When my kids were young, worms were an important part of our lives. Fill a coffee can with garden hackle, thread ‘em on a #8 light Aberdeen hook, clip a red and white bobber to the line, and wait for that float to dance. On most days it didn’t take long to have enough Johnnyroach for a fish fry, and worms were the start of a day of fun. Things aren’t so upbeat when a gun dog contracts worms. One case is more than enough, especially because if the dogs in your kennel get infected then you’ve got a serious mess. Literally.
Worms are one cell gastrointestinal parasites that need a host in order to grow and thrive. Like any squatter, when they find one that provides excellent accommodations of food and shelter, they stay, multiply, and then pass along the favor of infection to other dogs. GI parasites resemble other digestive disorders, and that makes them very difficult to detect. “If I treat one case of worms, I expect to see more,” said Dr. Johnny Myers, a Eukanuba pro veterinarian and owner of Paducah, Kentucky’s Animal Kare Clinic. “Any time there is a concentration of many animals in a relatively small area, be it a kennel, a stable of horses, or a barn full of Holsteins, it’s common to see an outbreak of disease.”
Myers says that there are two common ways to help owners/handlers detect worms. “Some can be detected by the human eye,” Myers said. “Roundworms look like spaghetti, and owners readily detect them in a young animal’s stool or vomit. Tapeworms are not visible in their young life stage, but they present in their adult life form as wiggling pieces of rice. But aside from those two, you’ve got to look for signs of overall poor health. Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common indications of infection. Excessive rubbing of the hindquarters or scooting on the ground can be another. Lethargy, a swollen abdomen, a dull coat, or consistent coughing are a few others. Those symptoms present because gastrointestinal parasites lodge in the dog’s small or large intestines and rob them of nutrients or blood. Unless you visit your vet to correctly diagnose the ailment, those symptoms can be related to other illnesses. If you’re in doubt, check it out. The longer the illness goes undetected, the greater the complications can be.”
For most sporting dogs, there are only a few types of worms they may encounter. (Courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog) Common Types of Worms Dogs can Get Roundworms: These 4 to 5-inch worms get their name from their round shape and are the most common worm found in dogs. They’re highly contagious and can be passed along from a dam nursing a litter of puppies, or by contact with the feces of another infected dog. They lodge in the intestinal tract, and their eggs are spread through a dog’s stool. Thoroughly cleaning a kennel is essential as a single female worm can lay up to 200,000 eggs per day. That’s partly why roundworms are so commonly found in dogs.
“Roundworms are very common in puppies under a year of age,” Myers said. “That’s what makes breeders so focused on keeping their kennels worm free. What’s tricky is that larvae can migrate to other hosts when passed through vomit or stool, but roundworms can migrate from a dam to a puppy in the placenta. It’s easier to keep them out of your kennel than it is to get rid of them. Bleach and lime makes us feel better about our kennels’ cleanliness, but it doesn’t kill a lot of eggs, which are notoriously difficult to kill. Consistent heat over time is the most effective way to kill eggs.”
Tapeworms: These worms have flat, segmented bodies that look like they’ve been taped together. While many strands are shorter in length, some adults measure up to 6- or 8-inches long. Tapeworm eggs are found in common gun dog environments, such as on birds and fleas. If a game or training bird carries eggs, then a gun dog can be infected while making a retrieve. Dogs nibbling on a flea bite can swallow a flea containing a tapeworm egg. In both instances, the eggs attach to the dog’s small intestine where nutrient absorption occurs. Weight loss, poor skin and coat, and low energy are common symptoms.
“Rabbits are a common tapeworm host, and they can be an occupational hazard for dogs like beagles or versatile dogs, that chase them.” Myers said. Fortunately, they are among the easier worms to detect.
Hookworms: Hookworms are dangerous to dogs because they live in the small intestine, where they feed on the dog’s blood. Low iron and anemia are the largest issues in adult dogs, but also in puppies. Dams can pass them on to their puppies while nursing, and, if untreated, they can live in a dog for up to two years. One female hookworm produces up to 20,000 eggs per day, so they can spread quickly. Adults and children that come in contact with contaminated soil while playing outside or gardening can be infected.
“Avoiding a case of hookworms is a great idea,” Myers said. “They are bloodsuckers that can cause dogs a lot of harm. Bloody stool can indicate their presence, and since they can be transmitted by penetrating the skin, it’s more common to see hookworms spread to people and especially children. Hookworms can hide in an arrested state in a dog’s body for a long time. We’re not sure what causes them to resurface, but they do. They like warmer geographical climates and can spread easily through the transportation of dogs when hunting, testing, or trialing.”
