I have a horse - How often should I worm my dog??

I have a horse - How often should I worm my dog?? 

While there are no cross-infestations of worms between horses and dogs, intestinal worms in dogs are common parasites that can get out of control in any house yard / farm yard.

Worms are parasites that are more than just a nuisance. They can kill pups and make adult dogs very unwell. In addition, worms from pets can potentially cause disease in children and adult people. Dog owners need to be particularly aware of the danger of worms and how to prevent them.

Dogs can become infected with four different types of intestinal worms, namely hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms [and also heartworms]. Importantly, as these worms can affect humans, especially children, puppies need to be wormed every 2 weeks from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly to 6 months, and then every 3 months as an adult dog. Regular worming is essential – while treatment kills worms present in the intestine at the time, reinfections can occur from other pets and the environment. Once is not enough.

Pregnant dogs need to be wormed prior to mating, 10 days before whelping and at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after whelping.

Dogs in “hydatid tapeworm” areas need to be wormed every 6 weeks, as hydatid tapeworms are a serious health risk to humans. Hydatid disease used to be a problem only in temperate southern areas, however it has spread up along the east coast of Australia – and a lot of peri-urban areas where horses are mostly kept are exposed to feral dogs that can carry these tapeworms. Your vet can check your dog for the presence of worms, give the appropriate treatment and advise you on the best worm control program for your dog. Not all over-the-counter products available treat all the worms, and not all are effective.

For those of you interested in biology – the following relates to ‘Life as a Roundworm’

Toxocara canis has one of the most amazing life cycles in the animal kingdom. It is crucial to understand this life cycle if effective treatment is to be pursued.

Toxocara eggs are passed in the host's faeces. If a faecal sample is tested, the eggs can be detected. The embryonic worm develops in the outdoor environment inside its microscopic egg for one month before it becomes able to infect a new host – therefore fresh faeces are not infectious. Soil contaminated with faeces is infectious. Eggs can remain infective for months to years.

How do I know if my dog has worms? 

 

In puppies, a worm infection can cause a life threatening condition to develop quickly. Despite common belief, it is not common to see worms in a dog or puppy’s droppings under normal circumstances.

Hookworms in young pups often cause soft tar-like faeces that develop into diarrhoea, usually with blood staining of the faeces. The blood loss in puppies can be extreme and a serious anaemia is a common, fatal side effect. Hookworms are quite small so it is not common to see hookworms in the animal’s droppings after proper treatment.

Roundworms are a big worm, measuring up to 18cm in length. They are a particular problem in puppies as they are spread to them while they are in the mother’s uterus. Thus, pups can be born with a roundworm infestation. Roundworms cause diarrhoea, sometimes with bloodstaining, and can commonly cause a blockage of the bowel due to their large size. Affected puppies have a ‘pot-bellied’ appearance and a rough coat. Such puppies are often ‘poor doers’.

Tapeworms are a common problem in dogs. Surprisingly, although they are quite big, they cause only mild disease. They are one, but not the only, cause of ‘scooting’ behaviour of dogs. The segments are easy to identify. They are the size of a rice grain and are quite active. They will wriggle visibly and can be seen with the naked eye on the dog’s droppings or on its fur around its bottom. By continually ‘scooting’, a dog will occasionally cause a lot of self-inflicted irritation around the skin of its anus.

Whipworms are a medium size worm that affects the lower bowel of dogs. It again causes diarrhoea, which characteristically contains mucus and often some fresh blood.

How can I get rid of worms?  

Worms can be eliminated with common worming medications that are available from your veterinarian or pet shop. Be sure to choose a medication that will treat all four worms that your pup can be affected by. However, if your pup is already unwell, it may need other medication to control any diarrhoea that is present and to build up reserves of, for instance, iron that may be depleted from continual blood loss. For advice on this, you should consult your veterinarian.

How can I prevent worm infestations?  

Preventing worm infestations is a very important matter in all animals. A calendar and budget plan can help ensure effective prevention. There are many effective products on the market, and a lot also control other parasites such as heartworm, fleas, mites and ticks.

An integrated parasite prevention plan is best determined for each individual house yard / farm yard. An economical plan requires some calculation – and possible assistance from a vet / vet nurse. New products are constantly becoming available. Some products have the convenience factor, while others are more cost effective.

In Summary, develop and carry out a plan that is effective and ‘works’ for you and your dogs – and you will have peace of mind.

For very competitive online animal health products visit www.obay.com.au and key in HEWX6669  

Rod Stephenson BVSc MVSc PAC VETS for horses and all farm animals  www.pacvets.com.au