The good news is heartworm, a potentially life-threatening disease, is easily preventable – but the bad news is most dogs are not receiving heartworm preventive therapy each month, according to Cristiano von Simson, DVM, MBA, director of veterinary technical services at Bayer Animal Health.

"Veterinarians are a dog's best friend when it comes to preventing heartworm and other pathogenic internal parasites, like hookworms and whipworms," said Dr. von Simson. "In fact, they are in the best position to evaluate the dog's medical history and lifestyle and discuss the best plan to provide comprehensive internal parasite protection. Veterinarians can diagnose, dispense once-monthly heartworm preventives and, if necessary, treat the disease."

According to Dr. von Simson, Bayer Animal Health will expand its efforts to educate consumers about the importance of regular veterinary care through a direct mail and email campaign in April that will reach nearly three million pet owners nationwide.

Caused by worms living in the heart and arteries of the lungs, heartworm disease can result in serious damage to these arteries, eventually leading to heart failure, and in severe cases, damage to other organs such as the liver and kidneys.[2] The American Heartworm Society's revised guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of canine heartworm – issued in January 2012 – recommend annual heartworm screening (antigen testing) and year-round use of preventive therapy for all dogs.[3] However, compliance for heartworm preventives is typically between eight and nine doses a year[4], which does not provide optimal protection, according to Dr. von Simson.

"Preventing heartworm requires 12 months a year of preventive therapy and it all begins in the veterinarian's office," said Wallace E. Graham, Jr., DVM, president, American Heartworm Society. "Veterinarians are experts on dog parasites, such as heartworm, and their ability to both prescribe and dispense preventives increases compliance. When pet owners leave their veterinarian's office, it is essential that they leave with the medicine they need to protect their dogs from this serious disease."

[1] American Pet Products Association, 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey, http://americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp; accessed March 14, 2012.   

[2] American Heartworm Society, Heartworm Disease – A Serious Threat,  http://www.heartwormsociety.org/media-room/background.html; accessed March 14, 2012.

[3] American Heartworm Society, Current Canine Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs (revised January, 2012), http://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/canine-guidelines.html; accessed March 14, 2012.

[4] AllPoints Research 2011, data on file. ]]> http://www.dogworms.co.uk/heartworm-in-dogs-warning/feed/ 0 http://www.dogworms.co.uk/how-often-should-i-worm-my-dog/ http://www.dogworms.co.uk/how-often-should-i-worm-my-dog/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:37:58 +0000 Dog Worms Online Editor http://www.dogworms.co.uk/?p=147 Worms. Nasty little devils that they are. No dog owner wants to know their beloved, cute canine friend has become host to these unwanted guests. Further, worms can cause serious – even life threatening – health problems. So how often should you worm?

Worm infection from pets at home can potentially lead to serious health risks both for animals and humans.

Many people do not realise that some parasitic worms can cause disease in humans – the so called ‘zoonotic diseases’ – and cats and dogs can pick up worms from just about anywhere in their normal environment, especially the garden, the park and the countryside.

They don’t even have to roll around in the grass to pick them up, just snuffling in the grass or licking their feet clean after a walk can do it.

In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the potential for animals to transmit diseases to humans, with worm-related problems being high on the list of zoonotic diseases.

Of these, Human Toxocariasis and Human Hydatid Disease are perhaps the best-known.

“Pets are human companions and the part they play as they accompany us through life is growing in significance,” said Sabrina Stroud, a dog worming expert with a leading animal health company.

“Keeping this close relationship healthy is not just an obligation to our animal companions. It also protects people from the transmission of disease pathogens. And to that end, we are constantly developing new products and forms of administration.”

Human Toxocariasis is divided into three syndromes: Ocular Larva Migrans, Visceral Larva Migrans and Covert Toxocariasis and may give rise to signs such as visual impairment, coughing, hepatomegaly and fever.

