Worms

AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

TEXT: COURTENEY FERREIRA

Most of our dogs love sniffing and eating the most terrible things imaginable…They have a nose that can sniff out the decomposing bird from a mile away, find it and get it into their mouth before you can say, “Leave!”

Whilst we can’t always prevent our dogs from eating these ‘questionable’ items, we can reduce the impact of the parasites they pick up in the process.

WORMS

Parasites ‘worm’ their way into your dog one way or another at some stage of their lives, and even if he’s a canine Gordon Ramsay, your dog is likely to still find himself inhabited by a few slimy friends. This means that all dog owners need to be aware of the risk of worms, the symptoms that dogs with worm burdens present, and how we can treat them.

SYMPTOMS

Your dog may have worms if they have the following symptoms:

• Weight loss with a change in appetite

• A pot-bellied appearance

• Poor coat condition and lethargy

• Diarrhoea

• Chronic coughing

• Scooting their hindquarters along the ground (although this can also be indicative of anal gland issues)

• Tapeworm segments visible in the fur around the anus

• Roundworms visible in the stools, looking like tiny grains of rice

NOTE: Not all dogs with worms will have symptoms.

CONFIRM THE WORM

Before you go rushing off to buy the first dewormer on the shelf, you should confirm if a) your dog has worms and b) what type of worm you are dealing with. This makes sure that the treatment you choose is effective.

The best way to test for worms is to provide your vet with a fresh stool sample to check for adult worms or worm eggs under a microscope. This is because most worms like tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms reside in the intestines and will, therefore, be found in the faeces.

TREATMENT

Once the worm or worms have been identified, your vet will advise you on the best type of deworming medication and treatment protocol for your dog. Treatment is essential, especially in young puppies, as worm infestations can, in extreme cases, prove fatal.

Worms can be seen under the microscope.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

As with all things health-related, prevention is better than cure. Preventing worms is easier said than done with our dogs, but there are still lots of steps we can take to reduce the risk of exposure in our precious pooches:

1. Scoop that poop! Keep your yard clean by picking up your dog’s stools regularly.

2. Schedule regular faecal floats with your vet to confirm your dog is worm-free so that you are not deworming unnecessarily.

3. Avoid walking your dog in high ‘traffic’ areas like parks too often, as this is where they are most likely to come into contact with infected dogs.

4. Wash your own hands often to prevent any possible spread of worms between the dog and yourself or one dog and another in your household.