Intestinal Worms & Parasites in Dogs - Be Aware of the Signs and Dangers!

No one said intestinal parasites are fun. But, as a dog owner, it s important to !now a"out the different t#pes of worms and the effe$ts the# ha%e on a dog s health. And sin$e people $an "e$ome infe$ted with roundworms and hoo!worms, it s that mu$h more important to !eep #our dog parasite-free. &he following information offers some "asi$ fa$ts a"out the more $ommon parasites. 'eartworms too are parasites. 'eartworm treatment ()*NDW)(+S ,&o-o$ara $anis, &o-as$aris leonina. are the most $ommon t#pe of worm to infe$t the animal !ingdom. &hese worms are usuall# / 0 1 in$hes long, tan or white 2spaghetti-li!e3 $reatures with tapered ends. If a roundworm "urden is hea%#, a dog ma# %omit these worms or pass them ,whole. in the stool. Roundworms can cause vomiting and diarrhea and can have an effect on a dogs overall general health and appearance. Puppies infe$ted with roundworms will ha%e a 2pot"ellied3 ,"loated. loo! to them. While roundworms are most $ommon in puppies and !ittens, the# are found in pets of all ages. (oundworms $an "e$ome so numerous that the# $an $ause an intestinal "lo$!age and stool $annot pass. As mentioned a"o%e, roundworms are 4oonoti$ ,$an "e transferred to humans. and $an $ause an infe$tion !nown as 25is$eral 6ar%a +igrans3, whi$h ma# result in possi"le inflammation of mus$le tissue and "lindness. Anthelminti$s ,dewormers. that are fre7uentl# used to treat roundworms are p#rantel pamoate, fen"enda4ole and pipera4ine. '))8W)(+S ,An$#lostoma $aninium. are "lood-su$!ing intestinal parasites and ha%e the a"ilit# to $ause anemia ,and sometimes death. in puppies and adult dogs. Hookworms cannot be seen by the naked eye, and the severity of adverse effects will depend on the amount of worms in the intestine, the animal s o%erall health and age. In humans, hoo!worms $an $ause 29utaneous 6ar%a +igrans3, $ommonl# $alled 2$reeping eruption3. &he hoo!worm lar%ae will "urrow into the s!in of a human s foot or leg $ausing a linear, red lesion, whi$h is intensel# it$h#. &his parasite has also "een !nown to $ause $hroni$ intestinal "leeding, a"dominal pain and diarrhea in small $hildren. Deworming medi$ations usuall# in$lude p#rantel pamoate and fen"enda4ole. Does :our Dog 'a%e 'oo!worms; What Are the S#mptoms; Wea!ness is one of the signs that a dog is infe$ted "# hoo!worm. 'oo!worms are parasites that get their name from the hoo!-li!e mouthparts the# use to atta$h to the intestinal wall. &he# are onl# a"out <=>? ,@ mm. long and so small that it is %er# diffi$ult to see them with the na!ed e#e. Despite their small si4e, the# ingest large amounts of "lood from the tin# %essels in the intestinal wall. A large number of hookworms can cause significant blood loss (anemia). &his pro"lem is most $ommon in puppies, "ut $an o$$ur in adult dogs. Dogs ma# "e$ome infe$ted with hoo!worms "# four routes <. )rall# /. &hrough the s!in @. &hrough the motherAs pla$enta "efore "irth 1. &hrough the motherAs mil!. &he most signifi$ant pro"lems appear related to intestinal distress and anemia. Blood loss results from the parasites ingesting "lood from intestinal $apillaries. ale gums, diarrhea, or weakness are common signs of anemia. Some dogs e-perien$e signifi$ant weight loss, "lood# diarrhea, or failure to grow properl# with hoo!worm infe$tion. S!in irritation and it$hing, especially of the paws, $an "e signs of a hea%il# infested en%ironment. &he lar%ae "urrow into the s!in and $ause it$hing and dis$omfort. !ou will note your dog may constantly lick and chew his paws. 'oo!worms are diagnosed with a mi$ros$opi$ e-amination of a stool sample. Sin$e there are man# eggs produ$ed dail#, the# are easil# dete$ted. )ne adult female hoo!worm ma# produ$e as man# as