Previously it was thought that Human Toxocariasis was contracted via the ingestion of worm eggs from contaminated soil. Recently a study has been published which demonstrates that direct contact with worm eggs in the coat of dogs may be responsible for causing toxocariasis in man *.

Human Hydatid Disease is due to the presence of hydatid cysts in a human, and these may be found in the liver, lungs and other sites within the body.

Common types of worms found in the UK include roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and, in particular at this time of year, hookworms.

Uncinaria stenocephala, or Northern Hookworm to give it its common name, is found in the small intestine. In heavily infested pups it can have some nasty results, such as diarrhoea, anorexia and lethargy.

There is a sharp rise at this time of year as the maturation of the larvae is temperature-dependent. This worm is primarily a problem in kennels, and the usual route of infection is by mouth.

There is evidence to show that 62 per cent of foxes in the UK and 92 per cent of foxes in Ireland are infected with Uncinaria stenocephala. Therefore a country walk or even being in the garden can carry the risk of infection to pets.

The majority of puppies contract some form of internal parasite either before or shortly afterbirth. Although this may sound repulsive to you, it’s a normal part of being a dog. There is no need to be excessively concerned, provided you have your puppy checked and treated promptly. Left untreated, intestinal parasites can cause serious harm.

Therefore, it’s essential to bring along a small, fresh sample of your puppy’s stool when you make your first veterinary visit. When the stool is dissolved, eggs or parasites from this sample will be clearly visible under a microscope. Do not assume your puppy has no intestinal parasites simply because no worms have shown up in the stool.

Adult worms often live exclusively within the intestinal tract; the tiny eggs they release serve as the only clue to their existence. Furthermore, other internal parasites, even as mature organisms, never reach a size visible to the naked eye. Let your veterinarian discover which type, it any, of these parasites inhabits your puppy’s system and treat it accordingly.

Regular worming protects the health of your pet, your family and the public

All animals (including humans) can carry worms at some stage in their lives. These worms are often very small, making it difficult to determine whether your pet is infected.

Most such parasites are closely adapted to their host and in moderate numbers usually cause few visible effects although the damage they cause produces harmful localised injury (i.e. damage to the gut).

The adverse effect of worms is generally greatest in younger animals, however, the major health problems that worms can cause normally result from the worm getting into the wrong host (e.g. a child) where severe consequences can sometimes occur (such as blindness).

Dogs and cats naturally carry two major types of worms – roundworms and tapeworms. Some have complex life histories and may infest more than one type of animal in their life cycle. A good example of this is the flea tapeworm. Here the maggot-like flea immature stage eats the eggs produced by the tapeworm. The egg hatches within the flea and develops in a dog or cat’s intestine when the flea is swallowed during grooming. It is possible that young children can catch this tapeworm from accidentally eating fleas originating on a pet.

Roundworms
The large roundworms of dogs and cats produce thousands of eggs and are commonly seen in puppies. Ingestion of these eggs releases the immature worm, which leaves the gut and migrates around the body of the animal eventually ending up in the intestine, where they develop into egg laying mature adult worms. In older animals they usually stop migrating and become stuck in tissues as cysts where they do little harm. In pregnant bitches these dormant stages re-activate and migrate to the mothers intestine, the milk glands and also directly into the puppies in the womb.

Tapeworms
All tapeworms are caught by a pet following the ingestion of raw animal flesh (e.g. mice or birds) containing tapeworm cysts.

One tapeworm of dogs found in sheep rearing areas of the UK is of particular concern. The worm lays eggs that, when eaten from contaminated pasture, develop into large cysts in sheep (hydatid disease). If a human accidentally eats one of these eggs then a similar cyst can develop in the liver or lungs, requiring extensive surgery and (very rarely) proving fatal.

Be a Responsible Pet Owner
Fortunately there is plenty one can do to eliminate the risk of worms…

Remember to dispose of dog faeces safely, cover sand pits when not in use (to prevent cats using them as litter trays), and keep control of your dog in the countryside.

