Scary facts about worms

The two most common parasites found in dogs include hookworms and roundworms.  These pesky parasites can be very dangerous to dogs  and are also considered a health hazard for people.   Learn more about these nasty worms below:

Hookworms 

Hookworms are tiny worms that attach to the lining of the intestinal wall and feed on blood. The worms tightly attach with extremely sharp teeth that keep them in place while they feed.  Since hookworms ingest blood, they can cause the pet to become anemic.  The resulting complications from anemia can be life-threatening to your pet. 

Hookworms can also be a problem for people. Most commonly, the exposure occurs when someone walks barefoot over areas where dogs have defecated, like the beach or the lawn. The hookworm eggs can penetrate the skin. Since humans are not the ideal host, the immature stage of the hookworm migrates through the body and can leave tracks of their movement on the skin.  This is a painful condition, but it is treatable.

Roundworms

Almost all dogs have had roundworms at one time in their lives. Roundworms infect animals through  ingestion of the eggs in the environment and through transfer from the dog’s mother. 

Adult roundworms are found in the dog’s intestinal tract and resemble long pieces of spaghetti and they can be up to 6 inches long.  Roundworms ingest the host’s food as it passes through the intestinal tract. Dogs with roundworms often pass the worms in their stool or even vomit them.  

People can also be affected by roundworm infection.  Again, this can happen when walking barefoot through soil or sand that contains roundworm eggs, there is a chance of the eggs penetrating the skin of our feet. Since humans are not appropriate hosts for roundworms, the immature stages migrate through the body and can encyst in organs and sometimes in the eye. This can result in severe damage if left untreated.

Prevention

The good news is that there are medications that can be given to prevent and treat hookworm and roundworm infection in pets. Several monthly heartworm preventative medications also treat hookworms and roundworms. Check with your vet for more information!