Just like its owners, a dog also needs health care. In this case, deworming is one of the most basic treatments. For your information, you should know that half of all dogs are carriers of worms. These invertebrates that take up residence in the dog’s digestive tract fall into several categories, the main ones being roundworms and tapeworms. The presence of these intestinal parasites in the dog’s body represents a great danger for its health, but also for the owner’s health.
Where do worms come from?
Worms can be caught orally or by contamination with other animals. By eating, the dog can swallow eggs and larvae that will quickly multiply in its digestive tract. Alternatively, a puppy whose mother has not been dewormed or has been poorly dewormed can be contaminated as well. Sometimes they eat feces and can be invaded by fleas and ticks, which is why worms are present in their intestines.
How to identify an infested dog?
This is a question frequently asked by owners, but the answer is not always obvious, especially since the symptoms are not always visible to the naked eye. The best way to do this is to consult your veterinarian who will analyze the dog’s stool. As adults, infected dogs may suddenly become weaker, thinner and have softer stools than usual. Puppies with parasites may have more noticeable symptoms and easily recognizable disorders, such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or constipation. In some cases, a parasite-affected dog may rub its bottom on the ground, which is simply a distress call because of its worms.
Choosing the right dewormer
In order to find the right dewormer, the type of worms to be treated must be detected by the veterinarian. When appropriate, broad-spectrum dewormers can be used to eliminate both roundworms and tapeworms. Deworming tablets come in very small sizes, and have even been scented for small dogs. Pipettes are used to treat external parasites, as they are applied to the dog’s neck and work. Alternatively, the graduated oral syringes, accompanied by a paste, are easy to give, with the pipette easily entering the animal’s mouth. The latter form is especially useful for puppies. Injections are the appropriate solution for treating dogs that are already heavily infested.
The ideal frequency of deworming for dogs
Puppies should be protected as much as possible. A deworming every two weeks is essential for a puppy from 15 days to 2 months. From 2 to 6 months, they should be dewormed monthly.
A single adult dog can be dewormed every 6 months. Animals that live in society, with children, as well as hunting dogs must be dewormed every three months, or 4 times a year. As for breeding bitches, to avoid contamination during gestation, deworming should be administered a few days before mating, 2 weeks before and after the birth of the puppies. The best period for deworming is the off-season. For a better efficiency, it is recommended to give the product on an empty stomach. The deworming and the vaccine should be spaced at least 15 days apart.