Most importantly, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends that pets be wormed four times a year.

Animal diseases that can affect humans are called zoonoses. There are several dog diseases that may cause disease in your child; here we will look at three "worms" that can spread from dog to human.

Intestinal Worms are a very common parasite of dogs, and can make your dog very unwell. Treating your dog regularly with an appropriate worming medication will help prevent them from becoming a problem in your dog.

It's a much larger problem if dog worms have infected your child. Every year thousands of blood tests are performed to check if a child is infected with worms from their dog.

The parasites that may affect your child in the UK are tapeworms and roundworms. In the US, hookworms are more of a problem.

There are four ways dogs can become infected with hookworms. They may inadvertently eat hookworm larvae, or the larvae penetrate the skin and enter the body that way. Puppies can be infected in the uterus, or by drinking mother's milk containing larvae.

The adult worms attach to the lining of the small intestine and drink blood. An affected dog will have pale gums, black sticky diarrhea and will be quite lethargic because of blood loss.

Adult hookworms do not infect humans, but larvae in the ground may burrow through the skin. They then migrate under the skin, causing red itchy rashes which may become infected. Rarely, it can cause gastrointestinal illness in people.

Canine roundworms are much more dangerous in humans.

This worm again lives in a dog's small intestine, and causes diarrhea, a pot belly and, if there are enough of them, they can block the intestine.

Humans are infected when they inadvertently eat roundworm eggs in the environment. Because young children are usually attracted to dogs, and often put their fingers in their mouths, they are at most risk of getting roundworms.

In most cases, the worms cause no problem to people. However, there is the possibility that roundworm larvae will migrate through the body, particularly through the eye and the brain. The damage they cause is often permanent.

There are three main ways of preventing your children becoming infected with dog worms. Firstly, treat your dog regularly with an effective worming medication to prevent your garden becoming infected with eggs or larvae. Secondly, teach your child proper hygiene around dogs – wash their hands after patting the family pet and encourage them to keep their hands out of their mouths. Lastly, clean up feces around the yard, as they'll be a source of infection.

Ringworm isn't in fact a worm at all, it is a fungal infection. It gets it's name because it often causes a hairless round patch on the skin of both dogs and people, which can be red and itchy. The infected patch heals from the middle outwards, so it looks like a red ring on the skin.

In some cases, dogs can have ringworm without showing any skin changes. Also, the fungal spores live a long time in the environment. Spread is through contacting the spores, either through patting an infected dog, or handling bedding or grooming tools such as brushes.

Depending on the severity, you and your dog will be treated with an ointment, or with tablets. Because an infected dog is constantly shedding spores, you have to be persistent to completely eliminate the infection. Fortunately, ringworm is usually not a severe condition, and is easily treated.

Teaching your child good hygiene will help prevent infection with these worms, and keep your child healthy.

Get more great information on all things dog related and sign up for our free weekly dog training e-course at http://www.trainingadogblog.com ]]> http://www.dogworms.co.uk/dog-worms-and-children/feed/ 0 http://www.dogworms.co.uk/paws-for-fun-and-primp-your-pooch-with-plerion/ http://www.dogworms.co.uk/paws-for-fun-and-primp-your-pooch-with-plerion/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 09:28:38 +0000 Dog Worms Online Editor http://www.dogworms.co.uk/?p=120 Not content with disguising a worming tablet as a treat – the manufacturers of Plerion are now giving you the chance to disguise your dog as a rock star – and bag yourself a spa holiday or some M&S vouchers in the process! Owners of willful dogs should read on…

As some dog owners will know only too well no matter how wet or cold it may be outside donning even a coat is just a step too far for some mutts let alone a wig and sunglasses. But step aside Gok Wan because with the Plerion website you can become your dog’s personal stylist without having to instigate a battle of wills.

