Dog owners usually don’t think about parasites they can already have when they are born. This is common because if the mom has them, they will automatically get passed down. You can start deworming your puppy every 2 weeks at 2 weeks of age. Once they reach 3 months of age, they will be ready to get dewormed less often (every 3 months for their entire life) with an effective dewormer. Deworming your dog will help build a healthy immune system free of pesky parasites and parasite eggs.
Signs of worms
Dogs can show many signs of having worms and parasites, but sometimes these signs can get swept under the rug. It is important to have a clear understanding of what to watch out for when it comes to caring for your pet. Your dog may suffer from worms that include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, a pot-bellied appearance, and a poor coat appearance.
When your dog has worms, they will commonly poop out worms, so it’s important to check your dog’s stool regularly. If your dog has tapeworms, they will look like dried rice and can even get stuck on your dog’s booty, legs, or tail. It’ll look like a short string with one fatty end if it’s a whip worm.
The deworming process
When you first get young puppies, you should consider getting it on a de -worming schedule. Deworming your dog is the best way to keep them healthy and help prevent parasites from getting to the humans in the home. Adult dogs will do okay on a 3-month schedule, but when they are puppies, they need it every 2 weeks.
Your vet will either use a shot or medicine or deworming medication for your dog. The oral medication will be for you to take home. This deworming treatment is designed to kill many different types of parasites. Though they are poisonous to pests, they are 100% safe for your pet. For pregnant dogs, it is a good idea to deworm them from the 42nd day of their pregnancy to 2 days after conceiving to make sure worms are not passed on to her puppies before, during, or after birth through her milking canals. Deworming your pet regularly is part of maintaining a happy and healthy pet.
A worm’s life cycle
Different types of worms will have slightly different life cycles. Still, for the common ones, such as ringworm, the adult female worms make eggs in the dog’s small intestine. When a puppy has worms, the larvae go through the dog’s lungs to the windpipe. Once they have made the trip, they are usually coughed up, eaten back up by the dog, then in the small intestine, they will form into full-grown worms. This is why addressing any common puking with your vet is important. Dogs commonly lick up their puke, but this can become a breeding ground for making full-grown worms.
What are the most common worms?
The most common worms are roundworms and hookworms. Roundworm invasions in the body usually happen when plants, soil, sand, or animal feces are accidentally digested. Seeing as puppies are constantly eating things they aren’t supposed to and are (usually) out there playing around in the great outdoors, you can see why ingesting these would be common for puppies. Hookworms are a bit different because they can actually penetrate the skin. This is why humans and dogs are at risk. We all have taken a walk barefoot at some point in our lives.
Types of worms
Intestinal parasites can be a huge detriment to a dog’s body. Aside from hookworms and roundworms, here are the most common types of parasites that can invade your pet.
Tapeworms
Dogs get tapeworms by eating fleas that have been infected or eating wild animals that have them. The tapeworm will attach its eggs to a dog’s intestinal lining, so the cycle begins. Tapeworms are dangerous because they can cause tissue and organ damage. A sign of this can be masses in your pet, allergic reactions to the larvae, or headaches. Any time your pet appears to be in pain, it can be a sign that it’s time for a trip to the vet because dogs cannot talk to us, so it usually won’t become noticeable to us until they are in a large amount of pain.
Whipworms
These nasty little creatures hide in the beginning part of the large intestine and plant their eggs in the dog’s feces, which is why dogs can get whipworms from eating feces. This is why picking up your dog’s poop regularly, is so important. When there are only a few of them, these worms can cause no symptoms, so it is imperative to have your dogs on a deworming schedule. They can cause diarrhea, anemia, inflammation and in severe cases, serious health problems.
Heartworm
Of all the parasites, heartworm is the most nerve-wracking because it can cause heart failure, lung disease, kidney damage, or even death if it isn’t caught soon enough. Believe it or not, it’s actually the most preventable too, which is why veterinarians urge dog owners to put their dogs on monthly heartworm prevention, starting at a young age. Heartworm passes by your dog, coming in contact with mosquitos, which are common almost everywhere. They start to reproduce in the heart and can be a horrible way to see your pet go due to their treatable nature.
Different approaches to deworming
For some dog owners, keeping things natural is extremely important. We get it! They are your babies, and you only want the best for them. Here are several non-medical ways to get rid of different worm types, which you can add to their diet if you take the natural route.
Pumpkin seeds
Adding some pumpkin seeds to your pup’s diet can help flush them out because they contain cucurbitacin, an amino acid. Good news!, adding a teaspoon to their food (raw or cooked, but without salt or sugar) will paralyze the worms and be flushed out for good.
Carrots
Carrots can help by removing mucus and parasites while being digested. For this, it’s best when they are coarsely chopped. As a matter of fact, if you haven’t noticed, dogs don’t usually chew things to smithereens before they swallow, so a course veggie going through their digestive system will help grab worms lining their intestines.
Coconut
Because coconut is a vermifuge, it can eliminate worms in a dog’s body. You can use 1-2 teaspoons of it in their food to help them flush out internal parasites.
Apple cider vinegar
When the alkaline levels in your dog’s stomach are pure and aligned, this makes your dog’s stomach a terrible home for some worms and parasites to live in. Parasites and worms feed off the bad stuff, so when your dog’s gut is healthy, its body will flush them out on its own! You’ll also notice other health benefits from this superfood; you only need ¼-1 tablespoon per day.
Turmeric
Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and can rid your dog of parasitic infections. Because it’s a pretty harsh food for them to digest alone, we suggest mixing it with coconut or another food to create a paste. It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, so when it sweeps through your dog’s intestines, it won’t give those suckers a chance!
Chamomile
Chamomile is recommended because it is a soothing agent for parasites’ symptoms. It can ease bloating and discomfort and can be bought pretty darn cheap in health food stores. It can get rid of roundworms and whipworms, but because it can’t kill all of them, it is best when paired with something else.
Conclusion
Part of having a happy and healthy dog is paying close attention to their needs and what odd things might be happening with their body. Dogs are full of unconditional love and will give us their best. By providing them with the care, they need, we can ensure that they avoid serious illness caused by parasites. In the meantime, we can keep them away from our families and homes, making everyone safe and sound.
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