Roundworms.
Several of these parasites or worms affect dogs but the most important and most common are the ones which belong to the Ascarid family, and live in your dogs small intestine. Other roundworms infest places such as the large intestine, blood vessels and even the respiratory tract.
Ascarids feed on digesting food in your dogs stomach, and are particularly harmful to puppies. They often penetrate a puppies gut wall and pass via the blood to the liver and then to the lungs. From there they will crawl up the trachea to be coughed up and swallowed, which places them again in the gut. Infected puppies may develop :
Hepatitis, pneumonia, fits, and obstruction to the gut, so regular treatment is vital to preventing these symptoms.
As your puppy gets older most of the worms will travel to his muscles, where they will form cysts. These will lie dormant until the puppy becomes pregnant. They will then migrate to the puppies lungs, and this is why virtually every puppy is born with roundworm, and must be wormed on a regular basis.
How Roundworms Affect Humans.
Roundworms can infect humans, and in a very low number of cases, have been found to cause disease. Good hygiene and common sense concerning children and puppies should control the problem fairly well.
Tapeworms.
The tapeworm will tickle the dog's anus and cause your dog to drag it's rear end along the floor. If you see any worms, or worm segments in your dog's feces, you should treat it as soon as possible.
As a dog lover myself, I try to treat my own pets at least twice a year. Worming tablets can be purchased cheaply at your local supermarket or pet shop, so there is no excuse for not treating your pets on a regular basis.