Simply visit www.plerion.co.uk and click on ‘Primp Your Pooch’ where you can upload a picture of your dog and start primping! The lucky owner of the pooch with the most online votes will win spa vouchers to the value of £1000 – voting closes on 31st July 2010.

Remember, there are many different types of parasites: hookworms, ascarids, tapeworms, whipworms, coccidia – all of which are most commonly identified. Since some of the parasites are quite difficult to kill, while others are relatively simple, many of these over-the-counter preparations must be quite toxic to fulfill their claims of being all-purpose anthelmintics. Therefore, you may be medicating your puppy with a very potent worm medicine which could be eradicated more easily with something less dangerous to your dog’s health.

photo credit: alohateam

These medications are poisons after all, designed to kill living creatures that are inhabiting your puppy’s body, And they have the potential to kill your pet along with these parasites. Proper worming also takes into account the life cycle of the specific parasite involved and this life cycle varies for each individual pest.

In order to assure prompt, efficient eradication of internal parasites without repeated need for re-worming, anthelmintics must be administered on a schedule that coincides with their life cycles and kills, in turn, the adult worm, the larval form, and the worm eggs.

Having The Correct Tests Done

Since animals may harbor any number of different parasites simultaneously, it is important to determine exactly which of the internal parasites are present in your pet’s gastrointestinal tract. This is done by submitting a fecal sample (sample of your puppy’s bowel movement) to the veterinarian for laboratory analysis.

By microscopic examination, he can identify the eggs produced by the offending parasite and will then be able to administer specific medications, in proper amounts and at proper intervals, to rid your dog of internal pests.

Intestinal parasites are often responsible for more serious problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, severe anemia, malnutrition, central nervous system signs (ataxia, convulsions), and verminous pneumonia. Since patent medications cannot deal with these problems at all, it is vitally important to worm only under veterinary supervision.

And of course, do not make the mistake of assuming that a parasitic condition that your puppy has will magically disappear without treatment. If you see worms in and around your dog’s fecal matter, you must take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible before severe internal damage, and possibly death, may occur.

Perhaps the greatest single cause of diarrhea is a change of diet. Thus, a dog that has been used to eating a commercial brand dog food and is suddenly given table scrapes is very likely to suffer diarrhea. A change in drinking water, especially when traveling, can also cause temporary diarrhea.

Abrupt changes in diet are particularly distressing to puppies whose intestinal tracts are still very sensitive. If you purchased your puppy from a breeder, you have probably been told what to feed the dog based on what he had been fed in the past.

If, on the other hand, you got the dog from other sources such as a friend or an ad in the paper, it is advisable that you find out what he is eating. In any case, you should consult about your dog’s diet with a vet. There is always the chance that the dog is not getting the proper nourishment he needs.

If you find that your puppy has been used to a raw meet diet and you are going to feed him a commercial food product, be sure to make the transition a gradual one. Start by mixing just a bit of the commercial food into the raw meat. Gradually increase the amount, day by day, until you have completely eliminated the raw meat. This gradual change will prevent your dog from suffering diarrhea.

Other causes of diarrhea are overfeeding and underfeeding. A dog that is very hungry and overeats is apt to get sick, as is a dog that is fed less than once a day. Such a dog will usually overeat when he is finally fed. All the evidence reveals that dogs are less subject to diarrhea if they are fed half a total amount twice a day, rather than the whole amount at one feeding. Many breeders, as well as veterinarians, recommend self-feeding, where the dog is left a full dish of food to eat as he chooses. Only dry commercial food is used in this situation, and diarrhea is very rare.

Another cause of diarrhea is excessive water consumption. The dog that drinks too much water is often suffering from something more serious than diarrhea, and a visit to the vet is recommended. During the months of summer, of course, it is something else again. Dogs, like humans, tend to overdo the liquid intake and diarrhea becomes more common.

