How to Get Rid of Worms in a Dog?

  Worms can cause serious problems with your dog’s health. Waste products of worms will slowly poison your dog’s digestive tract, liver, lungs and even heart. Helminthic infection can be caught by any dog regardless of its age. Infection happens quite easily, as helminth eggs exist in outside environment, namely – on earth, plants, in water, feces, raw meat and fish.

How to Get Rid of Worms in a Dog?

A dog can get infected from another dog with worms while playing games or sniffing. Sometimes parasites can get in dog via mosquito or flea bite.

Types of Worms

There exist several types of worms. All of them are dangerous for a dog’s health and have different symptoms.

But there are some general warning signs, which shouldn’t be ignored:

• loss in weight;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea and abdominal pain;
• visible signs of abdominal distention;
• faded and dropping out wool;
• blood in stool;
• sleepiness and apathy.

How to Get Rid of Worms in a Dog?

To treat your dog correctly you should first of all consult a vet. Only a specialist can define an exact type of worm your dog is suffering from. And after the specialist’s examination you can buy drugs for a definite type of worm.

Roundworms

Roundworms are the most common parasites in dogs. They are subdivided into 2 types: Toxocara canis (T. canis) and Toxascaris leonina. The first one is often found in puppies and can also be transmitted to a human. To diagnose this type of parasite a fecal sample is taken. If diagnosis is confirmed, the deworming medication is prescribed.

Tapeworms

This type of parasite looks like a measuring tape. It starts to grow after a dog has eaten an infected food or after it has drunk some contaminated water. Our four-legged friends can also been infected after contacting with animal feces. Oral medication is a common treatment in this case.

Hookworms

Hookworms are very tiny, but represent a great danger for animals. They attach to a dog’s intestinal wall and absorb a large amount of blood. The eggs of this parasite can remain alive on the ground for several months. A dog can swallow microscopic eggs with dirt on the soil or it can leak them from the bottom of its paws. Humans also can be infected with hookworms. Treatment is divided into 2 stages.

During the first stage adult worms are caught. The second stage continues from 2 to 4 weeks and is aimed at removal of newly developed parasites.

 Whipworms

These parasites are 45-75 mm long and usually inhabit cecum and colon of dogs. There they tightly attach to the intestine wall and produce eggs, which come out with the dog’s feces. Whipworms can survive for 5 years, if the environmental conditions are suitable for them. First symptoms are almost unnoticeable. If the illness is neglected, it can lead to diarrhea, weight loss, inflammation.

Heartworms

They are transmitted by mosquitoes. Heartworms develop and multiply within the dog’s heart. Living inside the dog’s organism they cause heavy lung diseases, heart failure and if not treated the disease is likely to end in your pet’s death.

Drugs for Worms

To cure different kinds of worms you can use dewormers. They are sold in special vet shops in a large assortment. The top list of the most demanded remedies to cure worms in dogs contains the following items:

1.Safe-Guard 4 Canine Dewormer

It effectively eliminates 4 types of worms. Its active component can kill the most widespread species of hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm and whipworm. It is produced in granules, which should be mixed with the dog’s food. They are completely safe for animals’ health and can be given to puppies beginning from 6 weeks of age.

2. Nemex-2 Liquid Dewormer

Pyrantel pamoate is the active component of this remedy. Only 1 treatment is needed to kill the parasites. Its formula is liquid. Fluid texture makes it easier to give the dewormer to your pet. Not all dogs like unknown additives in their plate and the liquid remedy is taken without being noticed. It helps to treat roundworms and hookworms in adult dogs and puppies starting from two weeks of age.

But this dewormer will not help, if your dog is suffering from tapeworms or whipworms.

3. Bayer Quad Dewormer Chewable Tablets

This dewormer is intended for puppies and small breeds weighing less than 25 pounds. Not every person knows that almost all puppies are born with worms. They get this ‘heritage’ from their dams. But fortunately parasites can be easily eliminated with the help of this broad-spectrum and efficient remedy. It can kill 4 the most widespread types of worms.

The only thing to do is to follow the recommendation of the product label.

Natural Treatment of Worms

Some worming medicines can cause side effects. If you prefer natural way of treating your dog, you can choose exceptionally safe alternatives. They will help in prevention of worms and can be used to cure this unpleasant problem.

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Seeds of pumpkin contain cucurbitacin. This amino acid paralyses worms and helps to get rid of them. You can give the seeds as they are or grind them into powder and add to food. The necessary portion is 1 teaspoon of pumpkin seeds per 10 lbs of dog’s weight. Give the exact amount to your dog twice a day to get rid of the problem.

1. Coconut

Coconut oil is a good vermifuge. When given regularly, it can eliminate worms from your pet’s body. One more natural remedy, which helps to liquidate parasites, is dried coconut. The quantity of remedy depends on the size of a dog. For small breeds the recommended amount is 1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons for medium animals and 2 tablespoons for large dogs.

1. Turmeric

Turmeric helps to boost the immune system and is effective as a worm combating remedy. Turmeric contains curcumin which is hard to digest for a dog’s stomach. That is why it is recommended to combine turmeric with some coconut oil. Make a kind of paste using these 2 ingredients and give it to your dog.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

This product is quite wholesome for human’s health. But it also can be used to treat parasites in dogs. This natural remedy increases the level of alkaline in the animal’s intestines. Such unfavorable environment is deathly for worms. They are killed in a quite natural way without any harm to a dog.