/B,BBB eggs a da#! &here are se%eral effe$ti%e drugs to eliminate hoo!worms. &he# are gi%en "# inCe$tion or orall# and ha%e few, if an#, side-effe$ts. 'owe%er, these drugs onl# !ill the adult hoo!worms. &herefore, it is ne$essar# to treat again in a"out /-1 wee!s to !ill an# newl# formed adult worms that were lar%ae at the time of the first treatment. Adult hoo!worms do not infe$t humansD howe%er, the lar%ae $an "urrow into human s!in. &his $auses it$hing, $ommonl# $alled ?ground it$h?, "ut the worms do not mature into adults. Dire$t $onta$t of human s!in to moist, hoo!worm infested soil is re7uired. Eortunatel#, this does not o$$ur often if normal h#giene pra$ti$es are o"ser%ed. In rare instan$es, the $anine hoo!worm will penetrate into deeper tissues and partiall# mature in the human intestine. &APFW)(+S ,Dip#lidium $aninum. are the other parasites that $an "e seen "# the dog owner. A$tuall#, what the dog owner with o"ser%e is tapeworm segments that ha%e "ro!en off from the adult parasite atta$hed to the lining of the dog s intestinal tra$t. &hese tapeworm pie$es are G - H in$h in length, are usuall# white and are usuall# seen ,while still ali%e. $ontra$ting and e-panding around the dog s re$tum or on a dog s stool immediatel# after elimination. "nce these segments die, they will appear like a grain of uncooked wild rice or a sesame seed and are often found in the dogs bedding. &he most $ommon route of infe$tion o$$urs when the dog swallows a flea that is $arr#ing the parasite s eggs. &apeworms $annot "e dire$tl# transmitted from dogs to humans "ut small $hildren $ould a$$identall# ingest flea lar%ae or pupae on the floor $ontaining an immature tapeworm and get a tapeworm infe$tion. Pump!in seeds wor! great for eliminating tapeworms. *se raw, unsalted green pump!in seeds, grind them in a "lender, and add them to #our dogAs food. Dogs infested with tapeworms tend to drag their rear end along the ground as if tr#ing to find relief from irritation. Not to "e $onfused with anal gland pro"lem. W'IPW)(+ ,&ri$huris %ulpis. is one of the less nota"le parasites and it $annot "e seen "# the dog owner. *nfortunatel#, this parti$ular parasite is the most diffi$ult to eradi$ate and $ontrol. &he s#mptoms ma# in$lude se%ere diarrhea, flatulen$e and loss of weight. &he anthelminti$ ,e-pelling or destro#ing parasiti$ worms espe$iall# of the intestine. for whipworm most $ommonl# pres$ri"ed is fen"enda4ole ,Pana$ur.. 9)99IDIA ,Isopora $anis. is not a worm, "ut a single $ell mi$ros$opi$ organism that will $ause 2ha%o$3 in a dog s intestinal tra$t when present in great num"ers. 9o$$idia $ome from fe$al$ontaminated ground. &he# are swallowed when a pet grooms or li$!s the dirt off itself. In some $ases, sporulated oo$#sts are swallowed "# mi$e and the host is infe$ted when it eats the mouse. 9o$$idia infe$tion is espe$iall# $ommon in #oung animals housed in groups ,as in shelters, res$ue areas, !ennels, et$.. &his is a $ommon parasite and is not ne$essaril# a sign of poor hus"andr#. #t is important to have a fecal sample done yearly to check for parasites. +an# people opt to s!ip these tests to sa%e mone# thin!ing the# are not that important. 'owe%er, if done #earl# and the right meds are pres$ri"ed, #ou will !eep #our pet health#. $his proto%oa will cause watery diarrhea in young and susceptible animals that ha%e immature or $ompromised immune s#stemsD in some cases, the diarrhea can be severe enough to be life threatening. Sometimes a dog ha%ing $o$$idia will "leed from itAs re$tum. Fradi$ation of this parasite is usuall# su$$essful with a dail# dose of a sulfonamide antimi$ro"ial agent. Info ta!en fromI httpI==www.fari"aultanimal$enter.$om=readJarti$le.php;t#peK<&idK/L MIA(DIA is a tin# parasite whi$h $an $ause true diarrhea and flatulen$e. Dogs will lose weight, "e$ome deh#drated and e%en pass "lood. Simple routine fe$al flotation of a petAs stool in an animal hospital setting often will fail to re%eal these tin#, nearl# translu$ent parasites. +an# %eterinarians will send stool samples to a professional %eterinar# la" with a ?heads up? regarding using spe$ial

