Dogs, especially when they are puppies, are often infested with parasites, including worms. Owners often do not notice anything until the problem becomes evident and the animal falls ill. The vet is able to spot it, but the dog may have worms even when the stool tests are negative. It is possible to control parasites with drug therapies, although in some cases they cannot be completely eliminated when the eggs and larvae are in a dormant phase. The best way to defeat an intestinal parasitosis is first of all to prevent it. The treatments and preventive examinations, carried out regularly, will help to eradicate the infestation.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Eliminate Worms from the Dog's Environment
Step 1. Regularly clean dog areas to remove manure and other waste
Your furry friend could become infected with excrement left in the garden for a long time. Use a dustpan to dispose of his feces every day. Do not allow them to accumulate, otherwise they could become a danger to his health.
Wash your blankets at least once a week. This way, you can prevent fleas and other parasites from growing in the fibers or in the bed
Step 2. Clean his area often
Keeping his playpen or play area clean is one of the best ways to prevent intestinal parasites. In particular, hookworms live in the soil and can enter the body through the skin of the paws or be ingested when the animal licks them.
- If your pooch's home is a concrete playpen, wash it with a bleach solution diluted with water. Pour 1 part of bleach into 32 parts of water.
- In severe cases of external hookworm infestation, consider treating the area with borax. Keep in mind that this substance kills both weed and worms.
Step 3. Keep him away from other animals' droppings when walking
Dogs like to walk with their noses on the ground and smell other animals. Unfortunately, by smelling feces and urine, they can come into contact with parasites. If you notice excrement in your path, move it away.
Also, keep it away from animals that may be suffering from parasites. If you come across an unfamiliar dog or cat on a walk, don't let them come near you
Part 2 of 3: Eliminate the Parasites that Carry Worms
Step 1. Monitor any mice or rat infestations by using appropriate baits and traps
Tapeworms live as parasites in mice and rats until they find larger hosts, such as dogs. If your furry friend eats an infected rodent, he may be infected with tapeworms or other worms.
Step 2. Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed
The only way your dog can get infected with heartworm is by biting an infected mosquito, so it's important to decrease your dog's exposure to this insect. Mosquitoes carry heartworm by feeding on the blood of an infected dog, fox, coyote, or wolf, and then transmit it to dogs who subsequently bite.
Get rid of any stagnant water that may serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes to survive in outdoor areas where your furry friend hangs out
Step 3. Remove snails and snails from the garden
These mollusks can also infect your dog by promoting lung worm parasites, so try to keep slugs and snails away from your pup's favorite areas. Do not allow them to eat them as they are one of the main vehicles of infection. Also, clean up his toys at the end of the day, because snails can leave traces of drool, favoring the onset of parasites.
Lungworm is difficult to diagnose, but if your pet has breathing problems, including wheezing or frequent coughing, or seems to have lost weight, see your vet to find out if they have contracted this parasite
Step 4. Consider calling an exterminator if you can't get rid of the pests
If you are having trouble removing pests in your dog's outdoor area, consider hiring a professional exterminator to get rid of the problem.
- Keep in mind that repeated treatments may be required before the situation is resolved and, therefore, the work may be quite expensive. Ask him to inspect and present you with a quote before deciding whether to clean up the garden.
- During the treatment, you will need to keep your furry friend indoors. Ask the exterminator when you can get him out again.
Part 3 of 3: Medications and other Treatments
Step 1. Administer flea prevention medication every month
Infected fleas can carry tapeworms, so you must take all necessary steps to prevent your dog from becoming contaminated with this parasite. You can buy the drug on the Internet or at pet supply stores, but it's a good idea to ask your vet what options are available to you. He will be able to point you to the most suitable one based on your dog's clinical history.
Step 2. Consult your veterinarian to establish a deworming schedule
Whether it's an adult dog or a puppy, you should always go to your vet to test your pet for heartworm and learn about preventative medications. Heartworm causes serious health complications, including bleeding, breathing problems, and heart failure. For this reason, it is extremely important to prevent infestation and seek immediate care if you suspect your pooch may harbor this parasite.
- The drugs most used to treat intestinal parasites are Panacur, Drontal and Milbemax. Ask your vet about these and other deworming medications to treat and protect your furry friend.
- Remember that every wormer kills a class of parasites and that not all products are suitable for every type of worm.
Step 3. Use a spray or powder insecticide recommended by your vet to control the presence of fleas in your home
If your home is infested with these parasites, you will need to use a spray or powder to get rid of them. Ask your vet for advice or buy pet safe products.
