How to tell if your dog has worms or parvo?

During the years of being with dogs, every little move of dogs touches their owners' hearts. They rub their wet noses against our palms and snuggle up to us with their warm bodies, giving us endless comfort and joy. However, when dogs encounter health threats, the worry and heartache will instantly overwhelm us. Parasitic infections and parvovirus (parvo) are common "enemies" that threaten dogs' health. How to tell if dogs are "targeted" by them is an important skill that every pet owner must master. This is not only related to the life and health of dogs, but also carries our deep love and responsibility for our furry children. ​

Parasites parasitize dogs silently, but can cause serious damage to their health. Common internal parasites of dogs include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, etc. They are like "little demons" hiding in the dark, growing and reproducing wantonly in the dog's intestines. Dogs infected with roundworms may not have obvious symptoms in the early stage, but as the number of worms increases, they will experience loss of appetite and mental depression. The originally lively and active little guy becomes lazy and has no interest in his favorite toys and snacks. If you observe carefully, you may also find that the dog's abdomen gradually swells like a small ball. This is because the roundworms gather in large numbers in the intestines, affecting the normal function of the stomach and intestines. What is even more worrying is that sometimes in the dog's feces, you can even see white, noodle-like roundworms, which will make the owner feel distressed and worried. ​

The signs of tapeworm infection are relatively hidden. After a dog is infected with tapeworms, it may itch around the anus, and they will frequently rub their buttocks on the ground to try to relieve the discomfort. If the owner carefully examines the area near the dog's anus, he can occasionally find white segments that are the size of rice grains and can wriggle. These are the segments of tapeworms, which contain a large number of eggs. Long-term infection with tapeworms can cause malnutrition in dogs, and their hair will lose its former luster and become rough and dry. The originally round and cute face will gradually become thinner, which makes the owner feel pain in his heart. ​

Hookworm and whipworm infections should not be underestimated. Dogs infected with hookworms will have black and tarry feces, because hookworms will attach to the intestinal mucosa and cause intestinal bleeding. Dogs will also have symptoms of anemia, their gums and conjunctiva will become pale, their bodies will be weak, and they will be out of breath after a little exercise. Dogs infected with whipworms often have diarrhea, and their feces may contain mucus and blood. In severe cases, they may even have symptoms of tenesmus, which makes the dogs miserable. Seeing the dogs being tortured by parasites so uncomfortably, the owners wish they could bear the pain for them. ​

Compared with parasitic infections, parvovirus (parvo) is more dangerous, like a sudden storm that quickly sweeps through the dog's body. Parvovirus mainly attacks the intestines and myocardium of dogs, especially puppies. Since the immune system is not fully developed, once infected, the disease often develops rapidly and the mortality rate is extremely high. In the early stage of infection with parvovirus, dogs will have fever symptoms, the body temperature can rise to more than 40℃, the spirit is extremely depressed, curled up in the corner, and lose interest in everything around them. Then, frequent vomiting will occur. The vomitus is undigested food at first, and then gradually turns into white or light yellow mucus. Diarrhea also follows, and the feces are tomato juice-like with a strong fishy smell, which is a manifestation of intestinal bleeding. Sick dogs will quickly become dehydrated, their eye sockets will be sunken, their skin elasticity will deteriorate, and their originally bright eyes will become dull and life will disappear bit by bit. ​

In the face of these terrible diseases, the owner's careful observation and timely discovery are crucial. In daily life, we should develop the habit of regularly checking the dog's feces and pay attention to whether the color, shape and texture of the feces are normal. If you find any abnormality, even if there is only a trace of doubt, you should take the dog to the pet hospital for examination as soon as possible. Doctors will use fecal examinations, blood tests and other professional methods to accurately determine whether the dog is infected with parasites or has parvovirus. For parasitic infections, appropriate anthelmintics are usually selected for treatment according to the type of parasites. As long as the medication is taken on time as prescribed by the doctor, most dogs can recover. For parvovirus infection, the treatment process is more difficult and lengthy, requiring hospitalization for infusion, anti-vomiting, anti-diarrhea, antiviral and other comprehensive treatments. During this period, the owner's company and encouragement are also a strong spiritual support for the dog. ​

Every dog ​​is a little angel in the owner's life, and they give us unconditional love and loyalty. When they encounter a health crisis, we should also go all out to protect them with professional knowledge and warm love. Learning to identify whether a dog is infected with parasites or parvovirus is the first step in our responsibility for the health of our fur children.