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Dog Parasites

There are many types of dog parasites. Fortunately, most dogs will never contract most of these parasites during their lives but it is important that all dog owners are aware of what they are, what they do and how to avoid them.

The dog parasites list is rather long, so here are the main parasites that could affect your dog:

There are two groups of parasites. Internal parasites in dogs are one and the other is dog skin parasites. Both can cause considerable discomfort, pain and serious illness to dogs if not treated in a timely manner. Often it is difficult to diagnose whether your dog has a parasite however he or she will generally begin to display symptoms of being ill which is when veterinary advice should be consulted.

These symptoms may include:

The above are symptoms of roundworm in particular. Roundworm is an internal parasite which is more common in young dogs and pups as it can be infested in the womb if the mother has roundworm. Roundworm will show in the dog's stools so your vet may as for a stool sample. Round worm is treated through prescription medication.

Another quite common condition is ringworm which is actually a fungal infection despite its name. It is a skin condition which shows itself as redness which forms into a round shape with crust patches and pimples on the skin. Anti-fungal medication is used to treat ringworm. Please note that ringworm can easily be transmitted from dogs to humans so ensure children in particular are kept away from a dog with ringworm.

Another parasite all dog owners are familiar with is heartworm. It is a parasitic roundworm which is spread through mosquito bites. All dogs are advised to have heartworm preventative treatment on a regular basis. Infected and untreated dogs can die from heartworm so it is imperative that dogs are given monthly heartworm prevention particularly in the mosquito season.

We have covered just a few of the many types of dog parasites.