Dogs make a great addition to any family, but sometimes, our furry friends have “pets” of their own. Worms are a huge problem that many pet owners face. The malicious creatures can really wreak havoc on a healthy dog when the proper measures aren’t taken. It’s crucial for any pet owner to learn the signs and necessary steps that come with worms especially when a puppy poop worms.
Puppy Poop: What Are Worms?
When we talk about worms, we aren’t referring to the harmless little pink annelids that sit in your garden and come out for the rain. Unlike earthworms, the concerning worms we want to talk about today are parasitic, meaning they need to reproduce inside of a “host.” Much like an alien monster, these creepy creatures make their way into the body of a target and multiply inside of them, causing a whole bunch of problems (which can ultimately lead to death).
Luckily, there are many ways for someone to identify and address worms before the situation gets lethal.
Common Types of Worms:
There are several different types of worms your dog may encounter. As with many other parasites, animals get this from eating the parasites themselves or their eggs which are released from some of their other hosts. A dog may encounter them in fecal matter or meat while they are playing outside. These types include:
Roundworms
Roundworms are, by far, the most common type of intestinal worm. Infected dogs may pass a roundworm off to their puppy, so it is crucial to check newborns of an infected dog. These worms attack the digestive tract and have one super alarming characteristic is that these roundworms don’t stop at canine hosts. They can also infect humans if someone isn’t careful.
Tapeworms
Arguably, tapeworms are one of the most well-known parasites due to media representation. These parasites easily infect other animals by infecting fleas which are then eaten. If a dog gets bit by a flea and instinctively bites at their skin, they may invertedly ingest it.
Hookworms
Hookworms are very dangerous to puppies. While many parasites try to keep their hosts alive by design, hookworms can be too much for a small puppy. These tiny worms attach themselves to the intestinal wall of their hosts, stealing nutrients and easily passing their eggs along. Humans can also end up with a hookworm infestation if they are not careful.
Whipworms
Whipworms are a scary worm that often lives without causing any intense symptoms (or any at all). They can live for quite a long time in the proper environment, so they are easy to get infected with from old puppy poop left outside.
Heartworms
The deadliest of all the parasitic worms is heartworm. Heartworms are transmitted through mosquitos and multiply within the heart. This can become lethal very fast (but thankfully, there are many ways to prevent these outbreaks).
Although exact symptoms and severity change depending on the intensity and type of infection, as well as the health and age of your dog, there are some symptoms to look out for which indicate worms may be a problem. These include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Pot-belly
- Greasy or brittle coat
- Fatigue
- Blood in stool
- Pneumonia
Puppy Poop Worm Treatments:
There are some preventative treatments to consider looking into before your pet ends up getting the disease. Heartworms have a specific treatment that differs a bit from the intestinal varieties. Heartworm medication involves pills or injections that kill the parasites inside.
The dead worms, which sometimes make it into the bloodstream, will die off and break apart into pieces. These pieces may sometimes block arteries, and it is important to take your time monitoring your pet during treatment. During this time, make your pet avoid heavy exercise at risk of putting extra stress onto the heart.
This specific treatment may take months at a time. After a certain level of dosage, doctors will test the pet again. If they test negative – your dog is free to recover. However, if they continue to test positive, the treatments must go on.
Intestinal treatments are less intense to treat. There are many different tablets or spot-on treatments you can consider. You can even treat your dog in the comfort of your own home. These flush out the worms from their system. This process is called “deworming.” It takes much less time and effort to treat as well.
Puppy Poop: What to Expect With Puppy Deworming
Once dewormed from intestinal worms, you will be able to see the worms in their stool for the next couple of days. Aside from this, the dewormed dogs behave relatively normally. They may exhibit diarrhea as well, but it is nothing to be concerned about.
Puppy Poop Tips for Making Deworming as Seamless as Possible
Deworming is a relatively simple procedure. However, there are some things you can do to make this process as smooth as possible for your pet. These are simple tips that may offer great advice for any type of medical treatment of animals.
Test all dogs
If one pet in your home has worms, there are likely more that have them. Make sure to get all of your pets tested and prepare yourself for the news that they all have worms and need to be treated. It’s important to treat them all at the same time to avoid an endless life cycle of worms in your family. If they can be caught by people, make sure that you (and your children) also keep an eye out for signs of infection. Clean up after your pets and quarantine if necessary.
Hide their pills
Dogs are normally not fond of taking pills. It’s a smart idea to wrap it up in some peanut butter or cheese. Make sure they actually take their pills and don’t spit them out or throw them up later.
Set the scene
Make your pet as comfortable as possible. Try to do these treatments at home and make sure to make their environment as stress-free as possible.
Avoid further problems
Take the necessary steps to prevent future infection. Make sure your yard is clean, and any possible preventative measures are taken.
Our four-legged friends need our protection to stay happy and healthy. Worms are an unfortunate reality for many pet parents, but deworming can help get your pet parenthood back on track. Do you have any experience with worms? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know all your tips and stories in the comments below!
