Worm Infestation In Pets: Risks, Prevention, And Treatment

When you have pets at home, you want to make sure they stay healthy during their lifespan. However, worms in pets may cause serious health risks. They are more harmful for specific types of pets. There could be many reasons which cause worms to your companion. In this blog, we will tell you the risks and the importance of preventing worms in dogs. Keep reading if you find it interesting!

Which Pets Are Likely To Have The Worms The Most?

Puppies

Most of the common pets that can have worms are puppies. Why? They have an underdeveloped immune system. Your little puppies may get worms like roundworms and hookworms. These two are common in young dogs. Dog parasite treatment to prevent such worms is essential as it affects their growth and overall health. When you show carelessness, these worms can cause digestive issues for puppies.

Kittens

The other pet that is more prone to worms are kittens. Yes. However, kittens and puppies usually get different types of worms. As you have read puppies get roundworms and hookworms, kittens get roundworms and tapeworms. The presence of such worms causes kittens to vomit. Similar to puppies, kittens also have underdeveloped immune systems. This is the main reason why they both are more at risk of worms.

From Where Your Pet Can Get Worms?

Through Environment 

Your companion may get worms when their surroundings are not clean. Here, by unclean surroundings, we mean contaminated soil and water. While playing in the park, they come into contact with contaminated soil. This soil contains worm eggs. Not just in the park, this contaminated soil can be present in your shoes. Sometimes, your pet licks your shoes. Due to which worms enter into their body. So, worm prevention in dogs by cleaning the environment is necessary.

Even Before Birth

It is surprising that your pet may get worms even before birth. There are some worms like roundworms. They can pass from mother to puppy through the placenta. This means you can't blame the environment only. Puppies and kittens can be born with worms already in their body. At the early stage, the prevention of worms is necessary. 

Mother's Milk Transmission

The next source of worms in pets is their mother's milk. Nursing pets can ingest worm larvae from their mother. They are tiny worms that can pass through milk. This happens in rare cases when the mother is infected. Such transmission can cause digestive issues. It may also hinder growth in young pets. That's why it is important to deworm the mother before and after birth. It restricts this transmission. Therefore, mother's milk is also a source where pets can get worms.

Risks Of Having Worms In Pets

Anemia In The Body

There are some worms in a pet's body named hookworms. They feed on a pet's blood. It leads to anemia. What is anemia? It is a condition that reduces red blood cell levels. It causes weakness and pale gums. Many pets that suffer from anemia may have life risks. It is mainly harmful for young or small pets. Do you know what an anemic pet looks like? Your pet may appear lethargic and have trouble gaining weight. So, preventing hookworms in dogs is important.

Weight Loss

The next risk of having worms in a pet's body is losing weight constantly. The reason behind this is worms consume the main nutrients from a pet's body. This leads to noticeable weight loss. No matter how much quality diet your pet is receiving, having worms becomes problematic. Also, infected pets may have an increased appetite. However, they still look thin. In many cases, their ribs and spine become more visible. 

Diarrhea

Your pet may also suffer from diarrhea when they have worms. Some worms irritate a pet's digestive system, which causes this problem. You may notice that their stool becomes loose and watery. Sometimes, it contains blood. In some cases, you may see worms in the feces. When this diarrhea lasts for longer, it leads to dehydration. So, treating worms early is the only solution to save them from diarrhea.

Develop Skin Inflammation

When your pet experiences hookworms, they may develop skin inflammation. It happens when larvae enter the pet's skin. This leads to itching and redness. It may make your pet uncomfortable. When hookworms attack in majority, your pet may scratch their skin excessively. They may also bite at the affected areas. This action worsens the condition. 

How To Prevent Worms In Pets?

Cleaning Up The Environment

The first thing you can do to avoid intestinal parasites in dogs is to make the environment clean. A clean surrounding reduces the risk of worm infestation. How can you do this? The easy way is to dispose of the pet pase regularly. It also can be done by keeping clean bedding and disinfected areas. Your pet may roam around freely and eliminate the risk of worms. It prevents exposure to contaminated soil and water. 

Administering Medication

The next way of preventing worms is providing pets with deworming medication. It is an effective way to eliminate the existing worms and prevent new ones. But remember, these treatments should be given as per the vet's recommendation. It is usually based on your pet's age and weight. Such medication comes in various forms. It includes tablets and liquids. This makes it easy to work. Hence, regular dosing ensures your pet stays free of worms.

Requires Regular Fecal Testing

Giving your pet fecal testing is also a way of preventing worms in dogs. It helps to detect worms early before they cause more serious problems. When you take them to a vet, an expert examines a small stool sample under a microscope. It identifies worm eggs in it. Even if your pet looks healthy, you should take them for testing. It ensures there are no hidden infections. This may give your pet timely treatment and prevent complications.

Conclusion

As you know after reading the above content, worms can majorly affect your pet's health. It leads to weight loss and digestive problems. There are many ways to prevent worms like keeping the surrounding clean and regular vet check-ups. If you are confused about which veterinarian is the best, then contact Atlas Pet Hospital. They provide the perfect dog parasite treatment and keep your companion healthy.