Dogs of any age are susceptible to roundworms and hookworms, but they are most vulnerable when young. That is because worms are often passed from mother to puppies before the puppies are born. For example, research in epidemiology stated that 50% of puppies as young as two weeks old had inherited worms from their mothers. Furthermore, according to the same study, 70% of 12-week-old dogs got more worms from their mothers' milk. Therefore, most, but not all, puppies are born with worms.

Today's article will help parents come to grips with parasitic infections in dogs — symptoms, diagnosis, deworming — while promoting prevention as the most effective treatment against worms!

How Do Puppies Contract Parasitic Worms?

The most cited sources of parasitic infections in puppies are food, environmental factors, and vertical transmissions (i.e., directly from a mother to her puppies).

1. Food: Lactogenic transmissions (i.e., through the mother's milk) account for a significant percentage of parasitic infections in puppies. Infected birds or wild animals are another cited source of parasites — the puppy catches an animal and accidentally ingests parasitic larvae, causing an infection.
2. Environmental factors: Puppies can contract parasites from their environment. Your puppy might come across whipworm and hookworm larvae by digging in the soil and accidentally ingesting them through licking. Next thing you know, the larvae are thriving inside your puppy's intestines!
3. Vertical transmission: It's common for a mother dog to pass worms to her newborn puppies. That's why a puppy's first vet check-up often calls for a deworming treatment.

The Symptoms of Parasite-Infected Dogs

How do you know if your puppy is dealing with a parasitic infection? It's all about noticing the telltale signs, such as diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some dogs even become lethargic and dehydrated or start scooting to relieve the discomfort. You will also spot mucus or blood in your dog's feces. But the clearest sign of a parasitic infection is the presence of parasites (primarily intestinal worms) in the feces — at that point, it's time for a trip to the vet.

What Worms Do Puppies Get?

The five types of internal worms regularly found in puppies are heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms.

1. Heartworms

Out of all the parasites already mentioned, heartworms are by far the most problematic. They are transmitted to dogs through mosquito bites and infest the host's heart. The heartworm's preference for this organ makes this parasite harder to detect than intestinal parasites, which is why prevention is a dog parent's most trustworthy weapon against infection. Symptoms include coughing, fatigue, a weak pulse, and lung disease. The infection can lead to organ damage and heart failure if left untreated.

2. Hookworms

Although small (1/8 of an inch in size), hookworms can wreak havoc in your puppy's body if left untreated. Once they enter the digestive system, hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal walls, consuming significant amounts of blood. Anemia is the clearest symptom of hookworm infection.

3. Roundworms

Roundworm infections are the second most common parasitic infections in puppies. The two types of roundworms a dog is likely to encounter are Toxocara canis (also transmissible to humans) and Toxascaris leonina. These spaghetti-like parasites cause diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, vomiting, and weight loss, among other symptoms. A close inspection of your dog's feces will bring the roundworms to light in case of infection.

4. Tapeworms

Puppies acquire these intestinal worms by coming into contact with infected fleas or wild animals. Then, like hookworms, they attach themselves to the intestinal walls, consuming the host's blood. Weight loss and scooting to relieve the discomfort are the most obvious signs of a tapeworm-infected dog.

5. Whipworms

Whipworms are the third most common parasite in puppies. They thrive inside the dog's cecum (i.e., a part of the large intestine). The worm eggs travel outside the host's body inside the dog's feces, where they mature. Whipworm eggs are incredibly resilient, lasting up to 5 years in suitable environments before finding a host. Chronic diarrhea, weight loss, bloody stools, and anemia are the symptoms of whipworm infections.

How to Diagnose Worms in Dogs

You've noticed all of these out-of-place symptoms in your puppy, and you think they're dealing with parasitic worms. But how do you go about diagnosing the infection?

Let's start by ascertaining whether we're dealing with intestinal or heartworms. Set aside a stool sample and drop it off at your vet's office. Some parasites are already visible to the naked eye. Others, however, are harder to spot, which is why the vet technician will examine the fecal samples under the microscope. This simple diagnosis method will detect any traces of intestinal parasites affecting your puppy.

Things become slightly more complicated when looking for heartworms, so your vet will approach heartworm disease diagnosis from a different angle. The quickest and most accurate heartworm detection tool is the SNAP 4Dx Plus Test. A small blood sample is enough to detect vector-borne diseases, such as heartworm, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis! We recommend that you request the SNAP 4Dx Plus Test for your dog once every six months as an effective prevention method against heartworms.

