Metres Pale

What You Need To Know About Worms In Dogs

Worms in dogs and the potential health risk they pose not only to the pets but to people as well should always be at the forefront of responsible dog owners’ minds. A type of internal parasite, worms in dogs can cause ill health in both humans and dogs.

Often, there are no outward signs of ill health until the worms in dogs have already caused damage. Worms in dogs are difficult to spot, but be alert for general loss of condition, sickness and diarrhoea.There are two types of worms in dogs: roundworms and tapeworms.

Roundworms

Roundworms, which are very pale white or beige coloured, look as though they are coiled in the shape of a spring and can grow as long as 100mm. They might be visible in your pet’s faeces or vomit. Roundworm larvae find their way into the dog’s body when they are ingested and adult worms then develop inside the dog’s body. The eggs are then passed out in faeces, allowing the worm’s life cycle to be completed. Unfortunately, the most common type of roundworm is dogs is Toxocare Canis and it can have devastating effects on human children.If children ingest the eggs through contact with contaminated soil, the larvae can migrate through their bodies. Should the larvae reach the eyes, they have the potential to cause serious damage to the eyesight. This is one of the main reasons why dog owners should always pick up after their pet.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms look like flat segments filled with moving eggs which resemble grains of rice and which you may be able to see in your dog’s faeces or around his anus. Dogs become infected with tapeworms by swallowing fleas carrying their larvae whilst grooming. Inside the dog, tapeworms can grow as long as 5m.

As with most conditions the old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ is true of worms in dogs. It is therefore important to ensure your dog is wormed every three months. Young puppies require worming even more regularly than that. Many effective wormers are available from pet shops and veterinary surgeries at affordable prices: ask your vet for the most appropriate one.

Part 3 – My Shore Adventure (Chs 13-15) – Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson