Table of contents:
- Worms in dogs - infection and symptoms
- Deworming dog - Correct treatment for worm infestation
- Deworming dogs - preventing worms correctly
- Side effects of worming treatment for dogs
- After a worming treatment - rebuilding the gut and immune system
- Which worms are most common in dogs?
As cute as our four-legged friends are, they can also pose a health risk to us humans and other animals. An important health issue with pets is deworming: dogs can become infected with various worms and unknowingly infect us humans - and not necessarily rarely. These parasites then reproduce in the body and feed on the host's organism. We explain how you can deworm your dog and which worms are particularly common in dogs.
Worms in dogs - infection and symptoms
Parasitic worms, known as helminths, can severely affect the health and well-being of your four-legged friend. Although good worming treatments are available today, especially in Europe, dogs can still become infected with worms at any time. Basically, any dog can become infected with these annoying intestinal parasites, regardless of age, sex or breed. All they have to do is lick the feces of other infected dogs, eat raw meat contaminated with worms or eggs, eat carrion or infected prey, or ingest worm eggs in the environment and through close contact with other dogs. However, there are also worm species, such as cucumber tapeworm, which are transmitted by fleas, lice or hair lice. An infestation with these ectoparasites should therefore always be accompanied by a worming treatment for dogs.
The symptoms and health consequences for your four-legged friend vary depending on the type of worm. While roundworms sometimes do not cause any signs of illness in dogs, lungworms can cause dogs and other animals to cough. However, a particularly severe worm infestation in dogs can also be fatal. Young animals and animals with a weak immune system or previous illnesses are particularly at risk from intestinal parasites. With some worms, there is even a risk of zoonosis, i.e. transmission to humans.
General symptoms - worms in dogs:
- Diarrhea/slimy stool
- Blood in the stool
- Constipation/intestinal obstruction
- Loss of appetite or changing appetite
- Weight loss
- Sledding ("itching at the anus")
- In advanced stages: vomiting and changes to the skin and coat
Worming treatment for dogs - correct treatment for worm infestation
If you suspect your dog has a worm infestation, you should definitely consult a vet. It is best to collect your dog's feces over several days, 3 days are usually sufficient. The vet can then examine the fecal samples for possible worm residues. By examining the feces, he can determine exactly which worms are present and which worming treatment is recommended for your dog or other animals. He can also determine how advanced the worm infestation is.
In most cases, the vet will prescribe a deworming medication: dogs sometimes have to take this for several days. The active ingredients of the worming medication depend on the type of worm the dog is infected with. However, there are also combination preparations for deworming dogs that are effective against several worms at the same time. The worming treatment is administered to dogs and other animals as tablets, spot ons, paste or as a liquid dewormer. The dosage is determined by the vet according to the dog's body weight. Worming treatments kill the parasites directly in the dog's body and the dead worms and eggs are excreted in the feces. It is not uncommon for a second worming treatment to be given: dogs can still retain residual parasites in their bodies if they are heavily infested.
Deworming dogs - preventing worms correctly
To prevent a worm infestation, you should worm your dog regularly, vets recommend:
- Adult dogs: approx. 4 times a year
- Dogs that are fed: every 4 - 6 weeks
- Free-roaming, unsupervised dogs: monthly
Depending on the risk group, dogs need to be dewormed at different intervals. For example, dogs that live together with other dogs in kennels or animal shelters are more at risk than animals from a household. Dogs that are used for hunting and are left unattended in the wild for a very long time also have a higher risk of contracting worms. You should therefore also make sure, if possible of course, that your dog does not eat any intermediate hosts such as snails, mice and other rodents. They can already be infected with worms and thus infect your pet.
Animals traveling with their owners to high-risk areas and animals imported from these areas are also usually given a worming treatment. Dogs can even become infected locally with intestinal parasites that are rarely found here in Germany.
Side effects of worming treatment for dogs
Is deworming harmful to dogs and other pets? Worming treatments are chemical agents that specifically target the parasites in your dog's body. As a rule, dogs tolerate conventional dewormers well, as they are no longer as aggressive and stressful for the body. Nevertheless, side effects can still occur in dogs after a worming treatment. Gastrointestinal complaints, diarrhea, lethargy and exhaustion are the most common side effects. If you observe these signs in your dog after a worming treatment, it is a good idea to try a different product next time. Products made from natural herbs are a natural alternative for harmonizing the gastrointestinal tract and building up the dog's immune response. AniForte® Wermix is one such herbal product that is gentle on the intestines. It can be used for support before, during and after a worming treatment and maintains the normal gastric mucosa.
