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 AuthorMoses 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.
reliable maid service Highland Park ..The best thing to do is to start training your... Read More
The aim of a Westie rescue centre such as the... Read More
This has been one of the most rewarding adventures I... Read More
Cute cat names? Max is popular, Lady a favorite for... Read More
With ancestors who were a breed of tenacious terriers, most... Read More
Pug puppies make wonderful pets. Pugs are very affectionate and... Read More
It's beginning to get cooler and as such it is... Read More
I'm a pariah among the dog fanciers in my community.... Read More
Yes! We love our wonderful and dear Pooches! We care... Read More
Pilling a cat can be a "nightmarish" experience. Cats don't... Read More
What kind of materials should you use when constructing a... Read More
The real apistogramma's come from southern America, they all have... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
You've probably had a day or two when you felt... Read More
Lonely, bored, tired of eating that same old stick, then... Read More
Thanks to Disney's Motion Picture 'Finding Nemo,' almost everybody is... Read More
If your life is so busy you literally only have... Read More
Knowing how to feed your betta is fundamental, because doing... Read More
Do you want a long and healthy life for your... Read More
Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More
Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process.... Read More
What if you want a Boxer, but cannot stomach the... Read More
Is your dog due for a makeover? Has she been... Read More
It is hard to get an early diagnosis of lyme... Read More
Have you noticed that doctors are now being much more... Read More
house cleaning company Lincolnshire ..Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental... Read More
Do you really get the fullest amount of enjoyment out... Read More
The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if... Read More
Did you know that more than one million north americans... Read More
Obesity is one of the most important health concerns facing... Read More
Every day, people by the millions pour food from a... Read More
As a pet owner, no doubt you want to give... Read More
In horse training or natural horsemanship, Approach is nothing more... Read More
Your poor pooch is scratching himself all over. Plus, you... Read More
Dogs are believed to be descendants of wild wolves. They... Read More
Just as humans allergies can show up as a sneeze... Read More
When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we... Read More
Anyone can put two dogs together and let them breed,... Read More
Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A... Read More
There are many of us who consider our pets as... Read More
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil... Read More
Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs... Read More
The first dog trick that is generally taught a dog... Read More
Dogs mature and age at much different rates, usually according... Read More
I was talking to a friend of mine today and... Read More
"On Trust" & "Paid For" for are one of the... Read More
Is your bird a seed only eater? Did you know... Read More
Maintaining your fish bowl can be difficult sometimes. However, your... Read More
Did you know that dog toys are actually good for... Read More
With ancestors who were a breed of tenacious terriers, most... Read More
Pet |