Deworming is often a discussed topic among dog owners. Questions such as how often to deworm a dog, whether to deworm preventively or rather test the dog for parasites, and whether human beings can be infected by dog parasites have been raised by many dog owners. In this article, we will discuss various types of internal parasites, how a dog can get infected, how to protect the dog from infection, and the role BARF plays in all this.
Read also the article Myths About BARF: Will My Dog Become More Aggressive?
Worms in Dogs
Different types of worms can infect dogs. The most common ones are:
Canine Roundworm (Toxocara canis): These are white worms, approximately 12 cm long and visible in the stool of an infected dog. Often, puppies are already infected with them. Typical symptoms include coughing, mucus, fever, bloated abdomen, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Roundworms produce toxins in the dog's body and can cause intestinal blockage. They are transmissible to humans, with young children being the most at risk.
Dog Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum): These are flat, segmented worms that live in the dog’s intestines and steal nutrients from their food. They can grow up to 60 cm long. They are transmitted through the consumption of infected meat, carcasses, feces, or fleas. Symptoms of tapeworm infection include sudden weight loss, vomiting, constipation, licking of the anus, or the presence of worms in the stool.
Trichinella spiralis: This parasite can infect not only dogs but also humans. Trichinella larvae move from the intestines to the muscles via the bloodstream, where they form cysts. Dogs are most commonly infected by consuming undercooked meat from unreliable sources. Prevention includes feeding meat only from trusted sources or freezing it at least to -15°C. Symptoms of trichinella infection include gastrointestinal problems, swelling of the head and eyelids, muscle inflammation and pain, bleeding, and fever.
Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis): These are thin worms about 20 cm long. They are transmitted by mosquitoes in warmer climates. Heartworm larvae travel through the bloodstream to the heart and lungs. Infection manifests with fatigue, coughing, weight loss, fainting, and poor physical condition. As the worms grow, they cause breathing problems and start blocking blood vessels, which can eventually lead to heart failure.
Giardia and Coccidia: These are not worms but single-celled organisms that infect the intestines. Both damage the intestinal lining, and dogs can become infected through feces or contaminated water. Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
Internal parasites deprive dogs of essential nutrients, and some also produce toxins. The most common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, and dull coat.
Read also the article Can Salmonella Be a Concern for BARF-Fed Dogs?
Deworming Dogs
After birth, puppies should be dewormed every 2 weeks until they are 3 months old. Later, they should be dewormed once every 3 months. Since internal parasites can be transmitted to puppies through the placenta and milk of the mother, it is recommended to deworm the mother before mating, on the 42nd day of pregnancy, and during nursing as well.
Adult dogs are dewormed preventively every 3-6 months. These recommended deworming intervals are based on the life cycle of endoparasites, so even with BARF, more frequent deworming is not necessary.
If the dog is in contact with small children, it is advisable to deworm every 3 months. Small children often crawl on the ground and put various objects in their mouths, so their health should be a priority, as some parasites are transmissible to humans.
Diagnosis of Endoparasites
If the owner does not want to burden the dog unnecessarily with preventive anthelmintics, they can first have the dog tested and, if positive, administer deworming medications in the form of tablets or paste. Endoparasite diagnosis is performed by coprological examination of the stool. The owner collects the dog's excrement over 3-4 days and takes it to the veterinarian for examination. In the laboratory, the presence or absence of eggs of individual types of internal parasites is detected, and the veterinarian will then recommend the next steps and suitable treatment.
BARF and Internal Parasites
When comparing dogs fed with kibble to those fed with raw food, the BARF diet is more suitable for protecting against endoparasites. BARF-fed dogs naturally have more hydrochloric acid in their stomachs and therefore a lower pH value (pH 0.5-1). If a healthy dog is fed with quality and frozen meat, the chances of infection are minimal.
Quality feeding meat for dogs is available in our online store.
Read also the article Meat for Dogs - Why It's Good to Feed Dogs Raw Food.
Prevention
Even though the BARF diet helps protect dogs from internal parasites, they can still occur. Some parasites create protective shells around themselves, and even an acidic environment cannot destroy them. Moreover, they can survive in the external environment for several years.
The most susceptible to parasite infestation are puppies, pregnant and nursing females, older dogs, dogs with digestive disorders, or dogs with weakened immunity. Therefore, prevention is extremely important.
Principles of Successful Prevention:
Feed only meat from reliable sources, especially when it comes to game meat.
Always freeze the meat for 48 hours before feeding.
Ensure the dog does not eat the feces of other animals or carcasses outside.
Do not allow the dog to drink from puddles, which are full of not only bacteria but also parasites from wild animals.
Protect the dog from mosquitoes, fleas, and other external parasites, which can be carriers of internal parasites.
Regularly deworm the dog with veterinary or natural remedies, or regularly have the dog’s stool examined.
Regularly disinfect areas where the dog stays.
Always clean up after an infected dog, as endoparasite eggs can enter the environment through feces and reinfect the dog or other dogs.
When to Visit the Veterinarian?
If there is suspicion that the dog has been infected with endoparasites, the best solution is to visit the veterinarian and bring stool samples for coprological examination. Visiting the veterinarian is even more essential if the dog shows any of the aforementioned symptoms, such as fever, diarrhea, weight loss, bloated abdomen, etc. Worms in dogs should not be underestimated, as neglecting treatment can lead to long-term health problems and, in some cases, have fatal consequences.