After a worming treatment - rebuilding the gut and immune system
To rebuild your four-legged friend's gastrointestinal tract after a worming treatment, you can give them natural herbal intestinal rebuilding cures. The herbal ingredients help to build up the intestinal flora, soothe irritated mucous membranes and supply your four-legged friend's gastrointestinal tract with important nutrients.
Proven herbs during and after a worm infestation:
- Thyme
- sage
- mugwort
- wormwood
- parsley
Many herbs also have an antibacterial effect and can support your pet's immune system. If your four-legged friend's immune system is strong enough, annoying parasites cannot colonize in the first place and are excreted. If your dog is susceptible to parasites, it is a good idea to boost the immune system with natural vitamins and minerals.
Which worms are most common in dogs?
Tapeworms, or cestodes, are among the most common worms in dogs and have around 3500 subspecies worldwide. They are hermaphrodites, both female and male, and infest different organs of the host. Depending on the species, tapeworms are highly contagious. Dogs, cats and humans serve as final hosts for many tapeworm species. Rodents and some insects, however, act as intermediate hosts and can transmit these parasites to our pets. The worms use their heads, which are equipped with suction cups, to attach themselves to the respective organ of the host and feed on it. The tapeworm forms a chain by means of tapeworm limbs, known as proglottids, and can grow up to 20 meters long. If a dog becomes infected, the disease is usually asymptomatic, so that an infestation is often only discovered at an advanced stage.
Cucumber tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) - caution with flea infestation
The cucumber tapeworm is one of the most common tapeworms in dogs. It can be transmitted via intermediate hosts such as hair lice, lice or fleas when the dog swallows the insects while grooming. It can take up to 3 weeks from ingestion to possible symptoms of worm infestation. However, the cucumber tapeworm in particular is known to cause little or no symptoms in dogs.
Possible but rare symptoms of cucumber tapeworm:
- Constipation
- Intestinal obstruction
- "Sledding" - sliding across the floor with the rump
There is a certain risk of zoonosis with cucumber tapeworm, i.e. humans can also become infected with the intestinal parasites by accidentally inhaling and swallowing infected insects, cucumber tapeworm eggs or larvae.
In order to effectively prevent an infestation with cucumber tapeworm, the prevention of fleas, hair lice and lice is particularly important. If you find fleas on your four-legged friend, the topic of deworming dogs comes up again. Your pet should be wormed immediately, as a worming treatment can protect both dogs and humans.
The dangerous fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis)
The fox tapeworm is a parasite in the small intestine of dogs and foxes, hence its colloquial name. It is not yet so widespread in Germany. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the risk areas for fox tapeworm in Western Europe are southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria), northern Switzerland, Austria and eastern France.
Infected final hosts such as foxes and dogs excrete eggs into the environment via their feces, which are then ingested by other pets or rodents as intermediate hosts. If dogs eat these rodents, they also ingest the already developed larvae. Humans can also unknowingly ingest fox tapeworm eggs through contaminated food or direct contact with infected animals. There is therefore a very high zoonotic potential. An infection that is not recognized in time after ingestion of fox tapeworm eggs can also lead to alveolar echinococcosis in dogs. This is the most dangerous disease after an infestation of tapeworms: Dangerous cysts develop in the liver and other organs and can lead to death if left untreated.
Rare symptoms of the dangerous fox tapeworm:
- sledging
- Alveolar echinococcosis
The fox tapeworm can be killed using appropriate tapeworm preparations. The infected dog is treated by a vet.
Dog tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) - The unwanted travel souvenir
Although the dog tapeworm is very rare in Germany, animals, especially dogs, can become infected when traveling on vacation in risk areas. In Europe, southern Europe and eastern countries are particularly affected, so animals imported from these areas can also be infected. The dog tapeworm is transmitted via raw meat, offal, offal, the consumption of prey and carrion or infected feces. The excreted eggs are highly infectious and also pose a considerable risk to humans. Humans are mainly infected by dogs through unconscious oral ingestion of the eggs, as infected animals can also carry the eggs in their fur.
As with an infection with the fox tapeworm, cystic echinococcosis can be the result. In this case, the larvae of the dog tapeworm migrate to the liver or other tissues and settle, causing organ changes.
To prevent an infection with the dog tapeworm, your four-legged friend should not have access to wild rodents, raw meat should have been frozen at -17 °C to -20 °C for at least one week and a fecal examination and worming treatment are recommended as a preventative measure after traveling to endangered areas.
