By Dr Steve Surujbally
Sorry folks! From one gruesome topic to another. Today, we’ll begin a series of articles that deal with intestinal parasites, which are arguably the major cause of ailment among our nation’s pets.
There are many different types of worms. However, we’ll concentrate on the Round-worms, Hookworms, and Tapeworms.
But before we zero in on these parasites, let us share some data that are common to all helminth (worm) infestations.
Firstly, it is important that we understand that an animal is not necessarily sick just because it has some worms in its intestines. This is especially true for adult dogs. How often we do not see worms as a coincidental finding during a post-mortem examination of a dog that died because of other known causes. On other occasions, routine faecal (stool) examinations reveal eggs of worms, yet the host animal exhibits perfect health. In fact, there are those who argue that some worms should always be allowed to inhabit the gut, and that we should never try to create, via anthelminthics (anti-worm chemicals), a totally worm-free intestine. Obviously, if a worm burden is creating metabolic upsets or is making the animal ill, then we must try to eliminate them. This is easier said than done.
Worms have the tendency to become accustomed (resistant) to certain chemicals (dewormers) over a period of time. I personally switch anthelminthics (there are so many various types with differing chemical structures and different methods of working against the worm) within the deworming schedules as soon as I notice a resistance build-up against the drug.
Also, I should mention that the worms themselves have differing developmental processes. The Roundworms and Hookworms, for example, move from eggs to larvae (various stages of these immature forms) to adults, and in so doing migrate through the host’s body.
Tapeworms, on the other hand, have no migration pattern.
It is interesting to note that certain external influences (eg surgery, disease, environmental stress, etc) tend to activate dormant immature worms (larvae). In fact, it has been documented that emotional upsets (eg the owner leaving his/her pet for a long period) result in an increase in the rate of the worms’ development.
Lastly, it is important that you recognise that during pregnancy, the larvae of the Hookworm and Roundworms are activated to such a degree that the foetuses in the mother’s womb are infected by these larvae. In other words, the new born puppy enters the world already with a worm burden, if the mother dog is infested. For this reason, it is important that the mother be dewormed before mating (even during the early stages of pregnancy), and that the puppies be dewormed at three weeks of age. I will explain later why deworming at the age of three weeks is important.
The signs of a worm infestation are:
(i) Reduced appetite (ii) Anaemia (paleness of the gums) (iii) Soft stool (even watery liquid stool) (iv) Vomiting (v) Slime/blood on/in the stool (vi) Loss of weight (vii) Listlessness.
Next week we’ll deal specially with the Roundworm infestation in puppies and adult dogs.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-Heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