Whipworms: Whipworms are among the smallest of worms that dogs encounter. What’s even more interesting is that there is a regionality to them, with hot, humid climates being prime breeding areas. They’re considered one of the most harmful of worms, and foxes, wolves, and coyotes are known carriers. Females lay a smaller number of eggs, typically only 2,000 eggs per day.
“These worms frequently lodge in the small intestine, so there can be an inflammatory reaction in the bowl along with profound diarrhea,” Myers said. “What makes detection so challenging is that dogs with whipworms are usually dehydrated. Since the worms are frequently found in hot, humid areas, it may be difficult for an owner to determine from whence the dehydration came.”
Parasites can be contagious, it is important to take precautions in areas where dogs gather often. (Photo courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog) Other Parasites Dangerous to Dogs Two other parasites are called worms but don’t impact the gastrointestinal system.
Ringworms: Ringworm is a fungus that affects a dog’s skin. There isn’t an actual worm that causes the infection, but the name stems from the red, ring-like marking that appears on the dog. Because it can be passed on to anything that comes in contact with it, the fungus spreads easily and quickly.
“We don’t see ringworm in dogs that much, but they are more common in cats,” Myers said. “Dogs with an immune-compromised system that live in a household with an infected cat can contract the fungus. They can be passed to other dogs in a kennel, too.”
Heartworms: Heartworms lodge in the dog’s pulmonary artery, and if there are enough worms, then they can create a life-threatening blockage of blood. Heartworms can also impact other organs such as the lungs and the liver. Other symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, coughing, or collapse.
“Heartworms are very serious, and their treatment can be difficult on some patients,” Myers said. “Infected mosquitos spread the heartworm disease, and mosquitos are found just about everywhere. Detection is important, and most owners first recognize their dog is in trouble when the dog presents what is known as Caval Syndrome, which is labored breathing, pale gums, and urine that is either dark red or coffee-colored.”
Some worms can be passed from animals to people, making it important to prevent your dogs from eating worms. (Photo courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog) Can Dogs get Giardia and Coxcidia? By nature of their work, and the environment in which they do it, gun dogs encounter two other parasites that are not worms.
Giardia spreads rapidly through kennels and can infect handlers. Dogs contract the disease by drinking contaminated water in lakes, rivers, or stagnant pools. It can also appear in food or on other surfaces.
“Giardia is spread through contaminated feces,” Myers said. “That it lives in the soil makes it problematic for thirsty dogs, for a cloud burst that fills a low-lying recess with water from which a dog drinks can be the way the disease is contracted. Symptoms are similar to those of the worm family, but to be sure, visit your veterinarian.”
Coxadia is the second parasite to infect dogs. The parasite can exist on the ground for a very long time, and an infected dog may not show any signs of sickness. “Coxcidia usually shows up as diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration in puppies,” Myers said. “It’s uncommon in adults, but ones with weak immune systems may contract it.”
Regular vet visits are a key part of protecting your pup from worms and other parasites. (Photo courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog) Treating a Dog That Has Worms If your dog isn’t running at his peak, or is showing symptoms of a gastrointestinal parasite, then bring a stool sample to your vet. A technician will perform a microscopic exam of fecal samples. After special preparation, he’ll be able to identify the eggs or ova of a gastrointestinal parasite, or potentially the parasite itself will gather together on one side and form a cluster. That cluster will enable your veterinarian to accurately identify the species and arrive at a correct course of treatment.”
There are two ways that worms are commonly treated. The first method is preventative. “It’s much easier to safeguard a dog from a parasite,” Myers said. “Veterinarians prescribe any one from a wide variety of treatments. There isn’t one medication that safeguards dogs from the wide variety of worms, which is why your veterinarian may prescribe two different ones. In order for those medicines to be effective, they must be faithfully administered as directed. Missing a scheduled dose makes dogs vulnerable to infection. If a gun dog contracts worms, then a second reactive treatment is necessary. Your veterinarian will have to deworm the parasite from the patient using a variety of medicines.”
It’d be nice if we could fill a coffee can with worms removed from one of our gun dogs and catch enough fish for a meal, but it doesn’t work like that. Instead, we’ll have to be vigilant and keep them out of our kennel. Healthy dogs perform at their peak, and they need our help to get there.
