Hookworms and whipworms are common types of parasitic worms seen in canines or maybe your dogs. Hookworms are small worms, which fasten to the small intestine walls, sucking blood. Dogs get contaminated with hookworms through contaminated soil. Their eggs hatch and the hookworms grow to adulthood within your dog's intestines. Puppies can get hookworms within the uterus with the mother dog or through her milk. These worms could kill puppies, although not adult dogs. These worms can handle siphoning massive volumes of blood out of your dogs, thus causing serious illnesses.

hookworm in dogs

Whipworms, however, are parasitic worms with thread-like appearance. The target site of the worms will be the cecum of the large intestine. These worms would embed themselves deeply within the lining from the colon. Infestations of whipworms are not easily discernible because they are so light in appearance it may need several checkups before a definitive finding can be concluded.

Signs

Symptoms of hookworm infection include severe anemia bringing on pale gums, dull coat, generalized weakness or lethargy, and considerable weight-loss. Whipworms are light in appearance and therefore are difficult to diagnose. If ignored, however, would cause serious health conditions to your dog. Severe accumulation of whipworms might lead to weight-loss, abdominal pain, dehydration, and anemia. The stools might be watery or bloody. Whipworms aren't actually dangerous, but treatment needs time to work.

Prevention and Treatment

If your dog is have contracted hookworms or whipworms, there are many safe and effective de-worming medications you can get from the veterinarian. It is advisable to have your puppies de-wormed immediately within two to three weeks after birth. An infected dog will be needing two to four doses with the prescribed de-wormer to kill all hookworms. One dosage may possibly kill adult hookworms rather than the newly-matured worms and larvae.

tapeworm in dogs

In case there is severe hookworm accumulation, your puppy might need blood transfusion in order to combat anemia. The vet will determine if blood transfusion is necessary. Whipworms have high recurrence rate, thus, whipworm infection is hard to treat. The vet will have to thoroughly look at your dog before he could prescribe the correct treatment. Again, 2 to 4 doses are necessary to effectively kill newly-formed worms, which were merely larvae through the first dose.

Nevertheless, there are medications easily obtainable in the market, the simplest way to treat parasitic worms would be to avoid infections to start with. Your puppies should be de-wormed as soon as three weeks old. Have your dogs regularly checked and de-wormed, particularly those at risky for parasitic infections. You must also ensure that you keep the dogs along with your environment clean.