Worms are parasitic worms that live, feed and reproduce in the donor's body. They enter the digestive tract, spread throughout the organs and do not manifest themselves for years. But all this time, great harm is done to the dog’s health. And communication with a pet can cause infection to humans and other pets.
Symptoms
Helminthiasis in dogs is sometimes asymptomatic or disguised as other diseases. But attentive owners can determine the presence of worms by the following signs:
- Developmental delay. Puppies grow poorly and are inactive. They have matte fur and a bluish rim to the whites of their eyes.
- Weight loss. With normal or increased appetite, the pet looks exhausted. His ribs stand out, but a hard, swollen belly can be felt.
- Eating disorders. Balls of worms prevent food from moving through the intestines. Sometimes after eating, hiccups, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach rumbling appear.
- Impurities in feces. Pus, mucus, blood, parasites, larvae, and eggs are visible in vomit and feces. When attached to the anus, worms cause itching and a desire to scratch the butt on the floor.
- Breathing problems. A dog with lungworms or heartworms is breathing and coughing frequently. She is tormented by tachycardia and heart pain. The animal hides in a corner and refuses food.
Helminths absorb nutrients necessary for the dog's life. A deficiency of beneficial components is manifested by hair loss and changes in the color of the mucous membranes. The dog becomes lethargic, weak, and quickly gets tired on walks.
Characteristic signs of the lice mite
An animal that is affected by a lice beetle becomes very restless. The parasite injects special allergens into the skin, which cause severe itching and discomfort. The dog may refuse to eat or play. The owner can immediately notice the presence of a tick, as the pet’s fur becomes disheveled and loses its shine. If you look closely, you can see the parasite, which is easier to do on an animal with dark fur.
The presence of this insect is very dangerous. Over time, your pet may become bald, as the hair-eating mite multiplies at a tremendous speed. You also need to keep in mind that the disease is contagious, and the passage of the parasite from one pet to another is not difficult. This is important for those who have many animals in the house.
It is not possible to identify the lice eater at home. These insects are very similar to fleas. It is easy to confuse them and thereby adopt the wrong treatment tactics, which will only result in a worsening of the underlying pathological process. It is important to contact a veterinarian in time to make a diagnosis.
This parasite is very insidious, as it is practically invisible to the human eye. It feeds on the blood of the animal and can survive like this for a sufficient amount of time. The lice eater affects the pet’s fur and skin. The allergic reaction can be so severe that the pet will eventually be unable to sleep or eat properly. Depletion occurs in the shortest possible time. Infection is especially dangerous for small puppies, whose immune systems are still too weak.
Types of helminths
Only a veterinarian can determine the type of worms in a puppy or dog. A diagnostic examination will allow you to find out what parasites live in your pet’s body.
Nematodes or roundworms
Roundworms are often found in dogs that pick up food on the ground or drink water from a puddle. Roundworms, pinworms and other nematodes have a thread-like shape with a round cross-section. Most often they are fixed in the gastrointestinal tract, but they can also parasitize in other organs of the animal.
Trematodes or flukes
Flatworms appear in a dog’s body after eating raw fish and seafood or drinking dirty water. The worms are leaf-shaped and have suckers for attachment to the walls of the organ. They parasitize in the intestines, liver, and bile ducts. Infection with trematodes can cause the development of liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and jaundice.
Cestodes or tapeworms
Tapeworms appear in dogs after accidentally ingesting fleas or other skin bloodsuckers. It is ectoparasites that are carriers of cestode larvae. Helminths grow and multiply in the intestines, attaching to its walls with suction cups. As a result, the gastrointestinal tract becomes clogged with worms, causing intoxication and exhaustion.
Intestinal
White, yellow and gray worms in a dog can live in various organs. Sometimes they travel through the circulatory system. But most often, parasites colonize the dog’s intestinal tract. There they can easily obtain nutrients for their development and growth. Without treatment, they clump into balls, causing obstruction in the intestines.
Pulmonary
All lungworms in puppies and dogs have a common developmental feature. The larvae of these helminths pierce the intestinal walls, enter the bloodstream and migrate through it until they enter the capillaries of the bronchi or alveoli. Oxygen activates their development and growth. Reaching 3–4 mm in length, they exit into the oral cavity with a cough, and then are swallowed again and enter the intestines.
Heartfelt
Heartworm and Dirofilaria immitis roundworms are heart parasites. They enter the pet's body through an insect bite in the form of larvae. Then they migrate through the circulatory system, staying in the ventricles of the heart, eyes, peritoneal tissues, and under the skin. Without treatment, heartworms or subcutaneous worms can cause death in dogs. Small ornamental breeds are especially sensitive to their effects.
Background. Who are ectoparasites
From an encyclopedic point of view, ectoparasites are insects that parasitize the body of mammals (from the Greek: external + parasite). Insects can parasitize temporarily or permanently; they have various organs for attachment to the “host” body - suction cups, claws on their paws, hooks, etc.
From an entomological point of view, these are parasites: blood-sucking, arthropods, piercing-sucking and others.
