There may be no warning before dog worms strike.
It was about two AM, when beneath our bed the new puppy we'd brought home from the pound just a month earlier began screaming.
Not yipping or whining -- this was the kind of agonized screams that'll stand your hair up on end. Our cute, playful new puppy was being eaten alive from inside.
He had worms, even though he'd received all the right shots just a few weeks before.
Now he was dying, right there under our bed, and we weren't able to save him. The worms were just too advanced.
He had been a happy little guy, playful and filled with fun. So that night -- and those screams -- have stayed with me a very long time.
An experience like that will change your attitude fast. It sure changed mine. Up till then I'd been a bit cavalier about health care for my pets.
However, dog worms are serious business. They need to be treated as soon as possible. And even if you're not sure, get your dog tested anyway, just to be safe. Being safe is far better than listening helplessly to your dog die in the night.
If your dog has diarrhea, the cause can be dog worms and you should make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.
To determine if dog worms are the problem you will need to take a stool sample to your vet. In some cases, however, dog worms can occur even when your dog has normal stools. A yearly stool exam is needed to make sure your dog doesn't have worms. Puppies should be checked more often.
There are several types of worms. Your vet can test for all kinds and give the appropriate treatment.
Roundworms are the most common, and are usually found in newborn puppies. Older dogs usually don't have problems with roundworms.
Hookworms are also common. This worm lodges in the small intestine of the dog. When your dog has hookworms he will often have vomiting and diarrhea. In young puppies this can cause anemia and other complications.
Whipworms live in the junction where the large and small intestines meet. These worms cause inflammation in the lower part of the GI tract, and the symptoms resemble those of colitis. Whipworms are difficult to diagnose, but your vet will usually treat your dog according to the clinical signs.
Some dog worms need a host in order to be transmitted. This type includes tapeworms. Fleas most often serve as the host to carry these worms.
The flea ingests the eggs and acts as host for the larvae. then the dog swallows the flea with its tapeworm already present.
Often dogs with tapeworms do not show clinical signs. With no obvious symptoms, this makes it hard to diagnose the problem. However, if you often see your dog rubbing his bottom along the ground or on the floor, he may have an infestation of tapeworms.
It's important to get your dog checked. You don't have to learn the hard way like I did.
Dog worms are a serious health hazard. They impact your dog's health and should be taken care of the minute you even suspect there could be a problem.
Puppy-Toy-Tips.com
Learn great ways to use puppy toys for training and socializing your new pup. Make sure you're on the right track when training your dog. Also, be sure to get the free eBook of puppy coloring pages for your kids.
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
article_text... Read More
Chihuahua Training is Easy! You may be wondering if Chihuahua training is easy or hard... Read More
The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! Such caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you... Read More
By Jeffrey Rolocopyright 2004 AlphaHorseIn the dating world many men and women put their potential partners to a "dog test," whereby they introduce their date to their dog and see how the dog reacts to the stranger... Read More
One of the reasons I strongly encourage horse owners to train their own horses rather than ship them away to a professional trainer is familiarity... Read More
Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental basis for every aspect of your dog's life... Read More
PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have digestion problems, diarrhea, skin problems, food intolerances, or other chronic health problems? Supplement with a high quality pet probiotic to restore your pet's healthy gut, and chances are you'll improve your pet's health... Read More
Problems with Commercial Flea Killers & TraditionalFlea Bite Treatments***Chemicals that act as poisons are strong enough tokill fleas, but the long term effects on pets areunknown, although they are probably not safe touse... Read More