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Worms in dogs are a kind of parasite that mostly live in the intestine of a dog. They are mostly harmless, but some types of worms such as heartworm and hookworm can be deadly. Understanding how to protect your dog from worms will aid you in that you and your dog will not have to be worried about any serious health risk they might pose. The most important thing that you want to watch out for is being able to recognize worms and if necessary treat them correctly. This article describes the top 10 facts you need to know about keeping your dog safe from worms. 1. There are a few types of worms dogs become infested with - whipworm, roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm and heartworm. Hookworm and heartworm can be dangerous but most other types aren't. Heartworm is primarily dangerous because it lives inside the heart of a dog and can cause heart failure. 2. Most puppies have roundworm passed onto them by their mother. it's a good idea to get rid of them, though they are quite harmless. They can make your puppy hungry, or enlarge their belly. Sometimes they might also vomit them if infested with high amounts. 3. Hookworm is dangerous because unlike most worms that feed on a dog's food, they feed on a dog's blood. This can cause anemia and potentially result in death. A dog that has these worms will be noticeably weaker and their feces will be black. 4. Dogs can become infected with tapeworm if they go out hunting or swallow a flea. A dog will be more hungry than usual if they have one of these worms. As they try to pass them they can also become stuck to a dog's rear end. 5. Whipworm shows no noticeable signs in most cases as it remains dormant, though it is the most common worm they will encounter. In larger amounts it might cause diarrhea and weight loss. 6. Heartworm is passed onto a dog through mosquitoes and it's necessary to give your dog a monthly heartworm preventative to keep them safe. Just a few worms rarely make a dog sick, but with a lot they will need to be hospitalized. 7. Recognizing if your dog has worms is important just in case you need to treat them. Often you can visually see them in feces or vomit as your dog's body tries to pass them naturally. You should also watch for other signs such as weight loss, diarrhea, increased appetite or a lack of energy. 8. One of the other signs a dog might have worms is if you see them rubbing their rear end along the floor. This is in an effort to remove the irritation, but it can actually be a symptom of other conditions as well. 9. Once they get over worms as a puppy, dogs are usually immune for life. With a healthy diet they usually don't need to worry about them. If your dog ever does have worms, then a chemical dewormer from your vet is all that's required to treat them. 10. If you want to prevent your dog getting worms there are some other steps you can take. Don't let them eat feces or animal remains and try to limit their contact with stray dogs or wildlife. You should also keep your dog treated for fleas as these can sometimes pass on worms. If you're interested in reading more about signs of worms in puppies and other related topics have a read of heartmydog.com.
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