Typical representatives of the group are fleas, lice eaters and other arthropods of the Arthropoda type, arachnids (ixodid and other ticks).
Ectoparasites have a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of pets, dogs and cats, and become carriers of diseases.
The clinical picture of the invasion is scratching and itching, crusts, scabs on the skin; in advanced cases, alopecia, boils, erythema, and tissue necrosis are possible.
Arthropod ectoparasites of dogs and cats cause otodecosis, demodicosis, notoedrosis, cheyletiosis - invasive diseases that are caused by various types of ticks and fleas.
Routes of infection
Helminths enter the animal's body in various ways.
- From mother. A pregnant dog with round flatworms or tapeworms passes the larvae to the puppy during pregnancy.
- Through ectoparasites. Ticks, fleas and other bloodsuckers infect your pet when they bite. The dog can also accidentally swallow an insect.
- Through raw meat and fish. Without heat treatment or freezing, the eggs and larvae of worms remain viable in muscle tissue for a long time.
- Through the mud. Worm eggs are released in feces and remain in the soil, sand, garbage, and dirty water.
Pets who do not leave the apartment due to illness or young age can also become infected. Helminth eggs enter the house on the soles of the owner's outdoor shoes.
Specific types of lung parasites
There is a species of parasitic nematode in nature called angiostrongylus vasorum . They cause Angiostrongylosis. This disease is severe and is characterized by a high probability of developing dangerous complications. Studies have shown that parasites of this species, when introduced into the body of a susceptible animal, almost always lead to the development of pneumonia, and in some cases, congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema .
However, deaths are quite rare, but this is largely due to the rather modest prevalence of the disease itself. There is a certain age predisposition : the younger the dog, the higher its chances of getting sick. In addition, for some as yet unknown reasons, all types of spaniels and bulldogs are more often infected.
Intermediate hosts and transmission routes
Natural reservoir hosts include almost all types of land mollusks , including slugs and snails. Because of this, dogs rarely get sick under normal conditions: the likelihood that your dog will gobble up slugs with appetite is extremely small.
Treatment
The first treatment of puppies for any type of worms should be carried out at the age of three weeks. Babies, pregnant and lactating bitches, and elderly pets are extremely sensitive to toxins that are released after the parasites die. Therefore, to treat them, it is necessary to use special anti-worm medications for dogs. In addition, veterinarians recommend giving them a spoonful of Vaseline oil to quickly remove decay products.
Pills
The anthelmintic in tablet form is crushed and added to the pet’s food. After two weeks, the treatment is repeated. In this way, larvae and young worms are destroyed, which were protected by the egg shell at the time of the first administration of the medicine. Quality drugs include Milbemax, Drontsit, Alben, Bicheldon, Brovanol.
Suspensions
The advantage of this form of anthelmintic drug is the ease of measuring the dosage. In addition, suspensions often have a pleasant smell and taste for the pet. To treat worms, you need to take the suspension into a syringe, remove the needle and squeeze the medicine into the animal’s mouth. Veterinarians recommend the drugs Helmintal, Dironet, Dironet Junior, Dirofen, Prazitel.
Drops on the withers
Liquid deworming medications for dogs perform several functions. They destroy helminths in the animal’s body and ectoparasites on its fur. Drops are applied to the area between the shoulder blades so that the dog cannot lick off the medicine. The liquid is quickly absorbed through the pores of the skin into the bloodstream and destroys parasites. Quality products – Prazicide Complex, Inspector, Lawyer, Stronghold, Helmintal.
Traditional medicine
Folk remedies for worms for dogs only help get rid of intestinal parasites. Additionally, it is very difficult to calculate the dosage of a home remedy. A low concentration of the main substance will not be able to destroy helminths, but too high will harm the health of the pet. Medicinal plants with similar effects include tansy, celandine, wormwood, garlic, and pumpkin seeds.
How do lice get on a dog's body?
Lice-eaters get onto a dog's hairline through contact - through contact with other domestic animals affected by lice-eaters, especially often infection occurs through contact with stray dogs.
A dog can become infected with lice eaters through care and hygiene items - bedding, combs, etc. The ectoparasite can enter the apartment on the shoes and clothes of the owners and through household items.
Dogs most often at risk are those kept in groups in shelters, nurseries, and hotels when their owners fail to comply with existing animal hygiene standards and lack proper care.
Contributes to the disease of dogs with lice eaters and other ectoparasites:
- High humidity in enclosures and rooms for dogs.
- Weakened immunity in the animal, decreased body resistance.
- Presence of autoimmune diseases.
- Lack of preventive treatments of dog fur with insecticides.
Danger to humans
A dog or puppy with worms, when interacting with a person, can infect him with helminthiasis. The larvae and eggs of parasites leave the animal's body in the feces. They can attach to the pet's fur, bedding or toys, and then end up in the owner's hands.
Due to the difference in body temperature, not all dog worms can live in the human body. But some of them can cause dangerous diseases.