stains for Miardia. 9lini$al signs range from none in as#mptomati$ $arriers, to mild re$urring diarrhea $onsisting of soft, light-$olored stools, to a$ute e-plosi%e diarrhea in se%ere $ases. "ther signs associated with giardiasis are weight loss, listlessness, mucus in the stool, and poor appetite. &hese signs are also asso$iated with other diseases of the intestinal tra$t, and are not spe$ifi$ to giardiasisD therefore positi%e identifi$ation of these organisms is an important aspe$t of a thorough patient wor! up. Diagnosis is $onfirmed "# finding the $#sts or motile stages in fe$es. A negati%e report does not rule out Miardia! Be$ause $#sts are onl# passed periodi$all#, se%eral fe$al e-aminations ma# "e ne$essar# to diagnose this parasite. At least three fecal samples, e&amined over a period of seven to ten days, should be e&amined. Spe$ial stains $an "e used, too, to assist in identif#ing these mi$ros$opi$ in%aders. &reatment for Miardia &here are two antiproto4oal drugs $ommonl# re$ommended, to treat MiardiaD metronida4ole and 7uina$rine. 9onta$t #our %eterinarian for the one "est suited for #our dog. All infe$ted animals should "e treated whether or not the# show $lini$al signs. Miardia $an "e $ontra$ted from water sour$es su$h as streams of water or other watering pla$es #our dog has a$$ess to. It ma# not alwa#s "e asso$iated with the food gi%en him or the grass he eats. Information ta!en fromI httpI==www.thepet$enter.$om=e-a=gia.html

'ormy (ogs) *nderstand (og 'orms #nfestation and $heir +ymptoms

"# +oses 9hia *ntil a %er# re$ent period, dog worms were thought to "e of a spontaneous origin, "rought a"out "# the influen$e of heat upon de$a#ing %egeta"le matter, and it was and still is freel# asserted that puppies are "orn with dog worms inherited from the mother in some m#sterious manner while still in uterus. &his has "een $on$lusi%el# pro%en an error and in the minds of all s$ientists there is no 7uestion a"out dog worms springing from indi%idual eggs and ha%ing a $omplete life histor# of their own. &he prin$ipal worm spe$ies with whi$h dog owners ha%e to $ontend are round worms and tape worms. &he first named $ommonl# infest puppies and $onse7uentl# are most dreaded "# "reeders. In shape and si4e these worms resem"le $ommon angle worms, "ut in $olor are lighter, "eing almost white or onl# a pale pin!. In adult dogs these worms, when full grown, are from three to se%en in$hes long. In puppies the# are a"out half that length, and as thi$! as $ommon white string. (ound worms li%e in the small intestines, sometimes $oiled in su$h masses as to o"stru$t the passage, and o$$asionall# the# wander into the stoma$h or are passed "# the "owels. It is eas# to understand that when one dog in a !ennel is infe$ted with worms, millions of eggs will "e passed with the fe$es. &hese are s$attered all o%er the floors, "edding, feeding and drin!ing pans. &he# get on the dogAs $oat, are li$!ed off and swallowed and in num"ers of wa#s gain entran$e to the digesti%e tra$ts of other dogs, where the# soon hat$h out and in ten da#s are full# de%eloped. &his rapid de%elopment a$$ount for the popular "elief that puppies are "orn with worms, for "reeders who ha%e held post-mortems on puppies s$ar$el# ten da#s old and ha%e found in their stoma$hs full# de%eloped round worms $ould a$$ount for their presen$e in no other wa#. &he# o%erloo!ed the fa$t that the prospe$ti%e mother, $onfined in a !ennel infested with worms, would get these eggs atta$hed to her $oat, "ell# and "reasts, and the #oung, as soon as "orn, would ta!e

