Health
Paracites, Mites and Worm Infections
Yes, puppies are prone to having worms or intestinal parasites. So, we routinely deworm our puppies and adults prior to going home. This is done for the better health of our puppies/dog and to prevent any transfer to us, their human family.
Some worms to watch for are:
Tapeworms – this is passed through raw meat, contaminated food/water, in stool. They look like a piece of rice stuck to the stool. They are very small so they are hard to see if they are on your puppy/dog. They are often transferred by fleas
Heart worms – these can be fatal, if left unchecked. They can be transferred to your pet through mosquitoes, but not from pet to pet, unless the mosquito bites both the affected dog and the unaffected dog. They live in the heart of their hosts and can get up to 6” long. If your pet has heartworm, they will not show any signs of it until it has become quite advanced.
Roundworm – the most common worm in puppies/dogs. These worms are whitish in colour and look like a piece of spaghetti when they are passed. Puppies/dogs are infected by coming in contact with infected stool. They pass through the blood of the dog, and then they enter the lungs. They can be coughed up and sometimes re-swallowed. They may pass in their stool as well. They can be transferred to humans. Children are particularly susceptible to them.
Hookworms – this is passed through stool. They eat blood. They have teeth and bite into the intestines of their host. They move around and re-attach several times a day. Because they eat blood they can cause anemia in their hosts.
Ringworm – This is not a worm at all, rather, it is a fungus. It starts to show 10-14 days after contact. It starts off looking a little bit like a pimple, a small red bump. Then it changes in time and looks like a flat round patch of rash, and it can get yellow crusty areas. It can easily be treated with topical medicine from your vet.
Ear Mites - these are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of dogs and cats. Dogs tend to scratch at their ears when they have them. Taking a cotton swab and wiping their ears with it may reveal dirty, black material. These are the mites. Please note, however, an ear infection can also produce a black substance, so it is important to determine which it is. Ear mites are easily treatable with ear mite solution found in vet and pet stores or mineral oil.
Some worms to watch for are:
Tapeworms – this is passed through raw meat, contaminated food/water, in stool. They look like a piece of rice stuck to the stool. They are very small so they are hard to see if they are on your puppy/dog. They are often transferred by fleas
Heart worms – these can be fatal, if left unchecked. They can be transferred to your pet through mosquitoes, but not from pet to pet, unless the mosquito bites both the affected dog and the unaffected dog. They live in the heart of their hosts and can get up to 6” long. If your pet has heartworm, they will not show any signs of it until it has become quite advanced.
Roundworm – the most common worm in puppies/dogs. These worms are whitish in colour and look like a piece of spaghetti when they are passed. Puppies/dogs are infected by coming in contact with infected stool. They pass through the blood of the dog, and then they enter the lungs. They can be coughed up and sometimes re-swallowed. They may pass in their stool as well. They can be transferred to humans. Children are particularly susceptible to them.
Hookworms – this is passed through stool. They eat blood. They have teeth and bite into the intestines of their host. They move around and re-attach several times a day. Because they eat blood they can cause anemia in their hosts.
Ringworm – This is not a worm at all, rather, it is a fungus. It starts to show 10-14 days after contact. It starts off looking a little bit like a pimple, a small red bump. Then it changes in time and looks like a flat round patch of rash, and it can get yellow crusty areas. It can easily be treated with topical medicine from your vet.
Ear Mites - these are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of dogs and cats. Dogs tend to scratch at their ears when they have them. Taking a cotton swab and wiping their ears with it may reveal dirty, black material. These are the mites. Please note, however, an ear infection can also produce a black substance, so it is important to determine which it is. Ear mites are easily treatable with ear mite solution found in vet and pet stores or mineral oil.