Dog Health Insurance

Today I’ll cover three more kinds of worm that can cause your dog some real problems.

Hookworm

Length: 5-19 cm
Symptoms: black diarrhoea, bloated abdomen, weight loss, poor appetite and dehydration.

These worms can infect dogs either by being ingested or by penetrating the skin. They can also be transferred to pups through their mother’s milk and serious infections can be fatal.

Flea Tapeworm

Length: up to 50 cm
Symptoms: itching anus, scooting, segments of worm found in hair and bedding. Also weight loss in severe cases.

These worms take up residence in the dog after it injects infected fleas. Although rarely a serious health issue, regular worming and the use of flea medication will help prevent flea tapeworm infection.

Hydatid Tapeworm

Length: 4-7 mm
Symptoms: none

Although this tapeworm is fairly harmless in dogs, it can be lethal if transferred to humans! We contract these tapeworms if we swallow their eggs, which are found in the coats and faeces of infected dogs. The tapeworms are most commonly found in areas where dogs and sheep are in contact.

It’s not the most pleasant thing to think about, but worm infestations can make your dog very ill. Although regular de-worming does help keep worm infestations to a minimum, it is also important to maintain a hygienic environment for your pet as well. Not many people realise that worms from dogs can actually be transferred to humans as well, making it especially important for families with children to take extra precautions to protect both dog and kids.

Things to remember regarding worm-control include washing your hands after handling your pet and especially before eating, regular cleaning of your pet’s sleeping area and diligent removal of faeces, especially from play areas. Giving your dog a high quality diet will also help keep worm infestations down; feeding your dog offal, on the other hand, will increase the risk of worms.

On top of these precautions, be sure to de-worm your pet every three months to protect it, yourself and your children. Puppies require de-worming even more frequently; fortnightly until three months old, then monthly until six months of age.