| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
The Dangers of Canine Parasites
When you get a puppy, one of the first things that you need to do is make an appointment with the vet to get your new family member his or her vaccinations. Along with any recommended shots, your cuddly canine will probably get a dose of a de-worming formula to rid them of any internal parasites. Hookworms Some parasites can be very dangerous to your dog, especially to puppies. For instance, a hookworm (about 1/8" in length) will adhere itself to the small intestine and begin to suck the blood from your pet. It can cause severe anemia, followed by circulatory collapse, severe diarrhea, hemorrhaging, shock and finally death. Puppies may receive hookworms through the mother's placenta during the gestation period or through the mother's milk when nursing. This is why it is very important that new puppies receive a de-worming formula. These parasites can also enter an adult dog quite easily when your pet walks over soil that contains any contaminated feces from other animals. In turn, your dog then licks his or her paws and ingests the hookworm larvae. Even without the paw licking the larvae can burrow through the skin and into the dog. Once inside, the larvae migrate to the small intestine where they grow into adult hookworms, usually within 14 days. A female hookworm will begin to lay eggs... 20,000 of them per day! As you can see, it is vitally important to have your favorite canine de-wormed should they become infested with hookworms. If you see symptoms such as diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or weight loss, take your canine to the veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is usually made through a small stool sample. Treatment consists of an oral or injected medication which kills the adult hookworms, but not the larvae. This treatment needs to be repeated again in 2 to 4 weeks to kill the larvae that have emerged as adults. In cases of severe anemia, your dog may require a blood transfusion. Roundworms Roundworms are another common parasite most often found in puppies. The worms are usually heavy-bodied and grow to about 6" in length. Infection usually occurs as larvae that have lain dormant in an adult female dog are reactivated when the female dog becomes pregnant. The larvae begin to migrate through the placenta to the liver of the fetus. They also will migrate to the mammary glands of the mother, so that the puppies can also become infected while nursing. The time from roundworm larvae infection to the adult stage is about 27 days. Most roundworms live about 4 months in the puppy and are usually expelled by the natural immune system of the puppy before 6 months of age. So, if puppies naturally expel these parasites, how do adult dogs end up with them? The adult dog ingests them by eating some food supply that contain the larvae. Tapeworms Another very common worm is the tapeworm. This worm lives in the intestines of both dogs and cats. The worm is transmitted by fleas. When a dog or cat has fleas, they will naturally ingest the tapeworm while grooming. The tapeworm then makes its way to the intestine. There are usually no noticeable symptoms for the most part, although sometimes your dog may show some stomach upsets, diarrhea or just seems somewhat lethargic. You can often tell if your pet has tapeworms by finding small, whitish worm segments that look like small grains of rice under the tail of your pet or on its bedding. Also, you dog may begin "scooting" their rear end along the floor because of irritation. It takes approximately three weeks from the time your dog ingests the flea until you begin to see tapeworm segments. Although not generally harmful to an animals health, tapeworms are certainly something you'll want to rid your dog of. One of the first treatments for tapeworms is to begin a program of flea control treatment program for your pet and the immediate environment of your house and yard. Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines, a web site that provides information on natural dog health care. Please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
17 Tips Thatll Safeguard You and Your Family From Dog Bites or Attack Did you know that more than one million north americans will be bitten by dogs this year, and about one million dog bites will go unreported.Its sad but most of the victims will be children. Dog Obedience Training Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several tips to keep in mind before starting any dog obedience training. How To Install An Emergency Brake On Your Horse Imagine being on a horse and he bolts. You pull those reins to slow him down but it's no use. Dog Hygiene Basics Giving your dog a bath is important, but not as critical as most people seem to believe. If your dog is healthy, he really doesn't need to be bathed more that once every few months, but most of us put them in the tub or under the hose more often to get rid of that doggie smell and look shinier. Vaccinating Our Pets I'd like to talk to you about pet vaccinations. I cannot tell you legally what to do since I'm not licensed but I can share with you what I do with my own pets - or in had done!I actually believe several things happened to my own dogs due to the practice of overvaccinating. Protecting the Smallest Member of Your Family: A Step-by-step Guide to Pet Insurance Let's face it - Fido and Fluffy are an important part of your family. Do you want to have to assign a dollar value to them if they become sick or injured?That may well be the case if you don't have pet health insurance. Choosing the Right Size for Your Dog Dog fashions are all the rage and have become quite affordable for anyone and everyone to enjoy with their dog, but not everyone knows the best ways to find their dog's size or how a garment should fit to avoid accidents. Choosing the right size for your dog is very important, we always want our pets to be safe and feel comfortable in whatever they wear. Caring for an Older Cat - Cat Health and Cat Care Cats are living longer lives thanks to dedicated care from their humans, and advances in veterinary medicine. Most experts consider a cat's "senior years" to begin on her 10th birthday. Do You Know Whats Really In Your Pets Food? The pet food industry, a billion-dollar, unregulated operation, feeds on the garbage that otherwise would wind up in landfills or be transformed into fertilizer. The hidden ingredients in a can of commercial pet food may include road kill and the rendered remains of cats and dogs. Decorative Bird Cages Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird cages can be attractive decorator touches. They can be used as wall hangings, plant holders, centerpieces, and more. Toys are GOOD for your dog Did you know that dog toys are actually good for your dog, and not just an indulgence on the part of the owner?There are all kinds of uses for different types of toys.First, starting as puppies, toys give your dog a distraction from other would-be toys like your couch or your favorite pair of shoes. Basic Discus Fish Care Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want to know a little about them. Have you been to the aquatics and seen some lovely colourful discus in there show tanks. Five Cat Food Factors That Discourage Feline UTD One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. The Truth About Declawing There seems to be an alarming trend to have cats declawed.. Westies for Sale - Avoiding the Perils of Purebred Puppy Purchases In the purebred West Highland Terrier puppy market, there are few rules or laws governing who may breed dogs, and then advertise Westies for sale. Both ancestry and the breeding environment will affect the quality of the Westies offered for sale, and some breeders are a lot less careful about these details than others. 10 Reasons Why Your Cat Loves You There are plenty of reasons why your cat loves you. Ten of the main reasons are listed below. Dog Obedience Training Basics The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping dog's attention and understanding your dog. To get the respect of your dog you must be consistent. Golden Moments and Dog Training Let me introduce my dogs. I have 3, Nikki and Benny are my therapy dogs, and Dukie is my blind dog. Thats No Paris Hilton! An Overview of Dog Obedience Training Videos Mention the word "video" and different people would come up with different ideas. Some would remember those home movies they made during special occasions spent with family and friends. Online: The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Way to Buy and Sell a Horse Selling a HorseThe best new tool for people selling horses is the Internet. You can describe your horse in detail and publish pictures, list a pedigree, show record and accomplishments - all for a very reasonable price.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