these eggs into their stoma$hs with the first mouthfuls of mil!. S#mptoms )f Worm Atta$! (og worms are responsible for so much sickness and so many symptoms that it is practically impossible to mention all of them, "ut their presen$e $an safel# "e suspe$ted in all dogs whi$h ha%e not "een re$entl# treated for them, as well as in $ases where the patient is run down, unthrift# and out of sorts. )ther s#mptoms are a hot, dr# nose, wea!, water# e#es, pale lips and gums, foul "reath, mean ha$!ing $ough and a red, s$urf#, pimpl# or irritated $ondition of the s!in and harsh, dr#, la$!luster $oat that is $onstantl# "eing shed. Worm# dogs sometimes ha%e a depra%ed appetite and will eat dirt and ru""ish. Some da#s the# are ra%enousl# hungr#, the ne-t da# the# will not eat at allD their sleep is distur"ed "# dreams and intestinal rum"ling, the urine is high $olored and fre7uentl# passed, "owels irregular, stoma$h easil# unsettled, water# mu$us is fre7uentl# %omited and the mouth is hot, sti$!# and full of rop# sali%a. uppies which are full of worms bloat easily and are pot,bellied. After feeding their stoma$hs distend disproportionatel# to the amount of food $onsumed. &heir "odies are also su"Ce$t to s$al# eruptions and their "owels to $oli$!# painsD the# do not grow as rapidl# as health# puppies should and instead of pla#ing with ea$h other the# $url up and sleep hour after hourD the# get thinner, wea!er and more lifeless from da# to da# and if the# do not waste awa# or die in fits and $on%ulsions with frothing at the mouth and $hamping of the Caws, grow up $oarse-Cointed, ri$!et# and misshapen. Puppies with worms are also lia"le to paral#sis of their rear lim"s and on remo%al of the worms the puppies regain $ontrol of the affe$ted parts. A worm# dog is usuall# an unhealth# and unhapp# dog who leads a misera"le life. It $ould e%en "e deadl#, espe$iall# so for #oung puppies. Bring #our dog to a %eterinarian if #ou are unsure. :our dog will $ertainl# than! #ou for that. Fas# &reatment for Worms- Fas# on :our DogAs S#stem -No 9hemi$als! N from Wolf 9ree! (an$h *se Diatoma$eous Farth ,DF. E))D M(ADF )N6:. DF used for swimming pools is N)& to "e used for people or pets. +a!e $ertain it sa#s E))D M(ADF on pa$!age. &his is what we use for our pets and oursel%esN +el, 8O<< httpI==wolf$ree!ran$h<.tripod.$om=diatoma$eousJearth.html As for traditional wormers....more and more, we are getting "reeders who start worming as earl# as / and 1 wee!s of age. &he# worm e%er# / wee!s and rotate their wormers using Safeguard, I%ome$, P#rantel, Pana$ur, Neme-...and man# puppies then $ome down with par%o. +an# of these puppies wormed at /, 1, L, & > wee!s of age who are now > or O wee!s old and now ha%e par%o, S&I66 ha%e worm infestations. We "elie%e this is "e$ause the worms are de%eloping immunit# to the $hemi$al wormers, Cust as "a$teria are "e$oming resistant to traditional anti"ioti$s. And again, most of these "reeders arenAt e%en using the same wormer ea$h time the# worm, "ut using different ones to help pre%ent the worms from de%eloping immunit#.
(eali4e, that with our par%o pupp# $ases and the "reeders who are adamant that their puppies ha%e no worms...when "ased on the si$! puppies s#mptoms, I tell them the pupp# has worms, it is impossi"le to tal! the "reeder into using food grade diatoma$eous earth as the# 8N)W the# wormed their puppies with the $hemi$al wormers and "elie%e the puppies ha%e N) worms. Worms $an pre%ent re$o%er# from par%o. It is not until the "reeder a$tuall# sees a worm,s. in fe$es or %omit ,some worms #ou $anAt e%en see with the na!ed e#e., that the# start to listen, "ut often this is after the#A%e lost one, two, or more puppies. 'orms can kill puppies and cause symptoms very similar to parvo or coccidia. (eali4e too, on$e a %et diagnoses par%o, the# no longer test the pupp# for an#thing else. If we were to assume that the fe$al tests would show the worms, this would ma!e it easier to deal with the worm loads "# !nowing it is an issue that needs addressing.

