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Answers to some commonly asked questions on pet health
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Is my dog at risk of getting intestinal parasites?
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Dogs of any age can get roundworms and hookworms,
but they are most vulnerable when they are very young. In fact, it is not unusual
for puppies of only two or three weeks of age to harbor a significant number of
worms. That’s because these worms are almost always passed to puppies from their mothers before
birth. Puppies may also become infected with worms through their mothers’
milk. |
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How do I know if my dog has roundworms or hookworms? |
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Signs of infection may include: abdominal discomfort,
vomiting, loss of appetite, severe weight loss, rapid blood loss or even sudden
death. You should know, however, that dogs may be infected without appearing ill;
most, in fact, show no signs at all. Again, visit your veterinarian and have your pets
checked for these potentially zoonotic diseases. |
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I’ve heard of zoonosis before, but what
is it? |
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Zoonosis (zo-o-no-sis) is the name used by healthcare
providers for any disease that can be passed from animals to people. You are probably
aware of some of the better-known zoonoses (zo-o-no-seez) such as Lyme disease
and rabies. Roundworm and hookworm infections are zoonotic (zo-o-nah-tik) as well.
Some zoonoses are transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of infected
animals. Rabies, for instance, is carried in the saliva, and is typically spread
through bites and scratches. Other zoonoses depend on an intermediate host to
carry disease-causing organisms from one host to another. Lyme disease, which
is carried from wildlife to people and dogs by ticks, is one example of this type
of zoonosis. Still other zoonoses are spread through exposure to infective organisms
in a fecally contaminated area. These organisms can exist in many places, including public sandboxes, public parks, and even your own backyward. Roundworm and hookworm infections are zoonoses of this kind. |
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How can people get roundworm and hookworm infections? |
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People may contract the larvae or eggs of these worms
through direct contamination with infected feces or with contaminated soil, sand,
plant life and other objects. Eggs or larvae of either type of worm may be injested
accidentally, but hookworm larvae usually enter the body by penetrating the skin.
Researchers believe children are more vulnerable to infection than adults because
children’s play habits bring them into closer contact with contaminated
objects and also because they are more likely to put contaminated objects into
their mouths. |
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How serious are these internal worm infections? |
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Roundworms enter the human body as eggs that soon
hatch into larvae. These larvae may travel through the liver, lungs and other
organs, causing tissue damage and sometimes affecting nerves or lodging in the
eye. In some cases, they may cause permanent visual or neurological damage. Hookworm
larvae migrate inside the body, just as roundworm larvae do. They typically move
about within the skin, causing inflammation in the affected areas. One species
of hookworm has been known to penetrate into deeper tissues and cause more serious
damage to intestines and other organs. |
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Is my dog really at risk for contracting heartworm
disease? |
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Heartworm disease, which may cause death in dogs,
has been reported in all 50 of the United States. Whether your dog spends his
days in the great outdoors or rarely ventures past the front step, he’s
still possibly at risk of exposure to heartworm disease. |
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How do dogs get heartworm disease? |
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Heartworm disease is transmitted by the bite of an
infective mosquito. Once heartworm larvae enter through the skin, they begin to
grow in the dog’s body. Eventually, the larvae migrate to the pulmonary
arteries and the heart. After maturing, female heartworms can produce tiny larvae
called microfilariae, which circulate in the dog’s blood stream. When a
previously non-infected mosquito bites an infected dog, it picks up microfilariae
and the cycle starts all over again. |
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How do I know for sure that my dog has heartworm
disease? |
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Dogs infected with heartworms may not show any signs
of illness at all, but with time, the dog may exhibit a cough, intolerance for
exercise and, in severe cases, may die. A simple blood test is used to diagnose
heartworm disease in dogs. The only way to know for sure is to call your veterinarian,
and arrange for a heartworm test. |
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What is the treatment for heartworm disease? |
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Even after a dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease,
treatment can be difficult and expensive. Because of the risk, treatment for heartworm
disease is conducted in the veterinary clinic; complete rest for 4 weeks or
more may be required for a dog undergoing treatment. Dogs with severe heartworm
infections are sometimes treated surgically. |
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What other internal worms should I be
concerned about? |
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Heartworm disease isn’t the only worm that
may threaten your dog – you also need to be aware of the risks associated
with intestinal worms, including roundworms and hookworms. As a dog owner, you
may already be familiar with worms that often infect puppies and can also infect
older dogs. The most common types of these worms are roundworms and hookworms.
They are both intestinal parasites, which means that they live and grow inside
the intestine of a host animal. Roundworms and hookworms develop from eggs into
larvae and later mature into adult worms. |
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What can I do about heartworms, hookworms and
roundworms? |
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Prevention is the best medicine and it's easy. Call your veterinarian
to schedule an appointment for a heartworm test if your dog has not already been
tested in the last year. If your dog is negative, your veterinarian can prescribe
a preventive that can be easily administered on a monthly basis. Ask your veterinarian
about products that also treat hookworms and roundworms. |
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