. Don’t worry, oral dewormers don’t give any side effects.
It is not suggested to purchase over-the-counter or natural remedies to treat intestinal parasites. You may get some information that it is faster and cheaper, but there is no guarantee that those products are safe or effective. They may even be harmful to your dogs instead. So, make sure you only give dewormers that are prescribed by the vet.
Worms in dogs is one of the common diseases dogs experience. You can find some other unknown but deadly diseases every owner should know.