Summer is also the season of another serious source of diarrhea – spoiled food. Be cautious of moist food that becomes moldy and keep the dog away from garbage cans. In addition to spoiled foods, garbage cans carry a number of baneful morsels like sawdust or soap, any of which can cause serious digestive problems.

Summer diarrhea from garbage cans may be just a symptom of something more serious. Intestinal inflammation (enteritis) can result from the dog eating rotten meat. Diarrhea is also associated with distemper, leptospirosis, and a variety of worms, from whip to hook. Therefore, feed your dog less in the summer and never increase the amount of his food.

Sometimes, the cause of diarrhea has to do with specific elements in your dog’s diet. For instance, egg whites, unless they are cooked, will cause diarrhea. The same is true with excessive lactose. Therefore, do not feed your dog too much milk or milk products.

In older dogs, a heart malfunction can signal diarrhea. So can a malfunction of the kidneys or the liver, abdominal tumors, and many other conditions. All dogs can get diarrhea from such intestinal irritants such as salts and acids or from the ingestion of foreign matter like toy balls, splinters, or lint.

Normally, a dog’s diarrhea will pass in a day or two. Be sure to avoid milk or broth, and mix some cooked rice or macaroni with his regular food. If the diarrhea lasts after a few days, or if it is accompanied by blood in the stool or vomiting, contact your veterinarian.

This isn’t all that surprising. Dogs have always been scavengers. They’ll eat roadkill as readily as their suppers. Old trash, pond muck, and dead sparrows on the lawn are no less appetizing. Dogs start getting hungry whenever they sniff something with a pungent smell, and dung certainly does smell.

photo credit: Vato Bob

Not all dung tastes the same, of course. Dogs seem to have different preferences. Some are attracted to the stools of deer, cows, or horses. Others will eat the stools of other dogs. And a great many dogs are attracted to cat droppings, possibly because cat foods are very high in protein and the dogs are going after undigested nutrients.

The Attention Factor

Dogs, no less than children, crave attention. And they do whatever it takes to get it, including things they know you hate. This probably explains why some dogs only eat dung when their owners are around to watch. It’s probably the equivalent of a 6-year-old saying a dirty word and then watching for his parents’ reaction. “Look at me,” the dog is saying.

Boredom has something to do with it too. Dogs entertain themselves by putting things in their mouths. When not much is happening, they often nose around the yard, picking up sticks and putting them down, even mouthing rocks on occasion. Since they aren’t offended by the smell or taste of dung, it’s just another thing for them to pick up, play with, and explore.

Dogs occasionally eat so much dung that they get sick to their stomachs. For the most part,
however, it’s not likely to make them sick – although they may get worms from eating the stools of an infected animal. Their digestive tracts are very forgiving.

The people who live with dogs, however, are less forgiving. For one thing, it’s an ugly sight that no one wants to watch. There’s also the fact that dogs who eat dung have heart-stopping bad breath. It takes some serious devotion to get past that!

Dung-Eating Tip: Veterinarians sometimes recommend adding garlic, canned pumpkin, or Accent meat tenderizer to a dung-eating dog’s food. Assuming that it’s his own dung that he’s attracted do, these ingredients may give it a taste he dislikes – although it’s hard to imagine that anything could make it taste worse than it already does. This isn’t a perfect solution, but it does work for some dogs.

Dogs can contract worms so easily, all they need to actually do is inhale the eggs and they can be infested with worms. So keeping a dog from eating poop is important for hygiene and health reasons. The short answer is yes: dogs can get worms from eating poop.

Vet Dane Walker from Streatham Hill veterinary surgery in south-west London says: “Most dog owners are unaware of the condition because it is new. Most vets including myself have not been taught about it.” So to rectify this Bayer animal health, makers of the flea treatment Advocate has launched a nationwide campaign to promote lungworm awareness. A Bayer animal health spokesman explains: “The campaign is to raise public awareness of the parasite’s existence. We are running advertisements in the national press, and we have a broadcast campaign featuring celebrity vet Emma Milne from Vets in Practice.”