There are hardly any symptoms of dog tapeworm.
Nematodes in dogs
Nematodes are a very adaptable species and have around 20,000 subspecies worldwide. Alongside tapeworms and infestations with protozoa such as Giardia, nematodes are one of the most common parasitic diseases in pets. In our vet consultation on "Giardia in dogs
Roundworms - The harmful intestinal parasite
Roundworms are frequently found in dogs: Approximately 24% of the animals examined were infested with the parasite, according to a German study. Puppies and young animals are particularly at risk from these nematodes. This is because they can become infected in the womb or later through their mother's milk without showing any acute symptoms of worm infestation.
Adult dogs ingest infective roundworm eggs in the environment, by eating rodents, raw infected meat or through the feces of infected animals. Humans also become infected through oral ingestion of roundworm eggs or larvae.
Puppies and young animals can develop severe symptoms such as
- lethargy
- pronounced weakness
- anaemia
- distended abdomen
- breathing difficulties
- inflammation of the small intestine
- slimy feces
- vomiting with worm content
Adult animals, on the other hand, show little or no symptoms of roundworm infestation. An infection can therefore only be detected via the feces or, in the case of advanced disease, the animals may vomit worms. In the case of roundworms, monthly worming is recommended as this can interrupt the worms' development cycle.
Hookworms - The worm with the sharp teeth
Hookworms are blood-sucking intestinal parasites that damage the intestinal mucosa through their sucking behavior. To absorb nutrients, the worms attach themselves to the intestinal mucosa with their large mouth opening and injure it. Infection with hookworm in dogs occurs through ingestion of the larvae, which penetrate the host's skin or are accidentally swallowed. A random study of dogs and cats in Germany found that over 8% of dogs and 0.3% of cats were infected with hookworm. In countries such as Brazil and Thailand, it is even the most common type of threadworm in pets.
Most affected are dogs that are kept outdoors or in kennels, regularly visit runs, stay in animal shelters or boarding kennels.
Symptoms of hookworm infestation are
- Diarrhea
- weight loss
- anemia
- Blood in diarrhea feces
- Skin inflammation on the paws of dogs and cats
A fecal examination is also the method of diagnosis for hookworms. If eggs or larvae of the worm are identified, treatment must be carried out with the appropriate anthelmintic. After infection, humans can develop the skin disease larva migrans, also known as cutaneous moles. This dermatosis is particularly widespread in warm regions. Therefore, patients mainly become infected with this disease when traveling.
Lungworms - a steadily growing danger in Germany too
Lungworms in dogs are mainly found in western Germany, but are rather rare compared to the other worm species described - the infestation rate is around 3 %. Snails, frogs and other amphibians are the main intermediate hosts. The animals become infected with eggs and larvae of lungworms from the intermediate hosts, which continue to develop in the dog's body until they finally infest the lungs and heart.
So if your four-legged friend eats snails or frogs or likes to play with them, you should occasionally have him checked for lungworms.
Symptoms of lungworms:
- Chronic cough, similar to bronchitis
- Often hardly any symptoms
Treatment is with antiparasitics. If the lungworm infestation is advanced, antibiotics may also be administered.
Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) - also dangerous for humans
The occurrence of whipworm infections in pets is widespread throughout Europe. In Germany, around 4 % of domestic dogs are infested with the endoparasite, in Greece almost 10 % of dogs. For this reason, imported dogs from Greece should always be tested for faeces.
Infection with whipworm in dogs occurs via ingestion of the eggs in the environment. Dogs that live in kennels or animal shelters with many other dogs belong to the risk group. This is because the eggs of these nematodes can survive in the environment for years.
Symptoms of an infestation with whipworms:
- Inflammation of the large intestine
- Weight loss
- Bloody, slimy diarrhea
- In particularly severe infestations: anemia
- Growth disorders in young animals
A fecal examination can provide information about a possible worm infestation. If your dog comes from Greece or other risk areas, a precautionary examination without acute symptoms is also recommended.
Conclusion
There are lots of worms that can infest our pets. The most common are roundworms and one or two tapeworms. Regular preventive worming can significantly minimize the risk of a severe worm infestation and prevent possible consequential damage. Depending on which risk group your four-legged friend belongs to, you should adjust the timing of the worming treatment. It is also always a good idea to strengthen the immune system, as strong defenses can not only keep parasites at bay, but are also an important protection against many other diseases.
