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Causes and Treatments for
Worms in Dogs
It's important you learn about causes of worms in dogs to protect your pet from numerous diseases, and possibly even death.
You also need to know what the symptoms of dog worms are and how to get rid of them.
There are a lot of myths about dog worms. What you will find here is information that I hope will dispel some of the myths about worms in puppies.
But if you suspect your puppy or adult dog has worms, talk to your veterinarian. He or she will determine the best treatment for your pet.
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Causes of Worms in Dogs
Virtually all puppies are born with worms. Even if your puppy was born worm-free, he can still get infected quite easily.
How?
- Mosquitoes often transmit Heartworms from dog to dog. The following video discusses heart worms in dogs...
- If you feed your dog an uncooked meat or fish, he can easily consume several varieties of intestinal worms.
- Worm eggs can survive for up to 5 or 7 years on the ground. Even a single sniff in the wrong spot can cause an infection.
- Finally, have you ever seen a dog eating feces? Aside from being disgusting to watch, this activity, especially if feces is from an infected dog, will almost always result in an infection.
Learn more about How to Keep your Dog Healthy
What Are the Symptoms of Worms in Dogs?
Dog worms are responsible for so many health issues and exhibit so many symptoms that it's impossible to list them all. What I will try to do is to list the most common symptoms of worms in puppies.
The most common and easily observed symptom is a mouth odor, sometimes referred to as "puppy breath". This odor is a good indication of intestinal worms (another cause can be dental problems. Visit dog teeth cleaning for more information).
Here are some other symptoms of worms in dogs…
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Good appetite but the weight is going down
- Poor appetite
- Your dog sits and rubs his rear end along the ground
- White segments in dog feces (these could be segments of a tape worm)
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your dog, talk to your veterinarian. He or she will prescribe a de-worming treatment for your puppy.
After the initial treatment, you can keep your puppy worm-free with some medications that you can easily administer at home (more about medications a little later).
Keeping your Puppy Free of Worms
When you bring your puppy for an initial visit, a veterinarian will perform a stool analysis and if needed, provide a de-worming treatment. After an initial treatment, your vet may take more samples to see if an additional treatment is required.
For your part, follow these tips to keep your dog worm-free:
- Don't feed your dog raw meats or fish (some dogs do love fish!)
- Keep your yard clean of dog feces (some dogs like to eat feces, which may contain worm eggs)
- When you take him for a walk, watch what he is sniffing
- Keep your dog's crate and sleeping area clean
The most effective medications for treatment of worms in dogs are sold by prescription only.
You can buy them from your vet or, to save money, buy them on-line.
Because most of the human and pet medications sold over the Internet are counterfeit, make sure you buy from a reputable company. If you see a website selling a prescription medication without a prescription, run from them.
I buy all Bo's medications, shampoos, vitamins, supplements, and even some toys, from
1-800-PetMeds. They are a lot cheaper than my vet and I have peace of mind that the medications I buy from them are not counterfeit and will not harm my dog.
Here is how it works…
When I place an order, I provide them with my vet's contact information. They contact her, she confirms the prescription and the order is shipped. Easy.
Here are some over-the-counter de-worming medications that are effective at treating minor to medium infestations and preventing future worm re-infestations. You can buy them without a prescription...
WormXPlus is a pork liver flavored chewable tablet de-wormer that's effective agains roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
Worm Protector 2X Double Strength Liquid Wormer is an over the counter product used for removal of large roundworms and hookworms in dogs and puppies.
It may also be used to prevent reinfestion of roundworms in puppies and adult dogs.
It comes in liquid form and can be given directly to your pet or mixed with food.
HomeoPet Worm Clear is a homeopathic product. It's 100% natural and comes in liquid form.
The 2 advantages of liquid medications are that they act faster than pills and are easier to mix with water.
The last point is especially important because some dogs, no matter how hard you try, will not eat pills.
HomeoPet Worm Clear will remove Hookworms, Roundworms and Tapeworms.
Controlling worms in dogs is not complicated. It really isn't! As long as you take your dog for regular checkups and take precautions as I suggest here, your dog will be healthy and worm-free.
Visit puppy worms for more information on de-worming medications you can administer at home, including those that don't require a prescription, and additional information on worms in dogs.
As a dog owner, you are responsible for your puppy's health. A good source for dog health information, including puppy care and preventive medicine, how to protect your pet from worms and ticks, dog food, and how to recognize if your pet needs immediate medical attention, is the Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.
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I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common dog health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
