How do I deal with Internal Parasites?

Internal parasites can be maddening, dangerous, and a major problem for dog owners. You can’t see them, and often the symptoms aren’t major or obvious.

The most common of these parasites are worms, and the most common worms are roundworms. Your dog may pick up roundworms from infected soil, and symptoms can include “spaghetti stool” (feces that look like spaghetti), vomiting, or diarrhea. Your vet can detect the presence of roundworms by examining your dog’s stool under a microscope and will treat her with one of the common worm treatments. Roundworms can be avoided by using a regular worm preventative.

Hookworms are intestinal parasites that can cause anemia by sucking blood through the internal organs. As a result, diarrhea, weakness, and weight loss can occur. Hookworms are extremely easy for your pup to contract – they can move through their pads or belly into the body from the soil or grass or can be ingested. If you notice dark or bloody diarrhea, your dog may have contracted hookworms. Other dogs have no symptoms at all. In both cases, deworming treatment is required for an extended period of time. Hookworms, like roundworms and heart worms, can be avoided by using a regular worm preventative.

Heartworms are one of the most well-known internal parasites and can be easily prevented with a regular heartworm treatment. You know that they’re transmitted through mosquitoes and grow inside the heart until they completely block heart functions and lead to heart failure. Coughing, weight loss, and fainting can be indicators that heartworms are present in your pooch, so get to the vet if you notice one of those symptoms. Because the worms can cause respiratory problems, stop all exercise. Your vet will recommend a treatment based on the severity of the problems, which may include medication injections, aspirin, treatment for heart failure, and regular testing.

Tapeworms

Another commonly contracted worm is the tapeworm, which doesn’t cause any illness or pain for your dog but does pass through feces. This can be somewhat worrisome (and gross) to see in her waste, and tapeworms are hazardous to people. Although they don’t make your dog sick, she should still be treated.