Roundworms

Roundworms are mostly found in the intestines of puppies which can be seen in both the vomit and the stool. Puppies become infested mostly through their mother in utero but can later become infected from eating soil that is infected, or eating other rodents who are also infected.

It is very easy to tell if a dog is heavily infested because they will produce a thin, long shaped noodle that looks similar to spaghetti in their stool. If a dog is not at that point yet, roundworm eggs can be found in their fecal matter. The worm itself can grow up to seven inches in length and if female, it can produce up to 200,000 eggs in a day. These eggs are protected by a hard shell and can live for many years in the soil in which they are produced. When the dog ingests the eggs they then hatch in the intestine and are carried to the lungs by the bloodstream. After the larva crawls up the windpipe and gets swallowed, the dog will then cough or gag, returning the larvae back to the intestine which is where they grow into adults.

The symptoms found in a dog that has roundworms are:

• A “potbellied” or bloated look
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Tapeworms

The most common tapeworm, Dipylidium, can easily contracted by dogs when they are infested with fleas. When the dog eats the flea that contains tapeworm eggs they will become infected. It starts when the tapeworm eggs are swallowed by flea larvae which can be found in contaminated bedding or carpet. When the dog chews or licks the skin because of the itch of the flea bit, the flea can then be swallowed. The flea is then digested into the dog’s intestine where the tapeworm hatches and anchors itself to the intestinal lining of the dog.

Although tapeworms are not particularly harmful to your dog, they may cause lethargic behavior as well as weight loss when there are many tapeworms inside of the dog. However, there are times when the tapeworm can let go of the intestinal lining which will irritate the stomach and cause the dog to vomit. This is the time when you will see a tapeworm that is several inches in length come out along with the vomit, although you will rarely see the adult worm. Also, if there are several tapeworms, you may notice your dog scooting across the carpet or floor because of the itchiness around the anus area. Tapeworm segments can also be found in the fur on the behind of your dog.

The worm itself is made up of many segments about 1/8th of an inch long and can usually be found inside the stool or around the anus. As the tail end of the worm matures, the segments break off which is where the little segments can be found. They resemble grains of rice and mostly go unnoticed by the pet owner. It is only when they are moving or the dog seems to be very itchy around the anus area that they are usually taken to the veterinarian. Otherwise, it is during their yearly checkup that tapeworms can be found.

Once the veterinarian diagnoses a dog with a tapeworm infection, the dog can be treated. The treatment for tapeworm in dogs is very simple and very effective. They are given a drug that will kill the tapeworms either orally or by injection which causes the tapeworm to dissolve within the intestines. There are no side effects for these drugs. Prevention for future tapeworms can and should be used after the current tapeworms dissolve. This can be done through controlling the fleas that your dog has. You should plan on detecting and getting rid of all the fleas both in the house and on your dog because otherwise reinfection can occur within as little as two weeks.

Medstore International lists a generic version of Drontal Plus (Praziquantel/Pyrantel Pamoate/Febantel) a broad spectrum dewormer for dogs.

To view strength, pack size, pricing information and to buy click on the product link below;

Drontal Plus

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