How to tell if your dog got worms?

When you squat down and your dog wags its tail and rubs against you affectionately, its furry body may be hiding invisible "enemies" - parasites. These tiny creatures silently parasitize in or on the body of dogs, threatening their health. Every dog ​​owner has the deepest concern for his furry child, and learning to judge whether a dog has parasites is like mastering a key to protect their health, which is important knowledge we must understand. ​

After a dog is infected with parasites, the most intuitive changes are often reflected in its daily behavior. The dog that was originally lively and active and excited to see its owner suddenly became listless, lying lazily in the corner all day, and had no interest in its favorite toys and snacks. This may be caused by parasites in the body. They plunder the nutrition of the dog's body, consume a lot of energy, and cause the dog to be in a bad mental state. Imagine how exhausted you are after a hard day's work. When a dog is tortured by parasites, the physical fatigue will only be stronger. Some dogs will frequently scratch their bodies, bite their skin, or even rub their buttocks on the ground. These abnormal behaviors are likely to be caused by parasites on the body, such as fleas and mites biting and irritating the skin, making the dog extremely itchy.

Observing the dog's physical condition is also an important way to determine parasite infection. Part the dog's hair and carefully examine the skin. If you find small red spots, erythema, or hair loss and increased dandruff, you should be alert to the invasion of parasites such as mites and ticks. Ticks often hide in the ears, neck, abdomen and other parts of the dog, tightly attached to the skin, and their size will increase significantly after sucking blood, and their appearance is very scary. The dog's feces are a "barometer" that reflects the situation of parasites in the body. Under normal circumstances, the dog's feces are formed and uniform in color. Once infected with intestinal parasites, the feces may become soft and even have blood streaks. Sometimes, you can see white worm bodies directly in the feces, noodle-like roundworms, or sesame-sized tapeworm segments. These discoveries are chilling and remind the owner that the dog's health has turned red. ​

In addition to behavior and physical appearance, the dog's diet and growth should not be ignored. Although the dog is provided with sufficient and nutritious food, it is still getting thinner and thinner. It eats a lot but does not gain weight. This is probably because the parasites in the intestines have robbed the nutrition that should belong to the dog. Just like the crops that have been sown hard, but the nutrients are taken away by pests and cannot thrive. Some dogs will also have symptoms of loss of appetite and vomiting, and traces of parasites can occasionally be found in vomit. Long-term infection with parasites will seriously affect the growth and development of dogs.

Younger puppies and dogs that often go out are at high risk of parasitic infection. The immune system of puppies is not fully developed, and their resistance is weak, making them more susceptible to invasion by parasites. Dogs that often go outdoors have more opportunities to come into contact with parasite eggs and larvae. Whether it is grass, soil, or contact with other animals, they may become a route of infection.

Once you find signs of parasite infection in your dog, don't panic. Take your dog to the pet hospital for a comprehensive examination in time, and accurately determine the type and degree of infection of the parasite through professional means such as fecal examination and blood examination. The doctor will formulate a scientific and reasonable deworming plan based on the examination results. In this process, the owner should give the dog enough company and comfort, just like a family member guarding it when it is sick. ​

To determine whether a dog has parasites, we need to be attentive in our daily lives and carefully observe every subtle change in them. Every happy wagging of the tail and every coquettish look carry the dog's trust and dependence on us. We should also shoulder this responsibility and use professional knowledge and endless love to build a healthy defense line for dogs, so that they can run freely in the sun and enjoy a carefree and happy time.