Dog SupplyDog Supply

The term ‘worms in dogs’ is used to describe many different internal parasites which can infect our pets. Owners can buy treatments for worms in dogs from pet shops and veterinary practices and should use them regularly. Worming is a vital part of responsible dog care.
There are two common types of worms in dogs in the UK. These are roundworms and tapeworms. Unfortunately, roundworms are very hard to avoid as many puppies are infected at birth. It is therefore important to worm pets, especially puppies, regularly.

Whilst roundworms will not show symptoms in some dogs, they can have much more serious consequences than other worms in dogs. The adult roundworm lives in the intestines of the dog, feeding on the intestines’ contents. This effectively means that the roundworms eat your dog’s food! In severe cases, there can be several roundworms inside one dog. This explains why dogs with severe infestations are malnourished, have dull coats and lack energy.

Inside adult dogs, roundworms may remain dormant in cysts inside the muscles. They then awaken in times of stress. Often, pregnancy reawakens the larvae and they migrate around the body and infect the unborn puppies. Treatment for worms in dogs administered to the pregnant bitch cannot rid the unborn puppies of their worms. This is why worms in dogs are such a big problem to new born puppies.

Soil becomes contaminated with eggs when they are released with a dog’s faeces. Then toehr dogs pick up the eggs from the soil. However, the most common roundworm in the UK, the Toxocara Canis can also infect children when they touch contaminated soil or sand pits. The larvae can migrate through the child’s body, potentially causing permanent eye damage if they end up behind the retina. Regular treatment for worms in dogs is therefore vital for responsible dog ownership.