Intestinal worms can cause major health problems in your dog – and can even be fatal in some cases. They can also pose a real threat to people and cross-infect children.
For these reasons, pet parents must take extra precaution in making sure that their fur babies are free of worms.
Dogs are easily vulnerable to worms and other parasites due to their usual hobby of sniffing, licking, and gobbling whatever they see around them. They do this using their noses and mouths, therefore easily pass on the unwanted critters to their animal and human playmates.
There are five worm types that commonly affect dogs – roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms. While each of these parasites affects your pet in different ways, there are common indicators that may suggest that your fur baby is infected. The general symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain, change in appetite, weight loss, vomiting, and an overall poor appearance.
If you feel that your dog has worms, take him or her to the vet with a fresh stool sample. The stool needs to be checked using a microscope to see if it has worms or worm eggs. Do not worry if you cannot make your pet poop prior to the visit because the vet can do it for you instead.
CAN YOU GET WORMS FROM YOUR DOG?
It is a yes. That is why it is especially important that you take extra precaution as a pet parent to reduce the risks of contracting worm-related illnesses to the household or people around you. The most common types of worms that humans acquire from their pets are roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
One roundworm can produce 250,000 eggs in a day. They can cause disease to humans if these eggs get ingested. Similar to roundworms, tapeworm’s eggs are passed out through your pet’s feces. It is possible to unknowingly ingest these microscopic organisms especially when handling our pet’s body waste, so make sure to keep our waste cleaning routine as hygienic as possible.
Hookworms are picked up by pets from eating or licking soil or dead animals such as rodents or birds. Tapeworm larvae are also able to penetrate the skin, not only of animals but also of humans, so we must avoid walking with our pets in bare feet.
As responsible pet owners, it is a must to make sure that your dog is worm-free. One way to do this is by deworming them via home treatments which will wipe out the worms and other parasites in their bodies. We highly recommend Safe-Guard wormers for your fur baby.
This safe and effective 3-day treatment program kills Tapeworms, Roundworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms. It is composed of granules that can be mixed into your dog’s food, and lasts for up to six months. It is safe for puppies over 6 weeks old, as well as pregnant dogs and dogs infected with heartworm. This dewormer should be administered for 3 consecutive days for the most effective result. Do watch for any signs of upset though, and if you’re concerned, contact your vet. Every package has three 4-gram pouches, with each pouch being effective in treating dogs weighing 40 pounds.
