How Do Dogs Get Worms

Understanding ways that dogs get worms, is the first step of eliminating worm infestation in dogs. Majority of dog worms have divisive ways of infecting dogs. Dog worms infestation is a serious concern to every dog owner. Dog worms are of different kinds and have different modes of infecting dogs that are discussed here.

There are a number of dogs worms that are likely to infest your dog, they include:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Tapeworms
• Whipworms
• Heartworms

Roundworms infestation in dogs is a disastrous problem that could easily lead to death of puppies. Roundworms in dogs are scientifically called Toxocara canis. Roundworms are host specific meaning that they are different in all species. The roundworms do not cross infect the species.

• Infection of Dogs with Roundworms

Dogs get roundworms from ingestion of worm’s eggs often found in the ground alternatively this worm is notorious for being passed to the puppies during pregnancy.

Tapeworms are the most common worms in dogs and they are known to inhabit the intestine and described as ribbon shaped dog worm.

• Infection of Dogs with Tapeworms

The dogs get tapeworms from ingestion of the tapeworm eggs from various sources, such as flea that have ingested tapeworm eggs and contaminated food or meat with tapeworm eggs.

Heartworm infestation is a very serious condition in dogs that is caused by worms that inhabit the heart and may also infect cats.

• Infection of Dogs with Heartworms

Heartworms infected the dogs from mosquito bites. The mosquitoes are the vectors of the heartworm. They cycle begins when the mosquito bites a dog that is infected with the heartworms and they transmit the heartworm to the other dog that is not infected when they bite.

Hookworms are worms that could severely lead to massive blood loss resulting to anemia. They have hook like structure that enable them to hook on the intestine and continuously feed on blood

• Infection of Dogs with Hookworms
  

Puppies are infected from the mother’s milk and also through ingestion of food that is contaminated with the eggs of this parasite.

This worm looks like a whip and is also notorious for causing severe blood loss like the hookworm. They are characterized by long neck that is found buried in the dogs intestines and therefore causes severe bleeding and anemia.

• Infection of Dogs with Whipworms

Infestation with whip worms in dogs occurs through ingestion of whip worm eggs that are shed by infested dog. The eggs can be ingested with contaminated food or from the grass that has hookworm infected feces

There are obvious signs that are associated with dog work infestation. This signs include:

• Observation of dog worms around the anus
• If you see blood in the dog’s stool
• Voracious increase in appetite