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What are the Symptoms of Dog Ascariasis?

Dogs are the warmest companions in our lives. Every look in their eyes and every wag of their tails can bring us endless joy. However, the health problems of dogs often make us worried.

Dogs are the warmest companions in our lives. Every look in their eyes and every wag of their tails can bring us endless joy. However, the health problems of dogs often make us worried. Among them, ascariasis is a relatively common internal parasitic disease in dogs. Understanding the symptoms of dog ascariasis can help us detect potential health risks in dogs in a timely manner, allowing us to provide necessary treatment and care for them at the first opportunity.

1.The Causes of Ascariasis

Ascariasis is caused by the parasitic roundworms in the dog's intestines. There are various ways for dogs to be infected with roundworms. Puppies may be infected with roundworm eggs through the placenta while still in the mother dog's body, or they may be infected by sucking breast milk after birth. Adult dogs are usually infected because they ingest food or water containing roundworm eggs, or come into contact with soil or the environment contaminated by roundworm eggs. These roundworm eggs hatch in the dog's intestines, and the larvae gradually develop into adult worms, which multiply rapidly in the dog's intestines, robbing the dog of nutrients in the body and causing serious harm to the dog's physical health.

2.Digestive System Symptoms

Since roundworms parasitize in the intestines, they first affect the dog's digestive system. Dogs infected with ascariasis often experience loss of appetite. They used to be enthusiastic about food, but suddenly lose interest in it, and their food intake decreases significantly. Even when faced with their favorite snacks, they just sniff them and then turn away. At the same time, dogs may also experience vomiting. Sometimes, long and thin roundworms can even be seen in the vomit. This is because the movement of roundworms in the intestines stimulates the dog's stomach and intestines, interfering with the normal peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract and triggering the vomiting reflex. In addition, the dog's defecation will also be abnormal. Diarrhea may occur, with mucus in the feces, and sometimes roundworms or roundworm eggs can be found in the feces. Some dogs may experience constipation because a large number of roundworms gather in the intestines, obstructing the normal emptying of the intestines and preventing the feces from being discharged smoothly.

3.Changes in Physical Appearance

Dogs that have been troubled by ascariasis for a long time will also experience obvious changes in their physical appearance. Since roundworms rob the dog of nutrients in the body, the growth and development of the dog will be affected. Puppies may experience growth retardation, being much smaller in size and significantly lighter in weight than healthy dogs of the same age. Moreover, the dog's hair will become rough and dull, losing its original smoothness and luster. The skin may also become dry, flaky, and even experience hair loss. This is because the dog's body lacks nutrients and cannot provide enough nutrients for the hair and skin, leading to a deterioration in the health of the hair and skin.

4.Abnormal Mental State

The mental state of the dog is also an important basis for judging whether it is infected with ascariasis. Healthy dogs are usually lively and full of energy. But dogs infected with ascariasis will become listless and lose interest in the things around them. They no longer like to play and interact as they used to. They often curl up in a corner and are reluctant to move around. Even when the owner calls them, they just lazily raise their heads and then continue to lie down. Some dogs may also experience excessive sleepiness, with significantly increased sleep time and poor sleep quality, being easily awakened. This is because ascariasis causes discomfort to the dog's body, consuming a lot of their physical strength and energy, resulting in their lack of spirit.

5.Abnormal Abdominal Manifestations

By observing dogs infected with ascariasis carefully, we can also find some abnormal manifestations in their abdomens. Due to the large number of roundworms multiplying in the intestines, the dog's abdomen may become swollen and distended, looking much larger than that of a normal dog. When gently touching the dog's abdomen with your hand, sometimes you can feel foreign objects wriggling inside, which are likely to be roundworms moving in the intestines. In addition, dogs may also experience abdominal pain, manifested as hunched backs, curled-up abdomens, and reluctance to let people touch their abdomens. When the abdomen is slightly squeezed, the dog will let out a painful cry.

6.Other Symptoms

In addition to the common symptoms mentioned above, dogs severely infected with ascariasis may also experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing and coughing. This is because roundworm larvae may enter the dog's lungs through the bloodstream. When migrating in the lungs, they will damage the lung tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction and leading to difficulty breathing and coughing in dogs. If not treated in time, the condition may further deteriorate and even endanger the dog's life.

The symptoms of dog ascariasis are diverse, and each symptom is like a distress signal sent by the dog to us. As dog owners, we should always pay attention to the physical condition and behavioral changes of dogs. Once we find that dogs show the above symptoms, we should take them to the pet hospital for examination and treatment in a timely manner. Regular internal deworming for dogs is an effective measure to prevent ascariasis. Let us use love and care to protect the health of dogs so that they can always accompany us and bring us endless joy and warmth.

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