English bulldogs, and other dog breeds, are not spared from having dangerous internal parasites lurking in their gastro intestinal tract. The heartworm poses intensely serious risk to dogs. As the name “heartworm” suggests, an infected mosquito injects lava into the dog’s circulatory system. The lava in turn occupies a particular area in the heart, consuming cardiac muscle while it grows and reproduces at an alarming rate. Dogs are known to be host up to 200 worms!
Signs and symptoms of heartworm
The manifestations of heartworm in dogs, including English bulldogs, vary from case to case. It includes loss of energy, loss of appetite, coughing, anemia, and development of a pot belly. Far more intensive effects on the dog are predictable such as cardiac failure over a year or two, resulting to death.
Treatment of heartworm
The process of eliminating heartworm infection on dogs can be difficult. It involves an attempt to poison the healthy worm with the aide of arsenic compounds without harming (or killing) the sick and weak dog. In most cases, this attempt fails. Blood testing for heartworms does not indicate the severity of the infection.
Prevention is a much better and effective option. The treatment of heartworm should start at about six weeks of age. A prophylactic dose should be given monthly.
Other internal parasites
The dog’s intestines can be a breeding ground of internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Roundworms live in the dog’s intestines. They grow about 10 centimeters long and are white in color. About 70% puppies will be infected with Toxocare; the most common term used for roundworms, either as a fetus or from their mother’s milk after birth. It is imperative to deworm pregnant bitches with an appropriate product to help prevent the transmission of worms to their puppies.
Signs of parasite infection
Puppies that are infected exhibit abdominal distension, vomiting, diarrhea and debility. Puppies could be infected without obviously showing any signs of worms.
If you do see worms, it is a sign of a very severe infection. In this case, a professional advice of your vet is recommended. The greatest danger of this parasite is that infects people too. Before that happens to you, test your dog regularly for roundworms. Toxocariasis in humans will cause epilepsy or blindness.
Tapeworms are carried by fleas can be ingurgitated by infected dogs then transmitted to humans. Your mother was right with washing your hands before you eat or even when you cook. Tapeworms can be evident around the anal area or on the bedding. These worms are white in color and look similar to grains of rice. Tapeworms do not often affect puppies. The tapeworm disease is not life threatening in dogs but is a cause of liver disease for humans.
Prevention
All dogs should be treated for worms on a regular basis preferably every three months regardless if there are signs of infection or not. Puppies should be treated every 2 weeks from 4 weeks of age until they are 12 weeks old and after every month until they are 6 months old. Children are at the highest risk of parasite infection when you keep a dog in your household. If you have young children at home, teach them to always wash their hands after petting or any physical contact with dogs.
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2010 Apr 30
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