Key Facts About Roundworms And Your Dog

Just how serious a threat are roundworms to your dog

? The answer to that question depends on a number of conditions, such as the hygiene of your dog's living environment. However, roundworms do present a potential threat, but the actual danger depends on your knowledge of the worm. Roundworms are, in fact, a worm-like creature that can grow as long as 18 inches. Roundworms are perhaps one of the most common sorts of parasites to which dogs are vulnerable. The worm enters the animal's gastrointestinal tract, both upper and lower, and is most often found in puppies. We will discuss why that is later, but while all dogs are vulnerable, puppies are more so.

The path of contamination is fairly straight forward. The process starts off with the worms in the stomach and intestines where they feed on the contents. From there the parasites gradually penetrate the walls of the organs and enter the blood stream. Once in the blood, the roundworms reach the liver and from the liver migrate to the lungs, where they may stimulate coughing and respiratory disorder. Here, the worms may make their way into the trachea at which point coughing can force them into the mouth. And then, now in the mouth, they can be swallowed or re-swallowed and the cycle begins over again.

When left undetected, roundworms are likely to migrate to a growing puppy's muscles. Inside the muscles, the roundworms form cysts and remain dormant. If the host dog becomes pregnant after infestation, her whole litter is also likely to be infected with the worms. Once that happens, the roundworms will once again start their journey to the puppy's lungs where they will remain. If there is a positive side to this, it is that dogs do eventually develop natural immunity to roundworms after a period of time. However, it is possible for some dogs to develop the condition again if they come into direct contact with contaminated food or feces.

Roundworm infestation brings about a pretty standard set of symptoms: pain and discomfort, loose stools, loss of shiny coat, stomach upset, sudden loss of energy, distended belly, and respiratory problems. In fact, dogs may even develop pneumonia due to damage of the alveoli, the tiny tubes in the lungs that allow oxygen absorption from air.

Treatment begins with analysis of a stool sample, which will show the presence of worms if they are there. Once proof of contamination is determined, the vet will put your dog on a course of medication that will kill the existing parasites and build resistance to the future presence of worms. Expect stool analysis throughout the course of treatment as a means of checking the progress of the process the de-worming.

Although it may be possible for a dog to contract roundworms no matter how careful you are, there are generally two basic preventive measures you can take to minimize the incidence of attack. First, take care that all trash and garbage is off limits to your dog. Keep your dog's quarters clean, and if you let your dog outside for much of the day, you may need to patrol the area to pick up poop, stray garbage, and dead animals. The second preventive measure is for those with litter bearing female dogs. Before the dog becomes pregnant, have the dog thoroughly checked for worms. If the dog is clean, then you let her breed with no fear of the puppies born carrying the parasites.

by: Corson Strand

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