Wormy Dogs? - Understand Dog Worms Infestation and Their Symptoms

 Until a very recent period, dog worms were thought to be of a spontaneous origin, brought about by the influence of heat upon decaying vegetable matter, and it was and still is freely asserted that puppies are born with dog worms inherited from the mother in some mysterious manner while still in uterus. This has been conclusively proven an error and in the minds of all scientists there is no question about dog worms springing from individual eggs and having a complete life history of their own.

The principal worm species with which dog owners have to contend are round worms and tape worms. The first named commonly infest puppies and consequently are most dreaded by breeders. In shape and size these worms resemble common angle worms, but in color are lighter, being almost white or only a pale pink.

In adult dogs these worms, when full grown, are from three to seven inches long. In puppies they are about half that length, and as thick as common white string. Round worms live in the small intestines, sometimes coiled in such masses as to obstruct the passage, and occasionally they wander into the stomach or are passed by the bowels.

It is easy to understand that when one dog in a kennel is infected with worms, millions of eggs will be passed with the feces. These are scattered all over the floors, bedding, feeding and drinking pans. They get on the dog’s coat, are licked off and swallowed and in numbers of ways gain entrance to the digestive tracts of other dogs, where they soon hatch out and in ten days are fully developed.

This rapid development account for the popular belief that puppies are born with worms, for breeders who have held post-mortems on puppies scarcely ten days old and have found in their stomachs fully developed round worms could account for their presence in no other way. They overlooked the fact that the prospective mother, confined in a kennel infested with worms, would get these eggs attached to her coat, belly and breasts, and the young, as soon as born, would take these eggs into their stomachs with the first mouthfuls of milk.

Symptoms Of Dog Worms Attack

Dog worms are responsible for so much sickness and so many symptoms that it is practically impossible to mention all of them, but their presence can safely be suspected in all dogs which have not been recently treated for them, as well as in cases where the patient is run down, unthrifty and out of sorts.

Other symptoms are a hot, dry nose, weak, watery eyes, pale lips and gums, foul breath, mean hacking cough and a red, scurfy, pimply or irritated condition of the skin and harsh, dry, staring coat that is constantly being shed.

Wormy dogs sometimes have a depraved appetite and will eat dirt and rubbish. Some days they are ravenously hungry, the next day they will not eat at all; their sleep is disturbed by dreams and intestinal rumbling, the urine is high colored and frequently passed, bowels irregular, stomach easily unsettled, watery mucus is frequently vomited and the mouth is hot, sticky and full of ropy saliva.

Puppies which are full of worms bloat easily and are pot-bellied. After feeding their stomachs distend disproportionately to the amount of food consumed. Their bodies are also subject to scaly eruptions and their bowels to colicky pains; they do not grow as rapidly as healthy puppies should and instead of playing with each other they curl up and sleep hour after hour; they get thinner, weaker and more lifeless from day to day and if they do not waste away or die in fits and convulsions with frothing at the mouth and champing of the jaws, grow up coarse-jointed, rickety and misshapen. Puppies with worms are also liable to paralysis of their rear limbs and on removal of the worms the puppies regain control of the affected parts.

A wormy dog is usually an unhealthy and unhappy dog who leads a miserable life. It could even be deadly, especially so for young puppies. Bring your dog to a veterinarian if you are unsure. Your dog will certainly thank you for that.

About the Author

Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of DogsObedienceTraining.com – The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

 Moses Chia

More Articles 

The Best Dog Breeds For Families - Simon Harris
There’s nothing quite like the family dog. It’s almost a slice of Americana. In ever cheesy fifties image of the Perfect American Family we see a nice little house with a white picket fence, Mom and Dad, two children (usually a boy and a girl), and...

Dog/Canine Arthritis - Matthew Seigneur
Arthritis in canines is just as common as it is in humans. The type of arthritis associated with dogs is osteoarthritis which is caused by the degradation of the cartilage within a joint. Cartilage is what keeps the bones in a joint from rubbing...

A funny true life dog story - Stephen Hill
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He was my favourite pet and he was very lively, lots of fun and very obedient. His main passion in life was to be taken for a long walk, culminating with a big run out in his favourite park. I would try to...

Dog Treat Ingredients To Avoid - Todd Jones
There are many websites on the Internet that provide access to dog treat recipes. Many of these recipes are excellent resources for providing your dogs with healthy treats that are affordable and nutritious. As with any information that you find...

How to Choose a Dog Walker that's Right for Your Dog - Katie Brandt
If you are like most working Americans you are low on time and high on tasks. You might put in long hours at the office. This shortens the amount of time you spend engaging in dog walking with your best canine friend every day. Different dog...

When Your Best Friend Gets Lost: Tips In Finding Your Dog - Jack Russell
"The dog is man's best friend," So, the saying goes. Dogs have proven to be loving and loyal companions of people. That is almost everyone owns at least a dog. From pitbulls to dachshunds to terriers, dogs are a part of the daily human lives....

The Demand for Luxury Dog Beds - Ken Marlborough
A pet can be as important a member of the family as a child to some owners, and making sure they sleep well is a way to express that affection. In the past several years, manufacturers have started to fill a growing demand for luxury dog beds for...

5 Tips For Feeding A Happy, Healthy Dog - Mark Eckenrode
5 Tips For Feeding A Happy, Healthy Dog by Mark Eckenrode Do you really know all there is to know about your canine companion’s nutritional needs? Many pet owners think they’re doing what’s best for their dogs when it comes to food, but in reality...

An introduction to Clicker Training for Dogs - Stephanie Bayliss
Clicker Training for Dogs What is a 'clicker'? A clicker is simply a small plastic box, containing a metal plate which, when pressed, makes a 'click' sound. What is clicker training? Clicker Training is a method of...

Active Compassion in Times of Crisis: How Your Dog Can Help - James Jacobson
We all watched the recent tragedy of hurricane Katrina, most of us from the comfort of our living rooms. The devastation of so many lost homes and shattered lives was heart wrenching. But the part that made me hug my dog tight was watching the agony...

Care for Your Small Dog With These Big-Impact Tips - Blake Kritzberg
Basic small dog care is much the same as for larger dogs, but owners need to make a few adjustments to best meet their small dog's needs. Consider the following daily dog care routines, and how they're adapted to meet the needs of your pint-sized...

Choosing the Right Dog Breeder - Eric Shannon
When looking to purchase a purebred dog, you need to search for a breeder from which to purchase the animal. This can typically be as simple as opening the advertising part of your local newspaper, however you need to be sure that you're choosing a...