A Natural Approach
Our four-legged companions bring us so much joy and unconditional love. So, naturally we want to do everything in our power to keep them healthy and happy. One thing that can cause concern is discovering worms in our dog’s poop. But fear not! In this article, we’re exploring the world of worms, including signs/symptoms to look out for and natural ways to prevent them.
Signs Your Dog May Have Worms:
- Weight loss or failure to gain weight
- Poor appetite or increased appetite
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea (which may be bloody)
- Lethargy or weakness
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale/yellow gums or mucous membranes
- Dull or dry coat
- ‘Scooting’ or dragging their rear end on the ground
- Visible worms or worm segments in the stool or around the anus
- Itching or irritation around the anus
- Changes in behaviour or temperament
Know Your Enemies
Let’s meet the notorious culprits: roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm, lungworm and heartworm. Understanding their characteristics and how they affect our dogs is essential in our battle against these unwelcome guests.
- Roundworms: spaghetti-like worms that reside in the intestinal tract; transmitted to puppies from the mother or through the contaminated faeces of infected animals. Symptoms include malnutrition, weight loss, pot-bellied appearance, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Whipworms: often found in the ceacem, with a whip-like appearance. Infection occurs through soil or faeces contaminated with whipworm eggs. Look out for watery, bloody diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia and lethargy.
- Hookworms: tiny worms with a distinctive hook-like mouthpiece that anchors to the intestinal wall and feeds on blood. Transmission routes include in utero, mother’s milk, oral ingestion and skin penetration by larvae. Symptoms include pale gums, bloody stools, weakness, dermatitis and severe anaemia.
- Tapeworms: flat, ribbon-like worms that cling to the intestinal wall and absorb nutrients through their skin. Dogs contract tapeworms by ingesting cysts from infected livestock or from fleas carrying tapeworm larvae. Look for symptoms like a dull coat, weight loss, vomiting, scooting, and visible segments around the anus.
- Lungworms : parasitic worms that invade the pulmonary arteries and heart. Prevention involves avoiding snails and slugs, maintaining a snail and slug-free environment, and deworming with veterinarian-recommended products. Watch for symptoms like coughing, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and seek immediate veterinary care. If you leave toys and water bowls outside for your dog, ensure you remove them over night to that slugs and snails cannot infect them.
- Heartworms: parasitic worms that reside in the pulmonary arterial system and heart, spread through mosquito bites. Early signs include coughing, fatigue and reluctance to exercise. Advanced stages cause weight loss, difficulty breathing, abdominal swelling and can lead to heart failure. Diagnosis involves tests by your veterinarian and treatment includes injections and supportive care.
Embracing Natural Approaches
As we become more aware of the potential side effects and resistance associated with conventional wormers, many pet owners are turning to natural worm prevention programs as a less toxic alternative. Regular worm-count testing is a crucial component of these programs. These test can be done through your veterinary practice or online laboratories offer it as a services as well such as Feclab Laboratories.
Why Is Regular Testing Important?
Regular worm-count testing helps you to assess the effectiveness of your own worming program and target worms directly when necessary. If you’re using conventional wormers, this means administering them to your dog only when a positive test result indicates the need. This approach reduces the risk of worms developing resistance to the ingredients in conventional wormers and minimises the number of chemicals entering your dog’s body. If we do need to use a chemical wormer, we can reduce any potential harmful effects by supporting your dog’s gut microbiome with soil-based probiotics, digestive enzymes, prebiotics and aromatics to help detox their body afterwards.
With regular worm-count testing plan, any low to moderate positive results can be followed up with a natural herb blend or tincture and then retest to check that it has been effective. However, if your dog has a high worm count burden or shows signs of ill health, it is vital to consult your vet for advice as chemical wormers and veterinary care may be necessary.
Recommended Testing Programme For Adult Dogs:
- General worm (including Heartworm, Tapeworm, Roundworm, Hookworm, whipworm as well as parasites such as Coccidia and Giardia Cysts) and Lungworm test every 3 months.
- Lungworm count every 6 weeks (if you are not following a natural prevention programme).
Recommended Testing Programme For Mothers & Puppies:
Between 40 to 45 days of pregnancy, it’s a good idea to do a Faecal Egg Count, as it helps keep an eye on things and ensure everything’s going smoothly. After the pups make their grand entrance into the world, it is recommended to do another Faecal Egg Count of the mother around two weeks after whelping. This time, it should include a litter test to ensure the puppies are healthy. Hormonal changes can wake up dormant worms, so it’s important to be vigilant, especially if you’re following a natural worming program.
- A litter worm test: 2-3 weeks old
- Individual puppy worm test: 4 weeks old
- Pre home-move worm test: 8 weeks old
- General worm test: 12 weeks old
- General worm & lungworm test: 16 weeks, 20 weeks, 26 weeks, followed by every 3 months.
My Top Tips
- Regularly conduct faecal worm egg counts and administer de-wormers only when necessary.
- De-worming during a full moon, as worms are most active during this time.
- Give your dog access to clean, rough grasses and vermifuge herbs, clays, and earths as a natural way for them to self-worm.
- Feed your dog a high-quality, species-appropriate diet to support their overall health and immune system.
- Add natural de-worming foods to your dog’s diet, such as pumpkin seeds/oil, parsley, apple cider vinegar, grated carrots and fermented vegetables, that can help reduce worm infestations.
- Maintain a clean and hygienic living environment for your dog, regularly cleaning their bedding and living areas.
- Regularly groom your dog, including brushing their coat and checking for any signs of parasites.
- Utilise natural flea and tick prevention methods, as fleas can transmit certain types of worms to dogs. Learn more here!
- Offer aromatics for self-selection, like carrot seed, thyme, or bergamot for self-selection, as these herbs are naturally anti-parasitic.
- For a stronger effect one can try a natural worming supplements such as ‘Verm-x Original Liquid for Dogs’
By following these natural worm prevention measures, we can take a pro-active role in safeguarding our dog’s health and well-being. It’s important to remember that partnering with a vet and a holistic animal health practitioner can provide valuable guidance in implementing a comprehensive approach to worm prevention and overall health.
If you’d like to delve deeper into this topic or discuss specific concerns, I encourage you to book a consultation here!
Main – Photo by Johann
