SPCA Furry Facts – Ins, outs of worms

ALL dogs have worms and puppies have a higher worm burden than mature dogs. Worms in dogs can be transferred to humans and may be dangerous.

It is very important to ensure your dog is dewormed every three months.

The four common worms in dogs

How dogs get worms.

Round worms:

• Dogs get these worms orally. Puppies less than three months of age can swallow eggs which develop into larvae in the small intestine. The larvae migrate through the intestinal wall, liver and diaphragm into the lungs, where they pass up the trachea and are swallowed back down into the stomach and then to the small intestine where they develop into a mature worm. This process takes about five weeks.
• The transmission of the worms may also take place through the mother’s milk. Some dormant larvae in the bitch’s tissues become active in the last two weeks of pregnancy.
• Through the mother cleaning the pups: When the mother licks and cleans the puppies, she may swallow the larvae which develop into mature worms.
• From vermin: Rats/mice which have dormant larvae in their tissues are a source of infection if eaten by a dog.
• From the contaminated environment: Where an adult female roundworm produced a large number of eggs.

Hookworm is orally transmitted, when the eggs or larvae are swallowed.

• Through the skin: The larvae penetrate the skin and migrate through the tissues to the small intestine.
• Through the mother’s uterus: Some dormant larvae in the mother’s tissues become active during the latter stages of pregnancy.

Whipworm:

These are orally transmitted when eggs are picked up from a contaminated environment or hair while grooming and are swallowed.

• From a contaminated environment: Eggs shed into the environment can last for years.

Tapeworm:

• There are five species of dog tapeworm. The two that occur most commonly and are of major importance to humans are the flea tapeworm and the hydatid tapeworm.
• Flea tapeworm: This tapeworm’s segments contain eggs which are released when the segment ruptures or disintegrates in the intestine, around the dog’s anus or in the environment.

It is vital that pet owners start deworming puppies from two weeks of age.