Worms in dogs

Digestive parasitism of dogs (which are domestic carnivores) by “worms” is a common problem to which all owners concerned about their pet's health should be aware: 2 out of 3 puppies are in fact carriers of intestinal worms.

These worms are parasites that live off the host that harbors them. Puppies become infected in their mother's uterus, during feeding or, like adults, through their environment.

This parasitism has three consequences:
Medical: through their mechanical action on the intestine, the possible migration of their larvae in the body or their spoliating action on the host's food or blood, worms are responsible for growth disorders, digestive disorders, anemia and poor vaccine immunization.
Sanitary: some worms can contaminate humans, thereby causing “zoonoses”.
Economic: an increase in the number of sick or defective animals on farms.

Preventing digestive helminthosis therefore requires regular treatment with appropriate deworming medication, as recommended by your veterinary surgeon, who specializes in animal health.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DOG WORMS

Roundworms :
Ascaris
Large, whitish worms (5 to 20 cm) contaminate the animal in the mother's uterus, during suckling or by consuming parasite eggs in the environment. Responsible for stunted growth, poor general condition (prickly coat, weakness), digestive disorders (diarrhea, vomiting, bloating), respiratory disorders (bronchopneumonia due to larval migration).
Hookworms
Small, pinkish-white roundworms (1 to 1.5 cm) contaminate dogs via the transcutaneous, oral or milk route.
Causes interdigital dermatitis, anemia and severe hemorrhagic enteritis. Trichures
Parasites of the dog's large intestine (2 to 4 cm). Dogs become infected by ingesting eggs present in the environment. Causes hemorrhagic colitis, anemia and deterioration of general condition.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms: Tapeworms are flatworms that pass through the animal's anus in “rings” (rice-like). Dogs become infected by eating an intermediate host, which varies according to the tapeworm.
Causes chronic enteritis, weight loss through spoliation, and irritation of the anal sphincter by the worm rings (“sled sign”).
Dipylidium tapeworm
The most common dog tapeworm, whose intermediate host is the flea ingested by the animal.
Echinococcal tapeworms
Segments invisible to the naked eye. High risk of human contamination.

HUMAN HEALTH RISKS

Ascaris
Contamination of children by Ascaris eggs disposed of in dog faeces (sandboxes).
Visceral migration of larvae (severity of larval migration in the eye).
Hookworms
In tropical countries, transcutaneous contamination of children responsible for cutaneous “larva migrans”.
Trichuriasis

Extremely rare: tapeworms:
Dipylidium: rare contamination through accidental ingestion of fleas.
Echinococcosis: human contamination through ingestion of eggs contained in vegetables soiled by dog faeces or present on dog coats.
Granular echinococcosis = serious “hydatid cyst” disease of the liver and lungs: human contamination through consumption of eggs on dog fur or ingestion of berries contaminated with fox feces.
Alveolar echnicoccosis of the liver: fatal without liver transplantation.

HOW TO DEWORM?

At regular intervals, according to the deworming schedule recommended by your vet:

• Every month up to 6 months for young animals and every 6 months for adults.
• Before mating and after giving birth in females. Before vaccinations.

Use a dewormer appropriate to the worm you wish to eliminate, respecting the dose and protocol prescribed by your veterinarian.
Deworm all animals in the same area at the same time.
Taking into account the particularities of the worm cycle: joint control of fleas in the case of Dipylidium.