Roundworms. Are these parasites truly a danger to your dog? There is no question that they are a potential danger, but the actual risk of contracting roundworms depends on a number of conditions. Perhaps you have already had to deal with roundworms. I hope not, but if so, then you know they are a very common parasite. Generally speaking they start out by taking over the upper and lower intestinal tract of the dog and are usually discovered in puppies. The first indication you may have that there is a problem is GI (gastrointestinal) tract difficulty. If, when examining your dog’s poop, you find earth-worm like “things,” then you dog probably has roundworms and you need to get it to a vet. Roundworms can grow up to 18 to 20 inches in length.

What is the progression of roundworms through the dog’s body? The cycle gets underway with the parasites in your pet’s stomach and in intestines. There, they consume whatever food and nutrition is available sucking it away from the dog. The next step in contamination has the worms penetrating the organ barrier and moving into the blood stream where they are transported to the liver, and from the liver the next stop is the lungs. At this point respiratory symptoms begin to show. If you notice your dog seeming to lose energy, possibly even losing weight in spite of the food you feed it and then manifesting pulmonary disorder, roundworms may be involved. Once in the lungs, the worms move to the trachea and from there coughing sends them into mouth. At this point, the worms may begin the cycle all over again when the dog swallows them back into the stomach.

If you fail the catch the presence of roundworms, at some point they can move into the muscle tissue where they may form cysts. If the infected dog is a female who then becomes pregnant, the new puppies may be born already contaminated with the parasites. Although some dogs may develop a natural immunity over time, they can still get roundworms again if they eat contaminated matter such as feces or garbage.

When should you suspect roundworms? Contamination is typically associated with a common set of symptoms. The most common of which are pain and discomfort, loose stools, loss of shine in coat, and upset stomach. Also, pay attention to sudden loss of energy. Puppies with regular roundworm infestation tend to have distended abdomens and may appear to be potbellied. Respiratory problems will also develop if there is a significant lung involvement. Puppies often get pneumonia from roundworm migration due to the alveoli becoming damaged.

In order to begin treatment, your vet will need a stool specimen to check for presence of worms. There are several kinds of effective drug treatment that your vet may prescribe to fight these parasites. Treatment also protects your dog against future roundworm attack. Your vet may also recommend that your dog’s stool be examined for worms at different stages of the treatment.

Although it may be possible for a dog to contract roundworms no matter how careful you are, there are generally two basic preventive measures you can take to minimize the incidence of attack. First, take care that all trash and garbage is off limits to your dog. Keep your dog’s quarters clean, and if you let your dog outside for much of the day, you may need to patrol the area to pick up poop, stray garbage, and dead animals. The second preventive measure is for those with litter bearing female dogs. Before the dog becomes pregnant, have the dog thoroughly checked for worms. If the dog is clean, then you let her breed with no fear of the puppies born carrying the parasites.

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