Roundworms in dogs , or ascaridsor nematodes, is a common parasites that live inside your dog’s intestines. They feed themselves on partly digested food. These parasites are more common in puppies. There are two main roundworm species: Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Toxocara canis is worse, and people can get it, too. They’re usually white or light brown and can be up to a few inches long like spaghetti.
Roundworm Symptoms
Some dogs don’t show symptoms, but many do. If your dog has roundworms, you may notice them in poop or vomit. Here’s what to look for:
- Potbelly
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Belly pain
- Dull coat
- Weight loss
- Malnourishment
How Dogs Get Roundworms
Roundworms are more frequent in puppies. Your pup can get them from its mother or from the environment. In fact, if the puppy’s mother is infected with roundworms, they may be passed down before its birth. Or the pup may get them by drinking their milk. This can happen even if your puppy’s mother had roundworms in the past. The scientific cause for this is that the larvae of the roundworm is still in mom’s body and can get reactivated during the pregnancy and passed down to her kid.
Pups are nonchalant as always. They eat whatever they see out despite the toxicity. So, if they eat roundworm eggs that come from another animal’s poop, or if they eat mice or other small animals that are infected, your pup can get roundworms. Not only eating but also, if your pup sniff another dog’s poop, he or she will be infected by roundworms.
This is how the cycle continues: After your dog swallows the eggs, they hatch and turn into larvae. The larvae then spread through your dog’s liver and up to their windpipe. Next, the dog coughs and then swallows the larvae. That’s how they get into the dog’s intestine, where they can grow into adult worms. Then they lay their own eggs, which continues the cycle.
If you see signs of roundworms in your dog , you may take your dog to the vet. The vet will look at a sample of your dog’s poop under a microscope to see if there are any eggs of these parasites in it.
How To Treat Roundworms In Dogs
How To Prevent From Roundworms In Dogs
One roundworm can produce up to 85,000 eggs a day. Since roundworms are common among puppies , vets deworm pups when they’re 2 or 3 weeks old. If the roundworms in dogs aren’t treated , puppies are at risk of weakness, weight loss, and stunted growth from malnutrition. Prevention is better than cure. So,
- Deworm your puppy every few weeks when they’re young. The best time to start is before they’re 3 weeks old. Keep things clean, including the areas where they eat, sleep, and play. Throw away poop properly. Clean up after them in your yard and in the park. Don’t let your dog use a playground or sandbox as a litter box.
- Keep your dog away from small, wild animals. They can carry roundworms. Try keeping the dog on a leash or in a fenced yard.
- Give your dog pills to prevent heartworms. Many have ingredients that also treat and control roundworms.
- Talk to your doctor about deworming your dog every so often if they’re at high risk of an infection.
- If your dog is pregnant, ask your vet about deworming your dog to lower the chance of passing down roundworms to the puppies from mom.
Roundworm Risk to Humans
Roundworms can cause significant problems not only in dogs but also they can threaten people. If you have contact with dog poop or soil that’s contaminated, you may get an infection. That can lead to eye, lung, heart, liver, and neurological problems. when you clean dog poop or its dirt you must be super conscious. You may put on pair of gloves and pair of boots to ensure that you are out of contact with dirt and germs.
Children have a higher risk and may get infected by accidentally eating eggs that are in soil or dog poop. These eggs can hatch into larvae that get encysted in various organs and lead to serious illness. Keep kids away from areas where dogs have pooped. Be sure they wash their hands regularly.
