All dogs from the time they are born can contract and carry worms, and pass them on to other dogs.
Pets should be regularly wormed for the following reasons -
To keep the dog healthy. rounworms in puppies can cause a number of problems including abdominal swelling and pain, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea and on rare occasions rupture the bowel. In older animals the problems are not quite so serious.
To reduce recontamination of the environment. If a dog is regularly wormed it will not be passing out so many eggs, and thus fewer animals will become infected.
To reduce the risk, however slight, of human contamination from roundworms.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WORMING YOUR DOG
From 2 weeks of age puppies should be treated every 2 weeks for roundworms up to the age of 12 weeks. Therafter, every 4 weeks up to 20 weeks and then every 3 months.
Adult dogs should be treated every 3 months.
It is best to treat with a ALL IN ONE wormer that kills both rounworm and tapeworm.
Sherleys do a good one called One dose wormer.
Remember if you suspect that your dog has fleas it may be possible your animal has an infection of the tapeworm !.
The risks to humans from the dog rounworm…… (Zoonosis / zoonotic infections)
Certain diseases / Endoparasites / Ectoparasites can be transfered from animal to human.
The important things to note is what can happen if the parasite is picked up by man (or more likely child). The infective eggs are typically picked up by people, especially children getting them on their hands, and often transferring them to their mouths. The classic site for children to pick them up is parks, sand pits and around the garden where your dog poohs!.
Infective eggs pass into the intestines, the larvae hatches out and penetrates the gut wall and migrates around the body. Probably the majority will be harmless, but occasionally the migrating larvae will end up somewhere where they cause damage by both their physical presence and the reaction they cause the body to make to try to get rid of them. The classic danger which one reads from time to time is blindness when a larvae ends up in the eye, potentially leading to blindness.
Larvae can also potentially cause problems in other parts of the body such as brain, lungs, liver and kidneys.
How to prevent
Worm your dog
Good hygene measures. This consists of keeping dog faeces away from humans. hence keep your dog away from children’s parks and paly areas, especially sand pits.
Use a poop scoop and dispose of dog faeces in bin.
Cleaning your hands after handling your dog.
Do not allow children to play in the dog bed / pen / crate.