How to Treat Worms in Dogs

Right off the bat, treating your puppy's parasitic infection requires medical care. Unfortunately, the canine body cannot eradicate the parasites on its own, although owners can help their dogs heal faster with a healthy diet!

The appropriate deworming treatment depends upon the type of parasitic infection your puppy is dealing with:

1. For intestinal parasites: Your puppy may need at least three rounds of deworming medicine. The first round destroys the adult worms already present in your puppy's body. The second round destroys any remaining microscopic eggs or larvae, whereas the third deworming treatment eliminates any remnants of the infection. Since the possibility of mother-to-puppy parasite transmission is ever present, asking for a deworming treatment during your puppy's first vet visit is recommended.
2. For heartworm infections: Instead of an oral deworming treatment, your vet will prescribe a series of injections, antibiotics, and inflammatory drugs. Heartworm infections are harder to tackle and, therefore, require more extensive treatment.

A Healthy Diet is the Best Natural Dewormer You Can Find!

As the medicine prescribed by your vet is kicking in, let's make sure that other parasites will steer clear of your puppy for good! The truth is, a strong immune system is capable of warding off parasites in and of itself — your dog's IgE (i.e., Immunoglobulin E) antibodies can attack and destroy worms all on their own. All the immune system needs are the proper nutrients to get the job done (unless some stubborn parasites just won't budge)!

Here are the natural ingredients that you can use to prevent parasitic infections in dogs:

1. Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar creates a more alkaline digestive system (i.e., less attractive to parasites). Use raw, organic, unfiltered vinegar and give ¼ to 1 tsp per day in your dog's water or food.
2. Carrots, cucumbers, fennel, green squash, pomegranate, watercress, and zucchinis: Excellent at boosting the immune system. Feed 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight.
3. Diatomaceous earth: This natural dewormer is already present in our Volhard food! It's not as efficient against tapeworms but a reliable remedy against other parasites.
4. Fermented vegetables: Fermented foods help expel worms by boosting your dog's immune system. Almost 90% of the immune system is in the gut, so adding fermented veggies to your dog's diet will help improve their gut health and defend them from parasites. You can buy fermented veggies or make your own. Start slowly with fermented veggies and work up to 1 to 3 tsp per day per 20 lbs of body weight.
5. Garlic: Another amazing dewormer found in the Volhard food! Use chopped, raw, organic garlic. Let the garlic sit for 10 or 15 minutes before feeding it to your dog to fully use its medicinal qualities. Feed up to 1/4 of a clove to small dogs, 1/2 of a clove to medium dogs, 3/4 of a clove to large dogs, and 1 clove to giant breeds (twice a day). Do not use garlic as a worm remedy for pregnant or lactating dogs or if your dog is on blood thinners.
   
6. Pineapples and papayas: You can add certain fruit and veggies as a natural dewormer for dogs. Pineapple is a great choice. It's full of bromelain, an enzyme that digests proteins. It can also boost your dog's immune system to help them fight off the worms. Another enzyme called papain, in papaya, can also help combat worms. Add at least 1 tsp of any of these fruits and veggies per 10 lbs of body weight to your dog's meals twice a day.
7. Pumpkin seeds: One of the most popular approaches to natural deworming. Cucurbitacin (i.e., the amino acid found in pumpkin seeds) paralyzes the worms and eliminates them from your dog's digestive tract. Use only raw, organic seeds, which means no salted, soy, or flavored options. Grind the pumpkin seeds to a powder, then mix 1/4 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight per day in your dog's meals.

Preventative Treatment is Your Strongest Asset Against Parasitic Infections!

Almost all puppies are at risk of contracting parasites — it's a fact of life. And it's up to dog owners to help their furry friends get past parasitic infections with their health intact. Unfortunately, worms do not go down without a fight, but you can boost your puppy's immune system as deworming medication works its magic. For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, make sure that you contact us and check out our blog!

Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert nutritionists are now offering online consultations to help more dog parents discover why, what, and how to feed their dogs the healthiest of foods! Speaking to a Volhard nutritionist will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind. If you're interested in contacting one of our Volhard nutritionists, don't hesitate to access our consultation page!

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