For pet owners, worms in dogs can be a cause for concern. Despite this, an infestation should never come as a surprise. Every dog will have a worm infection at some point of their lives, with the vast majority born infected or infected soon after birth. Worms will be a recurring problem unless your pet is regularly treated with a vet-endorsed worming product.
Whilst the consequences of worms in dogs are rarely serious, it is important to remember that there can be complications, particularly in puppies and that because treatment is so simple and inexpensive there is no excuse not to prevent worms.
The effects of an infestation of common types of worms in dogs on your pet can vary from unnoticeable to severe. In puppies delayed growth and even death can result from infestation. This is because the worms live in the dog's intestine and effectively eats his food. This means that the dog could well become run down, suffering with anaemia and diarrhoea.
There are two types of worms in dogs which are prevalent in the UK: roundworms and tapeworms. Roundworms are those that are usually present in puppies from birth or a very young age. They grow in the intestine where they lay hundreds and thousands of eggs which are subsequently passed in the faeces. Other dogs then ingest the eggs and the cycle continues. They can also be passed from mother to puppy in the womb or in milk.
Tapeworms are passed on primarily by fleas, which ingest larvae from the faeces of infected dogs. Dogs later ingest fleas whilst grooming, allowing the worms a way into the dog's gut.
The only way to prevent worms in dogs are to regularly worm the animals, clean up faeces, treating for fleas and promoting hand hygiene for the whole family.
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