Parasites, Worms, Heartworm.....a
must read for all pet owners
Routine worm checks (a
fecal test at your Vets office) is one of the simplest ways you can
prevent problems in your Sheltie. Worms and Parasites can and
do cause big trouble in Shelties...... and usually there are NO symptoms.
Heartworm-- a silent killer
Unless your dog lives in a glass bubble....he
can get heartworm. Heartworm if left untreated will kill your
dog. Its that simple. Treatment to kill heartworm in an
infected dog can be VERY expensive often running into the thousands of
dollars.
Fortunately, monthly medicine only available from your Vet, will
protect your dog from getting Heartworm. There is no
excuse anymore for any dog to get Heartworm.
Heartworms are spread by Mosquitos. One bite
from a mosquito could infect your dog with heartworms. This is the
only way they are spread. Once inside your dog, they migrate to the
heart and they reproduce and grow. The adult Heartworms can grow quite
large, completely filling and blocking (primarily the
right ventricle) of
the heart and killing the dog. Only when the infection
is bad enough will you start to notice symptoms of coughing,
fatigue, labored breathing...etc.
Remember.....there are no symptoms of
Heartworm until the very end......when it is often too late.
Many people think that if a dog has worms, you
would notice them,,,right? Wrong!!
The only thing that all worms have in common
is that they are harmful to your dog, and most have no symptoms early on.
For the most part…you will NOT notice
anything in the stool. Of all the many kinds of worms dogs can get,
there are only 2 kinds that are visible in the stool…. And that is only
once the intestines are so full of worms, that some must exit when stool
passes. Otherwise you will not see them. Roundworm and Tapeworm are only
sometimes visible if the infestation is heavy enough. Often, a Roundworm
infestation will be so great that the dog will vomit up live worms.
Roundworms are probably the most commonly seen worm. Puppies are
almost always born with them, and MUST be wormed early on..... or they can
die. Roundworms look like spaghetti noodles (only thinner)
Roundworms eggs are passed through infected feces on the ground. (Or from
Momma to baby) They can be anywhere, and your dog can
pick them up off the ground. Roundworms will cause no symptoms,
other than a generally not-so-healthy looking dog. Only when the
infestation is heavy enough will some roundworms pass with the stool.
Otherwise, you will not see them.
Hookworm`s will have no symptoms early
on. However later on, the dog may get a cough or the dog will develop pneumonia as
the larvae migrate through the lungs. The only way to know if your dog
has Hookworms is a fecal test at your Vets.
Whipworms will show no symptoms until
the infection is heavy. Once the infection is high enough, you may see a
bloody, gooey diarrhea. A fecal test at your Vets office will
tell you if your dog has Whips.
Tapeworms are a bit different in they
are spread through Flea's. One Flea bite is all it takes for
Tapeworm to take hold in your dog. Tapeworm infected dogs may
have a greater appetite, as the tapeworms feeds first, and the dog gets
whatever nutrition is left. Any dog that gets bit by even one
Flea, needs to be checked for and treated for Tapeworm.
A note about De-Worming medicine.
There is no one medicine that will kill all types of worms.
You must know what kind of worm you are treating. This is why
it is so important to have your dog tested with your Vet.
Other kinds of parasites are also a common
problem in dogs and may have no symptoms, or sometimes in later stages
will present themselves as diarrhea. If you have rabbits or birds, or
stray dogs in your yard Coccidia is a concern. Lake or streams
nearby....Giardia
is a concern.
Again, a fecal test at your vet is the only way to diagnose this.
Intestinal worms are able to be passed to
humans via contact (with even the smallest spec) of stool from an
infected dog. Dog steps in poop, runs most of it off in the grass….but
still carries some of the worm eggs on its feet. Comes in the house and
interacts with people. It happens. This is why yearly or twice yearly
you should have your Vet check the dogs stool.
So.... to sum it up. Here is a list of symptoms that
worms/parasites can cause if left untreated long enough........
Diarrhea
Bloody stools
Vomiting
Lethargy
Dull, not healthy looking coat
Dehydration
Cough
Heart Failure
Pneumonia
Fatigue
Increased Appetite
Decreased Appetite
General Not-Feeling-Well
Death
Be safe. Have your dog tested
regularly and talk to your Vet about a monthly prevention program.
