Stay informed of the types of worms in dogs and the best treatment available

Infection of worms can be a serious health issue in dogs and puppies. Pet owners need to be super vigilant about worm infestations to secure their dogs' good health in the long run. If such problems are left untreated, they can cause even more serious health problems in dogs, including malnutrition and discomfort. As pet owners, it is crucial to know the different types of worms that might affect your dogs and the kind of discomfort they can bring around.

Usually, a vet examines the faecal droppings of dogs to examine the presence of different types of worms in dogs. Two major worm types that infect your dogs are roundworms and tapeworms. Various other types of worms might also infect your puppies. Traces of tapeworm can be seen in the faecal matter. For the other types of worms, microscopic investigation is the best way out. Regularly scheduled deworming in dogs can be helpful to keep them away from the infestations of the worms.

Hookworms or Ancyclostoma Caninium

Hookworm is an intestinal worm that is potentially transmissible to humans. Hookworm infestation can affect dogs at any age and in any condition. They are named hookworms as they have hook-like appendages helping them to cling to the inner wall of the dog’s intestine. Hookworms are potential parasites that draw blood from the body of the dogs leading to anaemia in severe cases. These types of worms in puppies live and grow in the dog’s intestine and can even be generationally transmitted from the mother dog to its puppy through the uterine pathway.

Here is how you can identify the presence of hookworms in your dogs

• Sudden Weight Loss
• Presence of Blood in the stool
• Anaemia (identifiable through paleness in the gums)
• Epidermal irritation
• Low energy

Hookworms are potential parasites for humans as well and can cause anaemia or diarrhoea.

Roundworms (Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara canis)

Around 4 inches in length and resembling the shape of very short segments of noodles, roundworms live in the dog’s intestine. They draw nutrition from the dog as an obligate parasite. Roundworms in the egg or larval stage form cysts in various muscles of the body. Toxocara canis is the most common type of canine worm that infects dogs in the UK, and this is the same species that affects humans as well. The larval form of the worm remains dormant in the dog’s body for years and gets activated all of a sudden.

The cysts also travel to the puppy’s body via the bloodstream or uterine pathway. They can even cause severe damage to the puppy by harming its eyesight and causing epilepsy.

Heartworms (Dilofilaris immitis)

One of the most fatal worm types in dogs although it is curable if treated in time. This worm is spread by a vector that is none other than mosquitoes. The mosquitoes initially bite an infected dog and carry the germs, and when they bite another healthy dog - the worm gets spread. So, this is mostly spread during the months when the mosquitoes are quite active. Heartworms, as the name reflects, are mostly derogatory for the heart of the dogs and in the long run, cause diseases like congestive heart failure. There are no identifiable symptoms of this disease in dogs unless it reaches an advanced stage. Dogs might catch this worm when travelling abroad - so pet owners need to be ultra-vigilant about the different types of worms in dogs.

Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum)

Long, flat segmented body - that is how tapeworms infecting the dogs look like. Each segment of the worm’s body is egg-filled and is transmissible to other dogs. The worm attaches itself to the intestinal wall of the dogs. Tapeworms are spread in dogs through intermediate hosts like mice or fleas. When the dogs feed on any of these intermediate hosts the worms get transmitted to their body. Tapeworms spread in the dogs of the UK through the infected fleas. These types of canine worms adhere to the dog’s gut wall and draw nutrition from it. Anaemia, loss of appetite, and consistent weight loss are some of the most prominent symptoms of this disease.

Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis)

One of the most difficult-to-identify strains of worms in dogs - that is not at all visible to the naked eye. It is mostly present in the colon of the dog causing intestinal bleeding in the dogs. Whipworm infestation also causes weight loss, anaemia, diarrhoea, flatulence or lack of energy. Regular testing of the faeces is the most effective way to prevent whipworm infestations.

Lungworms (Angiostrongylus Vasorum)

Also called Filarpides osleri is quite a rare worm in UK dogs. It mostly occurs in the kennels of greyhound racing. The probable symptoms of this pest infestation in UK dogs are cough and bronchial irritation. French heartworm is one of the most common species of this worm. The larvae of this worm spread as parasites through the lymph nodes, gut, pulmonary artery, and liver of the dogs. Usually, the worms enter the dog’s body through swallowing, then migrate to the tracheal tract and lead to excessive bleeding, coughing, seizures and even death

Preventing Worm Infestation in Dogs

Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some effective strategies that pet owners can abide by to prevent worm infestation in their dogs and ensure their good health:

• Regularly scheduled vet visits and faecal testing are great preventive measures for worm infestations
• Puppies should be regularly de-wormed
• Always focus on safe disposal of the dog’s stool as this helps in preventing contamination and the spread of germs. Try to keep the puppies from consuming their poop
• When travelling, be extra protective about your pets preventing their exposure to any stray animal or rodent that might act as vectors for the spread of worms
• Consciously sanitize their items of use

Worming Treatments

After successful identification of the worms in your dogs, the next step is focusing on their protection and killing of the existing worms. Usually, there exist two categories of worm treatment in dogs: Tablets and Liquid Suspension/Granules. Such medicines can be administered at regularly scheduled intervals or under expert supervision of the vets as per the needs of your dog. Some of the medications such as granules can be mixed in the food as it is tasteless. The tablets are often a combination of two or more active ingredients. The drugs can be administered even in the paste or suspension formulation.

Tablets

• Quick action tablets working against intestinal worms
• Available in multiple strengths
• Works on puppies and dogs weighing above 2 kg

• Ideal for non-pregnant and non-lactating dogs
• Works on 4 different types of dog worms
• Can be used on dogs over 2 weeks
• Highly palatable as it comes in a liver flavour

• Works on all common types of worms that infest dogs in the UK
• Dosage - 1 tablet per 10 kg body weight of the dog
• Direct administration of tablets or hidden form
• Full or half tablets can be administered for accurate dosing

• Offers protection against hookworm, roundworm, and tapeworm
• Can be administered on all dogs above 3 kg bodyweight
• Available in liver flavour
• Constituted of highly effective ingredients- Pyrantel, Praziquantel, and Febantel

Liquid Suspension / Granules

• Hard on roundworms and other intestinal parasites
• It can be used on puppies and dogs above the age of 2 weeks
• Available in 10% oral suspensions as well as granules for cats and dogs
• Direct administration as well as administration with food is possible
• Safe for pregnant and lactating dogs

Always consult your vet for more information on different types of worms in dogs and how to prevent the spread of these.