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There are 4 main intestinal worms that can affect dogs. These are roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm. It is estimated that 4 out of 5 dogs carry intestinal worms. This can be very important in a family setting as some worms may be transmitted to humans especially children (see zoonosis section).
 Roundworms are long (9-19cm) white worms that resemble spaghetti. Dogs become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a dog comes into contact with or eats another dog's faeces! It can also occur through dog-dog contact (ie sniffing bottoms!). The egg hatches in the dog's small intestine and matures into an adult worm. This cycle takes 3 weeks.
Puppies can also become infected. If pregnant bitches become infected, larvae can migrate into the pups in her uterus. The larvae can also migrate into the mammary glands of a bitch and infect pups during suckling.
Puppies with worms have large pot bellies. Roundworms can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. They can also create an obstruction in the intestine resulting in severe vomiting, dehydration and death if not treated.
 Hookworms are usually 1-2cm long. Dogs become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a dog comes into contact with or eats another dog's faeces! It can also occur through dog-dog contact (ie sniffing bottoms!). However, hookworms can also penetrate the skin of dogs and migrate to the small intestine via the blood stream!! This could occur if your dog walks or rolls in contaminated faeces! The cycle of maturation takes 3 weeks regardless of the route of infection. Puppies can become infected too. As for roundworms, the larvae can migrate to the mammary glands and pups can become infected during suckling.Hookworm causes weight loss, poor appetite, bloody diarrhoea, anaemia and dehydration.
 Whipworms are 4-6cm long. The worms resemble a whip as they are thick at the head and then taper to create a thin whip like tail. Dogs become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a dog comes into contact with or eats another dog's faeces! It can also occur through dog-dog contact (ie sniffing bottoms!). The egg hatches and the larvae mature in the glands of the large intestine. Adults reside in the large intestine. This cycle takes 6-12 weeks.
Puppies are infected in the same way as adult dogs.
Whipworm causes abdominal pain, severe bloody diarrhoea, anaemia, anorexia and weight loss. It can be fatal in young dogs.
Tapeworm. There are a number of different types of tapeworm.
 1. The most common dog and cat tapeworm is called Dipylidium Caninum. This worm can reach 50cm in length! It remains in the animals intestine and sheds segments full of eggs in the animal's faeces. These segments look like rice grains (or cucumber seeds!). Segments are mobile and as they move around they squirt out the eggs!
Dogs become infected when they ingest an egg. This can occur if a dog comes into contact with or eats another dog's faeces! It can also occur through dog-dog contact (ie sniffing bottoms!). Eggs can be ingested by flea larvae too! If a dog (or human) then swallows the adult flea, the tapeworm egg is released! Eggs (or fleas and eggs) that are ingested develop into mature worms in the small intestine. This cycle takes 3 weeks. Dipylidium tapeworms don't cause too much trouble however the segments can be irritating and dogs will often scoot to itch their bottoms.
 2. The second most common tapeworm is the hydatid tapeworm (Echinococcus). These tapeworms are much smaller - usually 6mm in length. Like Dipylidium, these worms remain in the animal's intestine and shed segments full of eggs in the animals faeces. If the eggs are ingested by another dog, they hatch and mature into adult tapeworms. If the eggs are ingested by a sheep or a human, they hatch, enter the bloodstream and migrate through the body. They eventually come to rest in various organs (usually the liver), where they form cysts. Cysts can range in size from a golf ball up to a basketball! This cycle takes 1-2 months. The problems caused in humans depend on where the cyst forms and how big it is. Hydatid tapeworms cause minimal problems in dogs but huge problems in other hosts such as sheep and humans! (see zoonosis section)
At the Rowville Veterinary Clinic we recommend routine worming of your dog. Combination products that cover for heartworm, intestinal worms and fleas are strongly recommended for ease and better compliance. For those who wish to cover their dogs for intestinal worms only, we carry a large range of products to suit your needs.
Young pups should be wormed first at 2 weeks of age and then every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. After this they should be wormed monthly until 6 months of age and then 3 monthly is adequate. If you are using a combination product, your dog will be wormed monthly. As most life cycles are 3 weeks long, monthly worming is ideal anyway!
If you are breeding your dog, ensure that you worm her before mating, then after whelping and then again 2 and 4 weeks post whelping.
At the Rowville Veterinary Clinic we also recommend that good hygiene is practised by all to prevent transmission to humans.
Ensure that any outdoor sandpits are covered when not in use, ensure that adults and children wash their hands thoroughly after playing with the dog, do not encourage kissing the dog on the mouth/face, ensure that any outdoor toys that become soiled are washed thoroughly with warm water and a disinfectant, ensure that gloves are always worn when gardening and ensure that the dog has adequate flea control.
If you are unsure if your dog is protected against gastrointestinal worms and fleas, please contact the clinic.
We recommend Drontal. www.drontal.com.au
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