PetsMeds

Worms

Worms are very common in our pets. We need to know the signs and treatment to get our pets out of the harms way. The worms can be passed from pet to pet and from pet to human.

Common signs of worm Infections:

• A change n your dogs appetite, a distended abdomen in puppies, coughing of hiccupping resulting from the coughing up of worm larvae emerging from the lungs. Weight loss, weakness, a dull coat, vomiting or diarrhea observing the worms-either round worm, which looks like spaghetti, or tapeworm segments that look like grains of rice in the stool or on the fur.
• Exercise intolerance, due to heartworms.

Steps to prevent worm infections:

• Have your veterinarian screen your dog for worms twice a year-and more often if your pet is at high risk of worms. Examples of high risk pets pet are those animals living in crowded urban areas, show pets, hunting dogs, and multiple pet households. Worm your pet only under a veterinarian's guidance. The newer heartworm preventatives are also effective against some of the major intestinal parasites- round worm, hookworm, and whipworm, as well as heartworm.
• Control fleas, which can carry certain tape- worms. These tapeworms can be transmitted to dogs or people who accidentally swallow an infected flea.
• Prevent your dog from eating animal carcasses, such as rabbits and rodents, which may contain immature tape worms that will mature in your pet.
• Maintain good hygiene. For instance, whipworm and roundworm eggs dropped to the soil in your dog's feces can remain infectious for years, while hook worm larvae can accumulate in the earth of a dog run. This is much safer than having a soil or gravel surface in which worms can survive.

Let's do everything we can to make sure our pets do not get worms. Remember to look at your pets feces every once in a while to check to see if you see anything that looks like worms. Then remember to take your pet to the vet at leas once a year.