Your dog will almost probably contract intestinal worms at some point in its life; this is a regrettable aspect of pet ownership. It is even more unfortunate that intestinal worms frequently go unnoticed and undiagnosed because symptoms do not always appear. If left untreated, your dog may get gravely ill, and you may potentially contract the disease. You must know the following information about intestinal worms in your dog.

How do dogs and puppies become infected with intestinal worms?

A variety of parasites can infect even well-cared-for dogs which could lead to veterinary surgery in Greeley. Here are several ways your pet may become contaminated.

From their mother.

Roundworms and hookworms can pass through the uterus through the mother’s milk to pregnant and young puppies. Because this is a typical route of infection for roundworms, you must consult your veterinarian before worming your puppy.

Consumption of contaminated soil.

Because the parasites reside in the intestinal tract and lay their eggs in the feces, contaminated soil is also a major source of roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm infections in dogs. It can take up to a month for the larvae to become active, and the eggs might pose a problem for years, so there is typically no evidence of the feces that contaminated the soil. Most dogs become ill when brushing and ingesting contaminated soil in their fur. Therefore, it is crucial for dog owners to always pick up after their pets. Visit sites like https://www.greeleypetvet.com/site/home to learn more. 

Walking through the contaminated ground.

The only worms that can be contracted in this method are hookworms. The parasites can enter the dog’s skin through any area of the body that comes into contact with infected dirt, including the paws and belly. 

Ingestion of infected animals.

Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms can be obtained by consuming an infected animal, such as a rat, which can acquire worms like dogs. It can be contracted when dogs feed on the carcasses of domestic animals such as sheep that have died. Likewise, raw dog food can be hazardous for the same reasons. Tapeworms are the only intestinal parasite spread by fleas and cannot be acquired by any other means. A dog can only become sick if it consumes a flea carrying tapeworm eggs.

How to treat intestinal worms in dogs?

Generally speaking, dog worms are treatable if found, stopped, and treated before the infestation reaches its severe stages. Your veterinarian can prescribe the proper deworming medicine and administration procedure based on the type of parasite and severity of the infection.

Before purchasing or giving any over-the-counter or prescription medicine for dog worms, you are strongly urged to contact your veterinarian. Only your veterinarian can assess the degree of the infestation, dog and cat vaccinations in Greeley and prescribe the right number of medications as well as additional recommendations.

Conclusion

Before treating your dog for worms, you must be aware of the signs that he may be infected and familiarize yourself with the many intestinal parasites. Depending on the individual conditions of your dog, your veterinarian may recommend regular deworming treatments in place of or in addition to fecal exams.