Dogs, especially young ones, are commonly exposed to parasites such as worms. People who own dogs often don't realize it before the problem gets out of hand and the dog becomes sick. The vet can identify whether your dog has intestinal worms or not. However, dogs may get dewormed even if their stool samples are negative for parasites. Most parasites can be controlled with medication, but some cannot be completely removed due to the dormancy of the eggs and larvae. The best way to control parasitic infestations in dogs is prevention. Preventive medication and regular checkups will help ensure your dog doesn't have intestinal worms.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Keeping Worms Out of the Dog's Environment
Step 1. Clean dirt and debris in the dog's living area regularly
Dogs may become infected with worms from old droppings in the yard. Clean dog litter with a litter shovel every day. In order not to cause disease in dogs, do not allow dirt to accumulate.
Also clean the dog bed at least once a week. This is to help prevent fleas and other pests from breeding on the blanket or dog bed
Step 2. Clean the dog kennel frequently
Cleaning play areas or dog kennels is one of the best ways to prevent hookworms. Hookworms live in the soil and can enter the dog's body through the skin on its paws or be swallowed when the dog cleans its paws.
- Clean a dog house made of cement with a bleach solution diluted in water in a ratio of 1:32.
- In the case of a severe hookworm infestation in the grass, you might consider killing it with borax. However, keep in mind that borax will also kill grass.
Step 3. When walking him, keep the dog away from animal waste
Dogs like to walk around with their noses to the ground and smelling the scents of other animals. Unfortunately, this will allow your dog to smell the feces and urine of other animals and may come into contact with parasites. If you see dirt on the road, keep the dog away from the dirt.
Keep your dog away from other dogs or cats that may be infected with worms. When walking, also keep your dog away from unfamiliar dogs or cats
Method 2 of 3: Getting Rid of Worm-Carrying Pests
Step 1. Control the rat population in the home area with the right bait and traps
Tapeworms use mice as hosts before finding larger hosts such as dogs. If you eat an infected mouse, your dog may become infected with tapeworms or other parasites that the rodent carries.
Step 2. Clean any standing water that might be a breeding ground for mosquitoes
The only way dogs become infected with heartworms is through the bite of an infected mosquito. So, dogs should be kept away from mosquitoes as much as possible. Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes when mosquitoes bite an infected dog, fox, coyote or wolf. Then, the worms are transmitted to other dogs who are bitten by mosquitoes.
Clean up standing water in outdoor areas of the house that can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes
Step 3. Keep slugs and snails out of the yard area
Since you can infect your dog with lungworms, try your best to keep snails and snails away from the yard. Don't let your dog eat snails or snails as this is one of the main ways the infection can spread. Also clean the dog's toys every day because snails and snails can leave mucus on the toys and cause the dog to become infected with lung worms.
The diagnosis of lung worms is difficult to make. However, check with your veterinarian if your dog is experiencing breathing problems (such as difficulty breathing or coughing a lot) or is losing weight
Step 4. Consider contacting a professional exterminator if you can't do it yourself
If you have difficulty controlling pests in outdoor areas of your home, you may consider using the services of a professional pest exterminator to deal with them.
- Keep in mind that the pest problem may require several exterminations and can be quite expensive. Ask the staff to do an inspection and estimate the cost before deciding to eradicate pests in the yard with pesticides.
- When the yard is sprayed with pesticides, you must keep the dog out of the house. Ask the exterminator when it is safe for the dog to come back out of the house.
Method 3 of 3: Using Drugs and Other Medications
Step 1. Give the dog flea medication every month
Infected fleas can transmit worms to dogs. So, preventive measures against lice must also be taken. Flea medication can be purchased online or at a pet shop, but you can also discuss this with your veterinarian first. Your veterinarian may be able to make recommendations based on your dog's medical history.
Step 2. Discuss deworming for dogs with your veterinarian
Whether it's a puppy or an adult dog, you should ask your veterinarian for a heartworm check and preventative medication. Heartworms cause serious health complications in dogs such as bleeding, difficulty breathing, and heart failure. Therefore, prevention of heartworms is important and dogs should be treated immediately if you suspect that your dog is infected with heartworms.
Some popular deworming medications are Panacur, Drontal, and Milbemax. Ask your veterinarian for deworming medications that are suitable for treating and protecting your dog
Step 3. Use a vet-approved insecticide spray or powder to help control fleas in your home
To get rid of fleas in your home, you'll need to use some kind of flea spray or powder. Ask your vet for recommendations or buy products marked as safe for pets.
