| INTERNAL PARASITES |
| Internal Parasites usually live in a puppy's digestive system and are detected by an examination of the puppy's stool. Treatment for worms and parasites can begin at two weeks of age and be repeated every two or three weeks as determined by your veterinarian. Researchers believe that most puppies are infested by roundworms and hookworms from their mother, so many veterinarians administer worming medication to all puppies. Roundworm- This parasite can be transmitted from the mother to her pups before birth or during nursing. The thin, spaghetti like parasite, about five inches long, can cause a potbellied appearance. The larvae migrate though a puppy's body and are sometimes seen in dog feces. Stunted growth, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and sometimes pneumonia can result from roundworm infection, or no symptoms may be visible. More details Hookworm- This is one of the most dangerous of all intestinal parasites. The hookworm can be transmitted from mother to pups before birth and during nursing. This worm fastens itself onto the walls of the dog's small intestine. Hookworm infection may produce lethargy, anemia, poor appetite, and black tarry stools containing blood. More details Whip-worm- This parasite settles into the lower end of a dog's digestive tract, causing chronic bowel inflammation, mucus in the stool, weight loss, and diarrhea. More details Tapeworm- In larva from, this parasite usually enters a dog's body when he swallows a flea. Rodents can also be a source of tapeworm. It seldom causes obvious symptoms, but visible segments can be found in the feces of an infected animal. Mature tapeworms feed from the intestines, causing the dog to eat more than normal without weight gain. Because of the chance of re-infestation, your dog should be relatively free of fleas when he is treated for tapeworm. More details Giardia are protozoa (one-celled organisms) that live in the small intestine of dogs and cats. Giardia are found throughout the United States and in many other parts of the world. Coccidia- Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Sometimes infested puppies show no symptoms. This is a common problem. More info Heart-worm- Transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, this dangerous parasite lives in a dog's heart or near it in major blood vessels. Heart-worm disease can be fatal. It causes heart or lung damage, coughing, lethargy, and fatigue. Heart worms can be detected by a blood test. Heart-worm is difficult to cure but easy to prevent with medication from your veterinarian. A blood test is taken to ensure that heart-worm is not already present before administering a heart-worm preventative. The medicine is administered in monthly or daily doses during the mosquito season or, in some areas, year round. Never treat a dog for heart-worm except under the supervision of your veterinarian.,,,, More infor |
| This site was created by and is maintained by Belinda Winters for BFH Bassets. If you have any questions or comments email belindawinters@bfhbassets.com |
