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Threadworms in dogs can often go undetected for a long time. However, an infestation can be dangerous. Hence, alongside the right prophylaxis, it's crucial to recognize the signs of an infestation promptly and to treat it medically.
Symptoms: How does a dog behave when it has threadworms?
An infestation with threadworms in dogs is often symptomless for a prolonged period. Consequently, your dog may only exhibit some of the following signs of threadworm infestation after several months or even years:
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Deteriorated general conditions resulting from anaemia
Gastrointestinal issues such as slimy or bloody diarrhoea or vomiting
Puppies often display developmental disorders
Dull and scruffy fur
Your dog may experience itching at the anus and scoot its bottom across the ground (sledging).
When infested with heartworms or lungworms, symptoms like coughing or breathlessness occur.
Coagulation disorders that manifest as bleedings, like haematomas or bloody stools
Can worms be transmitted to humans?
Since some species of threadworms have zoonotic potential, humans—especially children—can also contract threadworms.
Diagnosis: How are threadworms in dogs detected?
Veterinarians can conduct a faecal examination if a worm infestation is suspected. Ideally, a composite faecal sample, containing three fresh faecal samples from three consecutive days, is used.
Various methods like flotation or funnel techniques help to detect eggs or larvae in the faeces.
Through blood tests, veterinarians can also detect antigens of certain worms.
To detect a worm infestation in dogs, you can take stool samples to the vet.
Therapy: How are threadworms in dogs treated?
Over recent years, not only have antimicrobial resistances been on the rise, but science has also reported resistances to worm medications (anthelmintics). Therefore, specialists recommend not to administer worm treatments to animals indiscriminately and only after prior faecal examination.
Veterinarians suggest following a specific deworming schedule. According to this schedule, puppies should receive a deworming after two, four, six and eight weeks. Subsequently, testing and deworming, if necessary, should occur every three months.
After your dog has undergone treatment for threadworms, it is important to verify the therapeutic success through a subsequent faecal examination. Depending on the medication, this should take place seven days (e.g., fenbendazole) or three weeks (e.g., macrocyclic lactones) after the last dose of the medication.
Causes: How does my dog get threadworms?
Dogs primarily contract threadworms through oral transmission or through contact with contaminated environments. This most commonly occurs when infective larvae penetrate their skin, often through their paws. They can also become infected by ingesting these larvae from contaminated soil or faeces. Additionally, puppies can acquire threadworms directly from an infected mother’s milk.
The most common threadworms in dogs
Threadworms (nematodes) encompass various worm species that can infect not just dogs but also other animals like cats or horses. They are thread-like endoparasites and thus live within the host’s body. Conversely, ectoparasites (e.g., ticks, mites or fleas)) are found on the host’s skin.
Threadworms can range from just a few millimetres to over a metre in length. There are various types of threadworms. The following are particularly common in dogs:
A threadworm under the microscope. Dogs can contract worms through oral transmission.
Prognosis: What are the chances of recovery?
The prognosis for a dog infested with threadworms depends on the particular species of threadworm and the condition of your dog. Dogs with weakened immune systems, such as sick animals or puppies, have a higher risk of developing serious conditions.
If you overlook a worm infestation in your dog or fail to get it treated, severe lung damage or gastrointestinal issues can occur. In serious cases, a worm infestation might even prove fatal.
Prevention: How to protect your dog from threadworms
Threadworms are not only present in hosts but also as infectious stages in the environment. To avoid infection in your dog, other dogs and children, you should take heed of the following measures:
Have your dog tested for worms regularly (about every four months) by a veterinarian, especially if you feed raw meat (BARFing).
If possible, always clean up after your dog to reduce exposure.
Don’t feed your dog raw food scraps.
Keep new animals in quarantine until the test results are negative.
Test your female dog before you allow her to mate.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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