Mary Allen
They’re lurking everywhere: worm eggs! Highly infectious and potentially dangerous. That’s why you have to deworm dogs (and cats) every 3 months at the latest. Puppies should even be dewormed every 14 days.
The recommendations of veterinarians and online animal pharmacies are something like this or something similar. But what is it? Are worms really that dangerous? Or is it even the dewormers that should worry us, pet owners?
Deworming the dog – the worm is in there!
Worms are lurking everywhere, or rather their eggs. These are excreted in the faeces of “infected” animals, among other things, or can be transmitted by mosquitoes. When a dog sniffs or eats this infected feces, it ingests these eggs orally and swallows them into the intestine. Worms develop there over a period of 21-60 days.
Even a pregnant bitch that is infected with worms can transmit them to her unborn puppies. Worm stages or worm eggs can be transmitted at the latest after birth, through the intake of breast milk. Another possibility of infection is contact with hookworms. These can burrow through the skin and infect the dog.
But does a worm infestation also mean damage to health at the same time? What role do posture and diet play in determining susceptibility to worm infestation?
Individual factors for a worm infestation: age, use, attitude, whereabouts
There are different factors that influence the likelihood of a worm infestation. Depending on the age, attitude, and diet of a dog, the risk of infection with worms varies.
Age and state of health
In general, puppies and older dogs have a significantly higher risk of contracting worms than adult, healthy dogs because their immune systems are significantly weaker. In addition, there is the “vacuum cleaner” function of a puppy, because puppies eat almost everything they can get between their milk teeth, including the droppings of other animals.
In general, however, the following applies: the weaker the immune system and the more damaged the intestinal flora, the easier it is for worms to establish themselves permanently in the dog. And therein lies the crux of the matter: A worm treatment damages the intestinal flora in the long term and weakens the immune system, which happens to be located in the intestines. Thus, a wormer even increases the risk that the dog will be “infected” with worms again!
The way the four-legged friend is kept or “used” can also be important when assessing whether a dog is generally more at risk.
Form of husbandry, use
In places where many dogs live together, such as at breeders or in animal shelters, the risk of infection increases. There, an infected dog that excretes infectious feces after a certain period of time can infect all other animals that have had contact with its feces. Keeping them on tiles or other smooth floors makes cleaning easier, which has to be done meticulously, especially with many animals.
Daily removal of the droppings and (chemical) cleaning of the floors is a very good way of preventing infection. Hunting dogs are particularly affected by the “risk of infection” because they spend a lot of time in the forest and can become infected both through the droppings of wild animals and through the game they have killed themselves.
But how can you prevent the overpopulation of worms?
Nutrition
Another factor that should not be ignored is diet. A raw-fed dog (and also a raw-fed cat) have a completely different, more aggressive, intestinal environment than animals that are fed with ready-made food. Due to this aggressive and therefore worm-hostile intestinal environment, worms usually have no chance of establishing themselves. In addition, a species-appropriate and balanced diet strengthens the immune system, which then does the rest to keep the pests in check or to fight them completely.
It was also found in wolf observations that they eat certain herbs to apparently prevent or combat worm infestation. This natural selection of helpful herbs is no longer possible for our dogs, which mostly live in concrete cities. But this herbal mixture is now available in specialist shops. The natural active ingredients contained in it ensure a worm-hostile intestinal environment and prevent worm infestation.
Wurm-o-Vet was developed for the special nutritional needs that arise in connection with worm stock. The lack of herbal ingredients such as saponins, bitter substances and tannins can lead to a susceptibility to excessive worms in our pets. In contrast to their fellow species living in the wild, they often do not have the opportunity to absorb the substances mentioned through plants and herbs. However, it has been proven that it is precisely these substances that lead to the avoidance of excessive diseased worm stocking in their wild relatives.
In order to have less reason for chemical worming (medicines), the organism of the animal should be strengthened. In addition to a balanced diet, you can achieve this with the occasional addition of feed supplements that compensate for the lack of herbal ingredients such as saponins, bitter substances, and tannins.
