Dog Loving Parasites ~ Tapeworm

Tapeworms (cestodes) get their name because of their long flat shape. Of the several types of tapeworms, most cause few problems in dogs. The larval stages of tapeworm can however cause serious diseases in humans who become infected by the egg stage of the parasite passed in a dog’s feces but is rare in occurrence. However, a new diet fad of humans is that of ingesting tapeworms to lose weight. Pretty extreme if you ask me.

Tapeworms are worms that live in the small intestine of dogs and other animals. Depending on the type of tapeworm, the tapeworm is generally transmitted by your dog eating fleas or other infected wild game or rodents. The clinical signs of tapeworm are slight if any, generally being weight loss, diarrhea, and vomiting if any. More often than not, owners will find rice like tapeworm segments in their dogs stool, around the anal area, or where the dog lies down. A veterinarian will determine if your dog has tapeworms through a fecal exam.

Flea and heartworm preventives and not allowing your dog to eat carcasses will help prevent the infection of tapeworm.


The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Dog Loving Parasites ~ Mites

Mites love dogs as much as they love humans. They do not discriminate on leg count. Mites (demodex) live on skin and hair follicles. In normal numbers, mites don’t really cause any problems, however an overload of mites can cause demodectic mange. What happens, for some unknown reason, a dog’s immune system fails to control the mites and with the increased population results in inflammation or mange. This generally occurs in puppies but older dogs are not immune, especially if their immune system is already compromised.

Mites are generally transmitted from the mother nursing to the puppies. Clinical signs of mites out of control is usually patchy and localized hair loss. In more severe cases there will be wide spread hair loss, itching, and secondary bacterial infection. A veterinarian will do a microscopic exam of the dog’s skin scrapes or skin biopsy. There is no real prevention of basic mites.

Other types of mites can cause an intense itching condition called sarcoptic mange (scabies). These types of mites are highly contagious for both dogs and humans. This type of mite burrows into the skin and lays eggs causing the intense itching. Clinical signs of mites other than the basic mites are intense itching, scaly thickening skin, scabs, and hair loss primarily on the elbows, ankles abdomen and chest. Contact with other infected dogs is the most common way these types of mites are transmitted.


The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Dog Loving Parasites ~ Hookworm

Hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum) is a zoonotic parasite meaning they are transmittable to humans. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Counsel, the hookworm gets its name because of the anterior ends of both the male and female hookworm are bent giving them a fishing hook appearance.

Hookworm is a parasite worm that lives in the digestive system of a dog latching onto and sucking blood from the intestinal wall . Most of the human hookworms species in the U.S. remain in the skin causing inflammation.

The hookworm is transferred through larvae. Larvae, which live in the soil, penetrate the skin of animals or humans who walk across a hookworm contaminated area. Dogs also pick up hookworm by eating infected mammals or puppies from their mother through nursing.

The symptoms of hookworm include chronic weight loss and diarrhea in adult dogs and sometimes fatal blood loss especially in puppies. Other symptoms that may present are weakness, lethargy, pale gums, and tarry stools.

Hookworm is diagnosed through fecal exams. Hookworm can be prevented through regular de-worming of puppies, annual or twice yearly fecal exams, promptly cleaning up feces in the yard, and mostly monthly heart worm prevention also protects against hookworm.


The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Dog Loving Parasites ~ Heartworm

No dog is safe from the heart-worm disease anymore; it is now found in every state. The heart-worm disease is a mosquito borne disease and is easily preventable and treatment to day is safer than it ever has been.

The heart-worm is a parasite worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that lives in the lungs and the heart’s right chambers. Left untreated, these worms multiply and grow up to 12 inches in length, eventually leading to serious or fatal disease of the lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys.

Heart-worm is transferred trough the bite of a infected mosquito. There is no observable signs that your dog has been infected with heart-worm until the disease progresses. Then you will notice coughing, heavy breathing/panting, and exercise intolerance. It is diagnosed through Antigen blood test. If positive, it will be followed by X-rays, additional blood tests, and other diagnostics to assess the severity of the disease.

The American Heartworm Society (AHS) recommends year round heart worm prevention available in six-month injectable and in monthly oral or spot on formulations, some which prevent fleas as well as other types of worms. They also recommend annual antigen testing to check for heart-worm, especially if using an oral preventive or if you miss a dose.

The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Dog Loving Parasites ~The Common Round Worm

Roundworm (Toxocara canis) is the most common parasitic infection in dogs and people. Almost all dogs pick up roundworm at some point of their lives, and most commonly, when they are in puppyhood.

The roundworm is a parasitic worm that lives in the dog’s intestines, causing diarrhea in most cases, but sometimes intestinal obstruction or pneumonia. In humans, roundworms can cause serious, and sometimes blinding, eye disease.

A dog can pick up roundworm by eating contaminated substances such as feces, animals, eating things off contaminated grass, or through their mother’s milk during nursing.

You can tell if your dog is infected with round worms through observation of spaghetti-like worms in their feces or vomit, weight loss, diarrhea, poor hair coat, and potbelly. A veterinarian will diagnose roundworm through a fecal exam.

You can help prevent the infection of roundworm in your dog by making sure you do regular de-worming of puppies, monthly preventives, and removing feces of unknown dogs on property immediately.


The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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