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Symptoms Of Worms In Dogs

SYMPTOMS OF WORMS IN DOGS
By Tess Thompson

The most common among the worms that infest dogs are:

Hookworms
Tapeworms
Roundworms.
Whipworms.
Heartworms.

The simplest manner in which you can confirm the presence of worms in dogs is by observing the animal’s feces. Roundworms are the easiest to spot as most of the times whole worms can be seen in the feces. The structure of dog tapeworms comprises of segments and small segments that detach form the main body can be seen sticking to the dog’s anus or the tail.

Hookworms and whipworms are very small and therefore cannot be spotted in the dog’s excreta with the naked eye. Heartworm is not an intestinal parasite and is not passed out with the waste that comes out of the intestines.

Sometimes worms do not get excreted in the stool. And therefore it is imperative that pet owners know the types of worms that can infest pets and the symptoms of worms in dogs and cats. This can allow them to identify certain symptoms of worms irrespective of whether they appear in the stools or not.

Even though some worms are more harmful than others, all types of worms are detrimental to your dog’s health. Diarrhea, inactivity, appetite loss and vomiting are some of the common symptoms that are indicative of any worm infestation. There are however, some typical symptoms related to different types of worms.

Young dogs that are severely infested with roundworms have a poor starting coat and a potbellied appearance. When roundworm larvae appear in the lungs they can cause bronchitis.

Hookworms are blood suckers and can effectively drain and consume energy from whatever the dog eats. Severe hookworm presence in a dog leads to anemia and diminished vitality. Puppies do not have fully developed blood replacing systems in the body and therefore hookworms in puppies can prove to be fatal.

Dog tapeworms produce a typical behavior. Dogs tend to drag their rear end along the ground as if trying to find relief from irritation. Whipworms usually do not produce any visible discomfort or a behavior that is typical. But smelly tar like diarrhea is one of the signs that should inspire you to look for further investigations.

Heartworms are not a common occurrence in dogs in cold countries but their presence cannot be ruled out altogether. Heartworms live in the heart and the adjoining blood vessels and the symptoms are normally similar to what you would associate with a heart disease. These are inability to tolerate exercise and fluid retention in the abdomen.

Canine and feline parasites can be highly problematic. Roundworms and tapeworms can block intestinal passages by sheer numbers. Hookworms can totally drain energy by denying the host dog of all benefits of diet. The encouraging part is that most worms are easy to cure by a simple de-worming course. An early detection is possible but only through keen observation.

References:
http://acay.com.au/~dissi/sbc/worms.htm
http://peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1622&articleid=1069
http://animalhealthchannel.com/worms/