Place of residence and travel
Animals that live in endemic regions or are (temporarily) taken to such regions (e.g. holidays, animal boarding houses, dog and cat shows, performance tests, etc.) are at increased risk of becoming infected with the parasites endemic to these regions. Especially at exhibitions, the stress level increases enormously, which can lead to a weakening of the immune system. A fecal examination after such a stay is therefore advisable.
How does an infestation manifest itself? And what to do if the dog was infected?
This always depends on the type of worm and the severity of the infestation. In any case, indications are general weakness, itching on the anus (usually characterized by slipping on the buttocks, the so-called “sledding”), weight loss, vomiting, worm stomach (bloated stomach, especially common in puppies), or even the excretion of worms. Many worm infestations go completely unnoticed, as the immune system can usually cope with a light infestation without any problems.
However, if you notice one or more of these signs, a visit to the veterinarian is strongly recommended. There, the dog’s faeces (collective sample over 3 days!) is examined, whereby it can be determined whether worms are responsible for the discomfort. It can be determined whether worms are responsible for the discomfort and if so, what kind it is. In the event of an infestation, the type of worm can also be determined. After that, the treatment usually follows. If the symptoms are more indicative of a heartworm infestation, a blood test may be necessary.
And don’t let your vet force you into a wormer treatment without first determining if the dog is actually infected! A wormer consists of a neurotoxin that is supposed to paralyze the worms so that they can be excreted in the faeces. But this poison also absorbs the dog’s body. Immune diseases, food allergies, hypersensitivity, permanent diarrhea, etc. are possible through the repeated administration of wormers! Therefore, the following applies: Only when an infestation is proven is treatment carried out!
And you are not dependent on the chemical clubs! Inquire about natural wormers, such as the Canina herbal cure worm protection. These remedies are based on the behavior of wolves, which eat special herbs in nature to regulate their intestines and prevent worms. They work just like chemical agents, but do not burden the dog’s body.
How is the dog treated and what are the prognosis?
If a worm infestation has been detected and the species has been determined, a worming treatment is usually prescribed. A drug is administered, often over several days, that kills the worms in the body. These are then excreted in the faeces.
These agents consist of toxic substances that put a heavy strain on the dog’s organism and destroy the dog’s entire intestinal flora! It is not uncommon for the administration of the anthelmintic to be followed by discomfort, diarrhea or even vomiting. The toxic ingredients of the anthelmintic are metabolized in the animal’s body and put a heavy strain on the kidneys and liver. Since veterinarians often prescribe quarterly deworming (even without a proven infestation!), the permanent strain on the organs is the best prerequisite for kidney diseases, liver damage, etc.
In addition, the destruction of the intestinal flora promotes chronic diarrhea and food allergies. And what a vet won’t tell you: The constant administration of anthelmintics and the resulting destruction of the intestinal flora even encourage a new worm infestation, since the once healthy intestinal flora is weakened and a worm-friendly environment develops! If your veterinarian urges you to do a supposedly “prophylactic” wormer every 3-4 months, you should urgently change your vet! Find a competent veterinarian who also knows about “natural remedies” and will be happy to give you professional advice.
Depending on how old the dog is, what physical condition it is in and whether secondary diseases have already occurred, such as liver disease, the prognosis varies.
Puppies often struggle more with worms than a healthy adult dog. But on the whole, the prognosis is good that the dog can be freed from the parasite.
Goal of deworming
To protect dogs from health damage caused by worm infestation, there is the possibility of deworming. The aim of deworming, regardless of whether it is treated with chemical or natural agents, is to reduce the number of worms and worm eggs that are excreted by the four-legged friends with their faeces and thus reduce the risk of infecting other animals.
When should the dog be dewormed?
The first deworming of puppies should not take place at the age of 10 to 14 days, as recommended, but only after the faeces have been examined. Studies have shown that puppies are very rarely infested with worms. In order to avoid such an immense burden in the early puppy age, the same applies here as for adult dogs: no treatment without proven infestation! This can be recognized by the symptoms mentioned above.