And the campaign is being backed by Vets from across the UK who are also trying to make owners more aware of the condition. Dane explains: “We are making clients more aware of the condition through leaflets at the surgery and articles on our website.”

Caroline Reay Chief veterinary surgeon at the Blue Cross hospital in Merton adds that the Blue Cross are also trying to raise awareness through displays in the waiting rooms of all Blue Cross hospitals.

So clearly it’s an important issue, but what is a Lungworm? And how does your dog catch it?

There are several variations of the Lungworm parasite, and the majority are found in warmer climates, and are not found in dogs. Different types of the parasite have often been found in farm animals like cattle, and some strains can affect our cats, although this is not common, and those parasites cannot be passed to dogs.

But one parasite does affect our dogs, and it’s this one that’s causing all the concern.

The parasite cannot be passed to humans or to other pets in the house, but the spokesman for Bayer Animal health explains: “The lungworm Angiostrongylus Vasorum is a potentially lethal parasite that can infect dogs. It’s sometimes referred to as the French Heartworm, and left untreated this parasite represents a very serious risk to a dog’s health and can kill.”

He continues: “Dogs become infected with the lungworm through eating slugs and snails which carry the larvae of the parasite Angiostrongylus Vasorum. Most dogs do not habitually eat these garden intruders, they may do so by accident – e.g. when a slug or snail is sitting on a bone or a favourite toy, or when drinking from a puddle or outdoor water bowl. But some dogs do take great pleasure in eating these miniature ‘treats’, and should be considered at risk from infection.”

Animal care manager at the Mayhew animal home, a London based charity and re-homing centre, Gillian Scott adds: “Lungworm is caught via contact with animals that host the parasite. It can also typically be caught from fox faeces as well as from snail or slug slime.”

But Caroline Reay from the Blue cross adds that while it is suspected that the parasite can be caught from the molluscs’ slime this theory is, as yet unproven.

If you suspect your dog of having worms but don’t find any evidence in the faeces this does NOT mean that your dog is worm free. Dogs do not always pass worms until they have been well treated. If you are slightly concerned with the prospect of your dog having worms then you must treat it immediately. It is quite common for people to suspect their dog of having worms and yet fail to treat the animal as they believe that the dog is only meant to wormed at a specific date and then wait until that date before worming.

You can not harm a dog by worming it more than twice a year. You must be aware of not worming too much within a short space of time between wormings and even more so with pups but it is not out of the question, in theory, to worm a dog more than 6 times a year if that dog is prone to picking up worms. There are many different worming treatments available. Some are for specifically for the treatment of round worm and others are multi-wormers. It must be noted that dogs can pick up worms other than round and tape but these are rarer.

You will usually find that if your dog still appears to be infested after a good treatment with a quality worming product that your dog may have one of the other forms of worm and vetinary advice should be sought.

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As the name suggests, an infected mosquito injects a larva into the dog’s skin, where it migrates to the circulatory system and takes up residence in the pulmonary arteries and heart, growing and reproducing to an alarming degree. The effects on the dog are quite predictable, cardiac failure over a year or two, leading to death. Treatment of an infected dog is difficult, involving an attempt to poison the healthy worm with arsenic compounds without killing the weakened dog, and frequently does not succeed. Prevention is much the better course, via heartworm pills which are fed to the dog and contain a compound which kills the larvae immediately upon infection without harming the dog. Often they are available combined with other parasite preventives.

* Hydatidosis is caused by a cestode Echinococcus. This is usually noticed among dogs, wild dogs, foxes, etc. Due to its importance as a zoonosis, these worms are important to treat. Preventing hydatidosis is an easier task than treating the same. Anthelmintics such as praziquantel may help prevent this condition. Prohibition of the feeding of dogs with uncooked offals may be the best prophylactic measure against these tapeworms.