As gross as it may be,worms are pretty common in puppies. Most newborn puppies even have a few roundworms contracted from their mother. There are several different types of worms:
- Roundworms
These are the most common type of dog worms and are often transmitted from mother to puppy.
In puppies, symptoms of a roundworm problem can include a thin, scrawny (or skinny) appearance but often the puppy also has a round, distended tummy.
A dull, coarse and out-of-condition coat is another sign.
Roundworms can usually be easily seen in your puppy's stools, and if he has a lot of roundworms he may even vomit, cough or have frequent diarrhea.... sometimes even coughing up worms. Not nice!
If proper hygiene isn't followed it's possible that these parasites could be to transmitted to human members of your family. Children are especially susceptible to this as they're not known for their effective hand washing technique!
Make sure that your family always washes their hands after playing with, or handling, your pup.
Although you can buy over-the-counter worm medicines at many pet stores or superstores, many of them are ineffective and can even be dangerous. In most cases it's best to have your veterinarian deworm your puppy himself, or prescribe medication for you to administer at home.
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Tapeworms
Another common type of worm, tapeworm, is spread by fleas. The worms are then shed in your puppy's feces... these are usually in segments which look a lot like single grains of white rice.
If you check your puppy's poop you will most likely be able to tell whether or not he has tapeworms.
However, the definitive test needs to be done at your veterinarians office, where they can prescribe the right medication to fix the problem.
The most common tapeworms are not easily transmitted, or dangerous to, people.
But there is a variety that can cause serious health problems and even death in humans so again, good hygiene is a MUST.
Treating your puppy with an effective topical flea preventative is very effective in protecting both your puppy, and your family, from this type of puppy worms.
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Whipworms
These are more common in dogs than most people think, perhaps because they're often difficult to detect. Your pup is at risk of catching whipworms if he eats something that's been in contact with contaminated soil or feces.
To treat a case of whipworms effectively, the right medication needs to be given, and then repeated at specific intervals in order to get rid of all the worms who are at different stages of development.
- Heartworms
Of all puppy worms, this is the most dangerous. As it's name suggests it isn't an intestinal worm, but one that attacks the heart.... and it's always serious, and often fatal. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes.
As it isn't easy to detect in the early stages, regular tests by your veterinarian (often yearly) for these parasites are recommended.
Treatment for heartworms is long, complicated and expensive so this is definitely a case where prevention is WAY BETTER than the cure.
As you can see preventative measures are far easier and less expensive than treatment.
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