As their name implies, these are worms which have round bodies. On average, they are about 7-12 cm (3-5 inches) long. They live in the dog's intestines and consume partially digested food. Unlike hookworms, they do not attach to the intestinal wall; they move freely in their food, the contents of the small intestine. Roundworms, sometimes called ascarids, pass moderate numbers of microscopic eggs which are passed in the dog's faeces and can be detected by microscopic examination.
Common Causes for Roundworm in Dogs
Bitches that have had roundworms at any time in the past can transmit them to their puppies before birth. This is true even if the bitch is not passing roundworm eggs in the faeces because roundworm larvae (immature worms) encyst in the mother's muscle tissue and are not detected by our tests for adult worms. These encysted larvae are mobilised by changes in the bitch's hormonal status as a result of pregnancy and migrate across the placenta into the foetal tissues. They ultimately mature in the puppy's bowel. Another major source of roundworm infection for puppies is the mother's milk. Roundworm larvae may be present in the mother's mammary glands and milk throughout the period of nursing the puppies.
Both puppies and adult dogs may become infected by swallowing roundworm eggs which contain infective larvae. The larvae hatch out in the dog's stomach and small intestine and migrate through the muscle, liver, and lungs. After several weeks, the larvae make their way back to the intestine to mature. When these worms begin to reproduce, new eggs will pass in the dog's faeces, and the life cycle of the parasite is completed.
Obviously, roundworm eggs passed in one dog's faeces are infectious to other dogs. Interestingly, a large number of other animal species have been found to harbour roundworms and represent potential sources of infection for dogs. These include cockroaches, earthworms, chickens, and rodents.
Symptoms of Roundworm in Dogs
- Potbelly
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Vomiting
- Lack of Energy
- Slow Growth Rate
- Dull Coat
- Coughing (if the immature roundworms have migrated to the puppy's lungs)
Some dogs may show some of all of these symptoms while other may show no symptoms at all. When adult roundworms are seen in sogs stool this often because of ongoing disease in the bowel of sometimes because the worms burden had become so great that the worms are crowding eash other out.
Diagnosing and Treating Tapeworm in Dogs
Roundworms are diagnosed by a microscopic examination of the dog's faeces. They pass only a moderate number of eggs, so examination of more than one faeces sample may be necessary to find them. Occasionally, the mature worms can be found in the dog's faeces or vomit sample.
