My Dog Has Worms, What Do I Do?

If you're a dog owner then, at one time or another, you will have to treat your dog for a worm infestation. These freeloaders are sometimes a mere irritation and at other times a serious health risk. Some merely take nutrients from the food the dog eats, others can cause illness and even death.

Forewarned is forearmed as they say, and in this article we offer advice on the symptoms you should watch out for, and the actions you need to take to rid your dog of worms.

There are actually a number of different worm species that typically affect dogs. Round worms and hookworms are the most common, but there are also pinworms, tapeworms, whipworms and heartworms, to name a few. Many of these species are zoonotic, meaning they can also infest humans, particularly children.

If that's not enough to motivate you to immediate action, consider the serious health risks worms carry for your dog. A worm infestation can result in weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. In more severe cases they can even damage tissue, and cause major organs to fail.

So what are the symptoms that indicate a worm infestation? The most common signs are, a drop in weight, loss of appetite, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. In addition, the dog may start to display a noticeable "pot belly".

If you notice these symptoms you should take your dog to the vet for an examination, as soon as possible.

The good news is that it's quite easy to get rid of worms. The vet can prescribe something, or you can even use one of the many over-the-counter remedies to eradicate these parasites. Be aware though that these drugs are actually pesticides, and prolonged usage may result in other health problems for your dog.

In recent years a number of companies have released natural de-worming products. These are said to be very effective, without the risks associated with chemicals, so you may want to give them a try.

So far we've only talked about treating your dog after the fact. However, there are things you should be doing to reduce the risk of a worm infestation.

Start by keeping your dog free of fleas, as tapeworm cannot infect your dog without them.

In you live in a heartworm area you should also, definitely, ensure that he gets a preventative. Heartworms are one of the most dangerous dog worm species, and a severe infestation can result in death.

You should also take care to keep your dog's living area clean, and pick up faeces from your yard and garden as soon as you can.

One final point, have a word with your vet before giving any deworming product to your dog, even a natural one.

dogsanddogtraining.com has lots more information about dog worms, including advice on treating tapeworms in dogs.

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