Also, note, fre7uentl#, puppies with par%o that are wormed with $hemi$al wormers die 7ui$!l# after "eing gi%en the $hemi$al wormer. Again, this is wh# we re$ommend the food grade diatoma$eous earth, as we ha%e used it when dealing with worm# par%o puppies and our $ustomers ha%e done so with e-$ellent su$$ess. &he DF will not harm the inflamed intestinal mu$osa of par%o puppies. Par%o puppies who ha%e worm infestations and arenAt ha%ing the normal par%o pupp# P to L "owel mo%ements=da# ,whi$h O times out of <B, if the# ha%enAt had a "owel mo%ement for > hours, the# ha%e worm infestations that $an pre%ent their re$o%er#., we s#ringe Diatoma$eous Farth ,DF., mi-ed with water down their throats, along with the same amount mi-ed with water %ia enema to eliminate parasites in the "owel. &his helps eliminate the worms without poisoning the pupp# ,whi$h traditional wormers $an do. and helps loosen the worm "lo$!age in the "owel allowing them to ha%e a "owel mo%ement within a few hours. DonAt "e surprised if #ou see a "un$h of worms in the stool after doing this. &he food grade diatoma$eous earth wor!s great and doesnAt !ill the animal and helps hasten their re$o%er#. ('hen using a syringe to give the puppies or dogs (- mi&ed with water, be sure to gently s.uirt the li.uid into the cheek of the puppy, not directly down the throat. +.uirting it down the throat will cause it to gag and also the li.uid could aspirate into the puppy/s lungs. 01el, 2344) When re$ent traditional worming methods $ause disease, $hemi$al ,a!a poison. wormers must "e deto-ed from the s#stem as the flood of d#ing parasites emit to-ins, su$h as %iruses, "a$teria, ammonia, plus the poison in the wormer $an harm and e%en !ill animal, espe$iall# those with inflamed intestinal tra$ts su$h as par%o puppies.

Puppies are "orn with roundworms and hoo!worms, regardless of how free of worms their mother ma# ha%e "een, eggs hat$h in the puppies at "irth. &apeworms are $ontra$ted if the pupp# $omes in $onta$t with fleas or rodents. But +# Pet &ested Negati%e Eor Worms! I am not sure whi$h is worse - $hemi$al wormers that arenAt effe$ti%e or the fa$t that fe$al tests that indi$ate whether or not people or animals ha%e worms are onl# /B to /PQ a$$urate! As ad%an$ed as our medi$al profession appears to "e or tries to tell us the# are, W': on earth $an the# not tell us with at least >BQ a$$ura$# whether or not someone has worms; An#wa#s, I ga%e up on traditional medi$ine o%er <B #ears ago. I had pi$!ed up steam# fresh stools from 1 new res$ues earl# one morning, dro%e them less than <B minutes awa# to m# mo"ile %et who immediatel# put the samples in her refrigerator. )ne of the stools "elonged to a #oung wolf res$ue who $ame here s$ooting her rear end a$ross the ground and another one a$tuall# had worms I $ould see in the stool sample I "rought her. &he following da#, she $alled me to ad%ise A66 four fe$als were negati%e for worms! I found it outrageous that I paid R<BB for those samples and I 8NFW two of the wolf res$ues 'AD worms, #et the test results $ame up negati%e. &he %et made up LB$$As of a li7uid $on$o$tion of stuff that I was supposed to get down the throats of new wolf res$ues who didnAt e%en !now me #et;; 'A'A'A! Best #et, I needed to do this without getting "it or !illed. &he %et guessed at what worms the# had...an#wa#s, the situation failed misera"l#, though I got at least 1B $$As of this stuff into the s$ooting wolf res$ue, "ut she $ontinued to s$oot an#wa#s. DonAt get me wrong, I donAt mind spending mone#, "ut when I spend it, I want ?real? answers or results. &hat shouldnAt "e so hard, should it; &hus, m# non-to-i$ natural solution has "een to simpl# feed food grade diatoma$eous earth, @LP da#s=#ear to m#self and m# <BB animal guardians here. I started that Cust o%er O #ears ago and 6ad# Ni!!o no longer s$oots a$ross her $on$rete floor! P6*S, I donAt ha%e to ?stuff? it down her throat, I Cust put it in her food, li!e e%er#one else, and she eats it Cust fine.
And it has alwa#s wor!ed fa"ulousl# for in$oming res$ue !ittens or puppies=dogs that ha%e diarrhea, some with "loated "ellies. Within 1> hours of dail# DF $onsumption, stools are mu$h firmer and pot "ellies are eliminated.

