When we talk about worms in dogs we are using a term to describe several internal parasitic infections that our pets are prone to. Worms in dogs can be treated with preparations bought from the pet shop or the vet’s and this should be done regularly. Responsible pet care and regular worming treatments go hand in hand.
There are two common types of worms in dogs in the UK. They are called roundworms and tapeworms. Unfortunately many puppies are born with a roundworm infection so they are very hard to avoid. It is therefore important to worm pets, especially puppies, regularly.

Although many infected dogs will show no outward symptoms of roundworms, compared to other worms in dogs, they can have serious consequences. The adult roundworm lives in the intestines of the dog, feeding on the intestines’ contents. This means that they eat your dog’s food. In cases of serious infection, there can be several roundworms living inside a dog at once. It isn’t surprising to find a heavily infested dog can be malnourished, lacking in energy and displaying a dull coat.

Roundworms can remain dormant in cysts inside the muscles of adult dogs. They then reawaken later on, often at times of stress. It is very common for them to be awoken by pregnancy, prompting them to migrate around the body and infect the unborn puppies. Even giving the mother dog worm treatment will not get rid of the worms in the unborn puppies. This explains why treating worms in dogs is such a priority for puppy health care.

Adult worms release eggs which are passed with the dog’s faeces, contaminating soil. Then other animals ingest the worms when snuffling in the soil. Toxocara Canis is the most common roundworm and it can infect children when they come into contact with the eggs playing in contaminated soil. The worm larvae may then migrate around the child’s body and can cause serious and permanent damage to eyesight if they reach the back of teh retina. Because of the potential implications of worms in dogs for canine and hu8man health, regular worming treatment is a massive part of responsible dog ownership.

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