I HATE worms, but I did a lot of studying about them for this.  During the research, I could not a single useful purpose.  You may have heard that cockroaches will survive nuclear armageddon.  I am placing a bet that worms will too.  Today, I am going to embark on a three-part series about these pests.

Tapeworms

If you have ever found a slimy, white segmented unknown substance stuck on your sofa or carpets, it is probably a tapeworm segment.  Aside from finding them as described above or in a dog’s feces and identifying them, most tapeworm infestations in dogs go unnoticed.  In some cases, you can hear a rumbling in your dog’s stomach.  This rumbling is usually a sign of cramping and gas.  Tapeworms live in the digestive tract, attached by its head to the intestinal wall of your pup.  Veterinarians usually check for them by examining for segments stuck around the anus or in the feces.

Over the counter medications do not affect tapeworms, but veterinarians will most likely prescribe Droncit, which may be necessary for up to 28 days for treatment.  This causes the worms to lose their protective layer and then they are digested and expelled through waste.  The best prevention of tapeworms is to control the fleas, as flea larvae eat the tapeworm eggs and are ingested when your dog licks to relieve the itching caused by the fleas.

In dogs, Tapeworms can grow to up to a foot in length.  They are passed from dog to dog and are rarely found in puppies under 12 weeks of age.  Tape worm infection can cause diarrhea and irritation of the anus.  The most common intermediate source of tapeworms are fleas.  If you see fleas on your dog, then tapeworms may be present in him.

Hookworms

Hookworms are a very common intestinal parasite, and very difficult to see without magnification.  They are usually about ½ inch in length and EXTREMELY thin.  Hookworms are “bloodsuckers,” and and infestation of three hundred adult worms can drain 10% of your pets blood in one day.

Hookworms are shaped like a tiny goblet with three sets of teeth.  The shape of their mouths make it very hard and resistant to collapse as they suck.  Hookworms grasp on to the inner surface of the small intestine, and then they pierce a blood vessel releasing an anti-coagulant substance that prevents the blood from clotting even if the worm relinquishes that spot.

Because the larvae are tiny enough to pass through the placental blood supply to the fetal lungs, it is possible for kittens and puppies to be born with hookworms.  Soon after birth, the juvenile worms are coughed up from the lungs and swallowed by the newborns.  They can also be passed through the mammary glands in the mother’s milk.  It is also possible for a hookworm larva to attach to a blade of grass, a piece of food or a water dish.  They are passed through to stomach and into the intestine, where they mature.  Once mature, they begin laying eggs, which are passed with the expelled feces.  The eggs begin to hatch within 12 to 18 hours, their most favorable conditions being warm, wet places.  The larvae reside in areas with the heaviest vegetation, so trimming the grass can help to keep their population down.

There is a very unique way that these worms can travel.  Remember those worms that hatch within 12 to 18 hours?  They can find their way into the moist soil and live for weeks without food.  These larvae have the ability to penetrate the skin of a dog or cat.  Due to thinner skin in their abdomens, your pet is especially vulnerable when they lie on the ground, exciting the larvae with their body heat.  It should also be noted that the larvae can also penetrate the skin of a human.

Signs of a hookworm infestation may include, diarrhea, dark black diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weakness, emaciation, poor growth.  Anemia due to blood loss can become so severe that it leads to death.  Most veterinarians will tell you to get an oral wormer that contains pyrantel pamoate.  These wormers are generally well tolerated by pets.  If you are breeding, it is best to worm the female before breeding and again 3, 4 and 9 weeks after whelping.  Most vets suggest that puppies and kittens be wormed twice, three weeks apart, and then check a fecal specimen three weeks later.  This is one of the reasons that breeding and boarding facilities have concrete floors, since the worms cannot live in cement.

Check out part two of the series next Thursday for information on whipworms and roundworms.