'ow We Eeed Eood Mrade Diatoma$eous Farth to Si$! Pets )r &hose With Worm Infestations
&han!full#, natural DF is not a ?poison?, "ut a natural method of eliminating parasites "# deh#drating them. Sin$e parasites are a maCor $ause of disease in e%er#one - human, plants, and animals, as well as the other great "enefits of feeding natural DF, we immediatel# feed DF to all res$ues or $lient animals ,infested or not, as most often the# ha%e parasite issues and the DF will help strengthen their immune s#stems, get them healthier more 7ui$!l#, deto- hea%# metals, pro%ide <P minerals, and eliminate an# worms the# ma# ha%e..

DF feeding proto$ol for worm infestations &he re$ommended feeding rates on m# we"site are what the manufa$turer re$ommends.
Puppies - < to / teaspoons on$e or twi$e=da# Dogs /B to PB l"s. - < to <.P ta"lespoons Dogs PBS l"s. - / ta"lespoons Dogs <BBS l"s. - @ to 1 ta"lespoons 8ittens - < teaspoon twi$e dail# in food 9ats - / teaspoons twi$e=da#

Eor puppies and !ittens who are eating on their own, it is reall# eas# to feed them food grade diatoma$eous earth "# mi-ing the DF in a small amount of raw goats mil! ,or whate%er mil! #ou prefer., #ogurt, or $ottage $heese. Tust remem"er, DF has to $ome in $onta$t with the worm=parasite="ug to !ill it within /1 to U/ hours. )n$e #ou start worming with DF, do N)& stop the dail# DF for at least @ wee!s. IE #ou start one da# and forget for @ da#s, the infestation and dead d#ing worms whi$h emit "a$teria, to-ins, ammonia, et$. $an $ause to-i$ o%erload, whi$h $an ma!e animals or people si$!er. An#wa#s, #ou $an feed too little, "ut #ou $anAt feed too mu$h DF. )f $ourse, no one is going to feed a PBV "ag to a $anine, horse, or !itten in one da# - o!a#, so there might "e someone out there that would tr# it. Personall#, if I !now IAm dealing with an infestation in a new res$ue, I alwa#s feed more than the re$ommended dose, "e$ause I donAt want to ha%e to deal with the dis-ease worm loads $an $ause, nor the diarrhea, et$. A stud# done "# A9(FS, *SA, In$. ad%ised that after </ months of storage, the food grade diatoma$eous earth treated material had <P inse$ts, $ompared to 1>>1 for malathion and <L,OO1 for untreated grain. )ur 9autionsI (o 5"$ get (- in the eyes. (- is a drying agent and will dry out the eyes . IE #ou ha%e asthma or some other lung ailment, either wear a mas! or "e %er# $areful when using food grade diatoma$eous earth. Do N)& use hea%il# in $arpet. Some ad%ise too mu$h DF $auses %a$uum pro"lems.