3 Parasites Your Dog Can Get

Posted on: 30 March 2016

Your dog is probably one of your best friends in the world, and as such, you want him to remain happy and healthy. Unfortunately, dogs are susceptible to a few different parasites that can cause ill health and a variety of other problems. You should know of a few different parasites that might effect your dog.

Roundworms

These nasty little buggers are often seen in newborn puppies as the mother can easily pass them on through breast milk. They can produce up to 200,000 eggs every 24 hours. This means that they are some of the fastest reproducing parasites that your puppy will encounter. Some of the classic signs to watch out for are vomiting and diarrhea. If you notice either of these symptoms, you should take your dog into the vet so they can check for roundworms. The fecal matter they produce is very infectious to other dogs, so if you have others, it is important to keep them away from the sick dog.

Whipworms

Another important parasite to look out for are whipworms. An infection from whipworms will have a number of different symptoms. You may see your dog having quick weight loss and mucous filled stool. Bloody diarrhea as well as bowel inflammation are also symptoms. If left untreated, your dog may experience severe dehydration and anemia. Luckily, they are not lethal most of the time, but are still annoying! They can easily be treated with medicine though.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are often transmitted to dogs through ingesting fleas that are carrying the tapeworm eggs. They will grow to be close to a foot long in the intestines and feed off of the nutrients your dog eats. Tapeworm egg packets can be seen in your dog's bowel movements, however you might not detect the eggs until your dog is already displaying symptoms of a problem. The symptoms of a tapeworm infection include weight loss without your dog losing their appetite, lethargy, your dog scratching or scooting to itch its bottom, weight loss even if your dog is eating more, and irritability. Although the symptoms of tapeworms can be distressing, once you know your dog has tapeworms, they are easily treated with medicine from your vet.

Keep these parasites in mind so that if your dog is displaying symptoms you can get him to a vet to have him checked out right away. The sooner your vet can catch a parasite in your dog, the better. To learn more, contact a business likeProvidence Veterinary Hospital Inc.

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