There is also the thesis that a small infestation of worms in a puppy actually has a positive effect on the immune system, since such an “infection” challenges and promotes the immune system. As long as there are no symptoms of illness, the puppy’s body can take such a “stress” and train for a healthy life.
What is the use of a prophylactic wormer and can you protect the dog from worms?
The prophylactic worming, which unfortunately is still often recommended by veterinarians, is total nonsense, because the worming only works at that moment. It has no preventive effect. This means that the dog could become infected with worms again the very next day. Furthermore, it should be noted that the wormer is not a harmless little remedy, but a high-dose drug that messes up and attacks the dog’s intestinal flora with every application. Therefore, many animals are very tired and weak after worming.
Please only give vermifuge if infested
Dogs that have been treated over the long term can suffer damage to the gastrointestinal tract! Therefore, a wormer should only be given if an infestation is actually present. Anything else would be useless torture for the dog!
You cannot protect a dog from worms. Worm eggs are everywhere and can live for a very long time in nature. Only in the case of heartworm is there a certain protective measure in not taking the dog to risk areas, such as the Canary Islands, the Italian Po Valley, or the USA and Hungary, or to administer a spot-on preparation beforehand, which the carrier Keeps mosquitoes from biting the dog. Otherwise, one can only advise not to let the dog play outside unsupervised and not to let him eat feces. But even that is by no means a 100% protective measure.
However, if you feed your beloved four-legged friend healthy and balanced, and give him useful herbs, you reduce the risk of infection and the resulting diseases immensely.
FAQs
How often is a dog dewormed?
Deworm. But how often is that necessary? If the risk of infection is normal, at least 4 dewormings/examinations per year are recommended.
How does the dog behave when dewormed?
Deworming the dog works for around 24 hours. During this time, worms and their developmental stages that are in the animal’s intestines are killed. This means that after around 24 hours there are no more worms in the dog and it can no longer excrete contagious worm eggs.
What wormers do vets recommend?
Some only help with certain worms, such as tapeworms (praziquantel). Others are combination drugs that kill roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Which means should be used must then be weighed up individually and depends on several factors.
When is the best time to give the dog the wormer?
For dogs that are used for hunting or that eat prey (e.g. mice), it is recommended to deworm four times a year and additionally monthly against tapeworms. If the dog is born, it should be treated for tapeworms every six weeks in addition to quarterly deworming.
When should a puppy be dewormed?
In order to reduce this risk, it makes sense to deworm mother animals around 40 and 10 days before birth. Puppies should be born at the age of 2 weeks for the first time and then at intervals of approx. 14 days up to 2 weeks.
What happens if puppies are not dewormed?
Symptoms of worm infestation in dogs include chronic diarrhea, changing appetite and skin and coat diseases. If a dog is dewormed regularly every 3 months, the worms have no chance to develop in such a way that organs are severely and permanently damaged.
How much does it cost to deworm a puppy?
Fecal examinations by a veterinarian are usually the first step in getting your dog dewormed. The costs for this are between 20 and 30 euros. Deworming by the vet costs between 3 and 15 euros per tablet.
Why do puppies need to be dewormed regularly?
The most important things at a glance: Puppies can become infected with worms in the womb and through their mother’s milk. Since the immune system in puppies is not yet properly developed, the worm infestation is particularly dangerous for them. Puppies should be dewormed for the first time two weeks after birth.
How often does a puppy need to be vaccinated?
The vaccination cycle consists of four vaccinations: The first vaccination is possible for puppies from the age of twelve weeks. A second vaccination follows three to five weeks later, and a third vaccination six months after the start of the primary vaccination against Lyme disease.
Why do dogs need to be dewormed?
Deworming dogs has two important goals: On the one hand, the dog should be freed from its worms in order to avoid health problems associated with the infection.
Do all puppies have worms?
Worms are very common in puppies and can manifest themselves in a number of ways. If your puppy or dog has worms, you usually don’t have to worry. Your vet will be able to help you with treatment and establishing a regular deworming schedule.