The effect of pets and their unwanted worms on your health
Our pets are extremely precious as companions and our dogs also act as protection against unwanted "visitors" onto our properties. They also provide a great source of learning about the animal World for our young children. Unfortunately they can also harbour their own unwanted visitors in the form of fleas, ticks and internal worm burdens. Ticks and fleas are fairly visible but the internal worms are not seen and can present a silent problem for our pets. This may also extend to our children who are at risk of becoming infected.
Various worms such as Round-worms, whipworms, hookworms and Tapeworms can infect our pets, with some serious potential affects on their health. Puppies are particularly sus- ceptible. The worms in the gut will feed either from the gut contents, the cells on the gut wall or via blood. They will (arise a variety of problems, some of which are life-threatening unless treated effectively. Worms can vary in length from 1 mm to 18 cm. Female worms may lay up to 15,000 eggs found in 1 gram of faeces per day. Some of these eggs are highly resistant to extreme climatic conditions and can survive in the environment for 1 year or more and can be an on- going source of infection.
Puppies can be infected in different ways, ie via the environment such as kennels, playgrounds, parks etc. (Children are susceptible in these areas), or via the mother whilst still in the womb or via the mothers milk when suckling. A bitch once infected can infect subsequent litters without being re-infected. Infection from the environ- ment occurs quite easily from sniffing the area where worms have been dropped, via penetration of the skin, or from eating dead birds, mice etc. It is essential that pups, their mothers, other dogs in the vicinity and any cats are treated on a regular program to rid them oftlicir parasite burden.
Look out for the following symptoms; severe anaemia, dull and rough coat, lack of fitness, vomiting and pot-belly. If you haven’t yet treated your puppies and notice any of these, it is time to visit your vet or obtain the correct product from your local Supermarket or Pharmacy. The better products to select will claim control ofa wide range of worms such as; Ascarids, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Follow the label instructions carefully and buy the product of choice in advance of getting your puppy or before the female dog gives birth.