Do not use any product that could injure the dog if the dog inhales or touches it
Step 4. Ask your veterinarian for help with deworming in pregnant dogs
Some worms, such as hookworms, can be passed from a mother dog to her puppies in the womb or through her milk. Therefore, dogs that are pregnant or nursing and may suffer from intestinal worms should be treated immediately.
Consult with your veterinarian to determine the safest deworming option for a pregnant or nursing dog
Step 5. Identify the worms that can infect your dog
In addition to consulting with your veterinarian about how to prevent worms, you can also learn about the different types of worms that can infect dogs. The most common types of worms that infect dogs are:
- Ringworm. Roundworms are worms that are long, round, and look like string, noodles, or spaghetti. Roundworms must be controlled because they are quite common and can pose a risk of infecting humans. Most dogs are infected with roundworms from birth because the eggs of the worms pass into the placenta while the puppy is in the mother's womb. Puppies can also become infected with roundworms from their mother's milk. Roundworm eggs can stay in a dog's body for years before they hatch. Roundworm eggs can also survive in the soil (after excreting the feces of infected animals) for months or even years.
- Tapeworm. Dogs often get tapeworms from eating fleas infected with tapeworms (such as when dogs clean themselves and swallow fleas) or from eating pests infected with tapeworms.
- Heartworm. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. The bite of an infected mosquito is the only way heartworms can be transmitted to dogs.
- Hookworm. Dogs can become infected with hookworms from eating contaminated soil, or from larvae that enter through the skin on the dog's paws. Hookworm infections are more common in warm and humid places. Hookworms may also be passed to puppies through the placenta or mother's milk.
- Lung worms. Lungworms are parasites in foxes that sometimes infect dogs. Dogs may become infected with lungworms after coming into contact with infected fox feces, eating infected snails or snails, or coming into contact with traces of mucus left by infected snails or snails.
Step 6. Learn the treatment options
One of the things that must be done to prevent worm infections is to clean the existing infestation with anthelmintics (drugs that kill worms). This is to ensure that the dog is free of worms and to reduce the transmission of worm eggs and larvae to the environment so that in the future, the dog does not become infected. Be sure to discuss treatment options with your veterinarian before giving your dog any medication. Giving too much medication to dogs can cause serious side effects.
- Roundworms: Many products are effective in eliminating adult roundworms. The most widely used product for puppies is Panacur (fenbendazole). This drug can also be given to pregnant and lactating dogs. Other products suitable for older puppies and adult dogs are lambectin (Revolution spot on), praziquantel/pyrantel (Drontal Plus) and milbemycin/pyrantel (Milbemax).
- Tapeworms: Tapeworms are more difficult to treat because some chemicals do not affect this type of worm. An effective dewormer to eradicate tapeworms must contain pyrantel. So, rontal Plus or Milbemax (or similar drugs) are ideal choices.
- Heartworms: Heartworm treatment should be given under the supervision of a veterinarian as the complications can be serious or even fatal. The drug used to treat heartworms is called Immicide and is an arsenic derivative. Prevention is a much better option. Your vet may recommend a preventive injection for 6 months or a preventative medication that can be given at home every month such as HeartGard, Iverhart, Revolution or Trifexis.
- Hookworms: Panacur, Nemex, Drontal Plus, Telmintic, and Vercom Paste are effective remedies for hookworms.
- Lung flukes: Lung flukes can be treated with ivermectin-type products or medications such as Advocate (imidacloprid) spot on, and products containing milbemycin (milbemax). Lung flukes are also sensitive to fenbendazole (Panacur) given for a long time. Consult your veterinarian before starting medication if you suspect your dog has a lungworm infection. Lung flukes can cause fluid buildup in the lungs and pneumonia, which can complicate the dog's situation.
Warning
- Some parasites can be transmitted to humans, especially children. Toddlers have a habit of picking up objects that are on the ground and putting them in their mouths. If these objects have been exposed to parasitic eggs or larvae, the children will also become infected. Children's play areas such as yards or public playgrounds should be free of animal waste, garbage, or decaying organic matter.
- Roundworms can pose a risk to human health. Humans can suffer from parasitic infections by accidentally ingesting contaminated soil or feces while cleaning pet areas or areas that other animals enter. Be sure to wear rubber gloves when cleaning these areas and wash your hands and other affected body parts with soap and water when you're done. You can also change clothes in a place away from the inside of the house, such as in the garage or near the washing machine, to prevent parasites on clothes from infecting you.
- Do not use insecticidal products on young dogs or puppies without consulting your veterinarian first. While adult dogs can take it, young dogs and puppies can get sick from the chemicals in these products.