- Toxocara canis. The larvae migrate through the human circulatory system, settling in various organs. As a result, ocular or visceral toxocariasis develops. It affects the lungs, liver, eyes, and central nervous system.
- Echinococcus granulosus. The larvae of this helminth are extremely dangerous for the human body, although they cannot develop in it. They migrate throughout the body and settle in the lungs, forming a cyst. The neoplasm causes coughing and chest pain.
- Echinococcus multilocularis. The larvae of this tapeworm settle in the human liver and also form a cyst. When a secondary infection occurs, jaundice, abscess, and cirrhosis of the liver develop.
- Coenurus cerebralis. The larvae of such worms look like a water bubble. They settle in the area of the spinal cord or brain. Depending on the location of the lesion, a person suffers from migraines, seizures, and decreased vision.
- Dipylidium caninum. The tapeworm takes root in the human intestine, develops, grows, and reproduces. As a result, the patient suffers from diarrhea, skin rash, and abdominal pain.
Timely deworming and proper personal hygiene will help avoid the development of these diseases.
Weeping, wet and dry eczema in dogs: causes and photos of symptoms
Eczema in dogs, or summer scabies, is a fairly common skin disease among animals, including canines. In terms of symptoms, it is similar to mite scabies and ringworm. To exclude false diagnoses, you must first submit a sample for analysis.
Veterinarians are familiar with two forms of eczema: acute (moist, wet) and chronic (dry). Any of them usually appears in the summer.
Wet eczema in dogs, like all acute forms, develops quickly. Severe redness of the skin appears, the dog itches, and watery blisters form on the skin. Then the hair begins to fall out, the skin takes on a glossy, moist appearance. Most often, the acute form of eczema occurs in dogs of long-haired breeds.
Dry eczema in dogs does not make itself felt immediately, so if any inflammation, rash, causeless hair loss, or peeling accompanied by severe itching appears, you should immediately go to the doctor. This form of eczema most often affects wire-haired breeds.
Weeping eczema in dogs usually appears at the base of the tail, along the back and on the shoulder blades. The acute form is easily recognized by brownish discharge around the ear canal and between the toes.
Causes of eczema in dogs may include: local irritation of the dog's skin (from dirt or some chemicals), heat and poor diet, and nervous stress. It’s not for nothing that easily excitable dogs are more likely to get eczema, as are people with nervous disorders or metabolic disorders.
One very common type of eczema is caused by a microscopic fungus called Alternaria tenuis, which lives in dead grass and fallen leaves. Like most mushrooms, it loves moist, hot weather.
Eczema is not spread from a dog to another dog or person. If skin problems have spread to another dog, you need to urgently test for an infectious skin disease. The following shows eczema in dogs in the photo, which allows you to recognize the symptoms of the disease in an animal in time:
Before you begin to treat eczema, you need to remove skin irritants, wash your dog, and if the eczema is caused by lice or fleas, kill them. It often turns out that this is enough to combat eczema.
Treatment should be comprehensive and preferably early. First of all, it is necessary to act on the underlying cause within the body. Since the trophic function of the nervous system is always impaired in eczema, it is advisable to use short novocaine blockades or blockades of nodes and sympathetic ganglia at all stages. In the weeping stage, treatment of eczema is delayed, and it becomes chronic. After treatment, relapses are possible.
At all stages, for desensitization, it is advisable to administer a 10-20% solution of sodium thiosulfate intravenously, starting with 1-2 ml, adding 1 ml daily. A total of 10 injections are required.
To normalize trophic function and reduce exudation in the first stages before the formation of pustules, inject a 0.25% solution of novocaine with hydrocortisone (1 ml of novocaine solution 1 ml of hydrocortisone), and for more advanced forms it is recommended to add 1-2 ml of ampoule gentamicin. The solution is injected into several places on healthy skin so that it penetrates under the eczema-affected skin.
Personal safety measures
Medicines for the destruction of worms contain a small concentration of poison or a paralyzing substance for parasites. Therefore, during deworming, observe personal safety measures. After handling any form of medication, wash your hands with soap and discard the product packaging.
Keep deworming medications out of the reach of children and animals. Do not use medicine that has expired or after darkening, cloudiness, or impurities have appeared. Do not use empty bottles for household purposes.
Preventive actions
Even pets living at home are susceptible to helminthiasis or infection with external parasites.
Regular preventive measures will help protect your beloved pet from dangerous diseases caused by parasites, as well as protect family members and especially children who come into contact with the dog.
Necessary:
- Feed your dog only thermally processed food.
- Do not allow your pet to come into contact with street animals. Free range can only be allowed within a fenced area.
- Carry out deworming three times a year, choosing drugs with the consent of the veterinarian, only after examining the animal.
- Rid your pet of external parasites that are carriers of helminthiasis.
- Periodically treat the place where the dog lives, as well as its objects: toys, clothes, combs.
Compliance with hygiene and nutrition standards, regular consultations with a specialist and timely deworming will help prevent helminthiasis and the development of secondary pathologies caused by it.
