What are the importance of deworming to dogs?

Importance of Deworming to Dogs

Deworming is an essential procedure for a young puppy or a new dog being brought into a household to eliminate the presence of any worms found internally. Parasites pose a significant threat to a dog’s health, and certain types can easily be transferred to human family members as well. It is a general rule that all puppies need to undergo deworming every two weeks until they reach twelve weeks of age. They should then receive treatments to eliminate and prevent the parasites once a month until six months of age. After six months of age, an adult dog should be prescribed a deworming every six months or according to your veterinarian’s advice.
Proper treatment will eliminate parasites such as roundworms, often present in puppies at birth after being passed through the placenta or mother’s milk. They can quickly mature in the puppy and then be passed through the stool to contaminate the environment, which is why deworming regularly is essential. Tapeworms are contracted when a pet swallows an affected flea. Scheduled flea prevention will keep your dog safe from infection. Hookworm and heartworm are other infestations that can also be prevented when your dog is under the deworming care of the veterinarian. Your canine’s caregiver can discuss an individualized plan based on your companion’s lifestyle, taking into account factors like how much time they spend outside and whether they attend doggy daycare or frequent the park often.

Deworming prescription in dogs

Your veterinarian can prescribe the safest products for deworming and will also know the correct dosage to be administered to your dog based on their age, body weight, and current health status. The professionals at the clinic know the products best and can recommend one that may eliminate all worms with the use of one dependable medication. In some cases, more than one worm control program is needed. For dogs with worms, the vet will suggest an injection, spot-on treatment, or ingestible product.

However after treatment for the elimination of larvae and mature worms, dogs and puppies can suffer some side effects which are typically mild and short-lived, such as lack of appetite, gastrointestinal upset, or vomiting. However, dogs being treated for heartworms are at risk of developing pulmonary thromboembolism, a potentially fatal condition where the worms killed off by the dewormer cause a dangerous blood clot. Some dewormer medications will dissolve the worms in the dog’s intestinal system, while others will paralyze them. In those instances, the paralyzed worms will detach themselves from the intestinal tissue and may eventually be found in the dog’s vomit or stool. Product development in the scientific deworming world has brought improvements in medicine that can, in some instances, kill the worms in the larval stage.A dog that has been dewormed is not automatically covered against re-infestation. The medication that is prescribed must be used for the treatment duration and measures will be required to clean and maintain your dog’s environment and your home. Always wash your hands after administering the deworming product and teach children the importance of hygiene as well. Keep your yard and any area your pup frequents free of dog feces by picking up after them immediately.

Preventive Measures of Deworming in Dogs

Worm infestations cannot always be prevented. Dogs are exposed to worm infection from a variety of sources, from soil infested with parasite eggs, to contact with an infected dog’s feces, to infected fleas and mosquitos. Keeping a dog on a deworming schedule is the first line of defense against the spread of worms. Maintaining a dog’s general health by ensuring they get a wholesome, nutritious diet and plenty of exercise will also help keep a dog resilient against parasitic infection.

Credit:https://wagwalking.com/treatment/deworming