Do not use detergents that are harmful to the health of the dog, should it come into contact with them
Step 4. Contact your vet to deworm your pregnant dog
Some worms, such as hookworm and ringworm, can be transmitted from the mother to the cubs in the womb or through milk. Hence, it is important to take care of a pregnant or lactating dog.
Talk to your vet to choose the safest option for worming her while pregnant or breastfeeding
Step 5. Learn about worms that can infect your furry friend
Even if you work with your vet to protect your dog from intestinal parasites, it can also be helpful to learn about various types of worms that can cause infections. The most common ones are:
- Nematodes: they are filiform worms that slightly resemble spaghetti. They are quite common and pose health risks to people, so it's important to eradicate them. In most cases, the dog is born with roundworms in the gut because the eggs cross the placenta when the puppy is in the womb. They can also be transmitted through the mother's milk. Roundworm eggs can also lie dormant for years before hatching. The eggs manage to survive in the soil for months or even years. They enter the soil through infected feces.
- Tapeworms: Very often they infect the dog when the latter ingests an infected flea (for example, while licking itself) or carrion contaminated with tapeworms.
- Heartworms: transmitted by mosquitoes. A bite from an infected mosquito is the only way your dog can be infected with it.
- Hookworms: they are transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated soil or the contact of the larvae with the skin of the legs. Hookworm is more common in hot, humid places. It can also be contracted through the mother's placenta or milk.
- Lungworms: are parasites of the fox that, at times, infect dogs following contact with contaminated droppings, by ingesting infected snails or snails or by traces of drool left by infected snails.
Step 6. Learn about treatment options
To prevent intestinal parasites, you need to get rid of the infestation with an anthelmintic (a drug that kills worms). This will ensure that the dog is dewormed and will also reduce the spread of eggs and larvae in the external environment, which could reinfect your furry friend. First of all, consult your vet to find out what treatment to give him. Excessive medication intake is likely to cause serious side effects.
- Roundworms: Many products are effective against these worms in the adult stage. The most used product for puppies is Panacur (fenbendazole) which can also be administered to pregnant and lactating dogs. Other medications suitable for older puppies and adult dogs are Revolution (selamectin), Drontal Plus (praziquantel / pirantel) and Milbemax (milbemycin / pirantel).
- Tapeworms: They are a little more difficult to treat because they don't respond to some chemicals. An effective dewormer against these parasites should contain pyrantel and praziquantel, so the ideal would be Drontal Plus or Milbemax (or equivalent).
- Heartworms: Care must be given under the supervision of the veterinarian because complications can be serious or even life-threatening. The drug used to kill heartworms is called Immiticide and is part of the arsenic family. Prevention is always the best option. The vet may prescribe a preventive injection every six months or monthly administration of preventive medications based on ivermectin / pyrantel, selamectin (Revolution) or spinosad / milbemycin oxime (Trifexis).
- Hookworms: Fenbendazole (Panacur), pyrantel pamoate (Nemex), pyrantel embonate / praziquantel (Drontal Plus), and fenbendazole / praziquantel (such as Vercom Paste) are all effective treatments against these parasites.
- Lungworms: it is possible to eradicate them with substances that belong to the drug class of ivermectin, such as Advocate (imidacloprid) and products containing milbemycin (Milbemax). In addition, they are sensitive to long doses of fenbendazole (Panacur). Check with your vet before starting treatment if you think your dog has intestinal parasites. Lungworms can cause fluid accumulation in the lungs and consequently pneumonia, further complicating the clinical picture.
Warnings
- Some parasites can be transmitted to humans, especially children. Pay attention to small children as they have a habit of picking up objects from the ground and putting them in their mouths. If they have been exposed to parasite eggs or larvae, they risk getting an infection. It is important that the areas where they play, such as gardens and public playgrounds, are not contaminated with animal feces, waste or other excrement.
- Nematodes are dangerous for humans. They can be ingested unintentionally through contaminated earth or feces during the cleaning of areas used for animals and, consequently, cause a parasitosis also in the human organism. Be sure to wear latex gloves when cleaning these areas and always wash your hands and any other parts of your body that have been exposed with soap and water. In addition, you should undress before entering the house, for example in the garage or near the laundry, to avoid the risk of infections due to parasites on the clothes.
- Do not use insecticides on puppies or small dogs unless you have consulted your vet. Although they are tolerated by adult dogs, they may cause intoxication in younger dogs.
