No one equates internal parasites with entertainment; yet as a pet owner it is important to be educated on the different types of parasites and the effects they can have on your pet.  Internal parasites are actually worms and specifically in dogs there are 5 types of parasitic worms to protect your pet against:  roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms.

Roundworms
Roundworms are the most common type of worm to infect animals.  These worms are usually 2-4 inches long and appear to look like strands of spaghetti.  Roundworms can cause vomiting and diarrhea and can diminish a dog’s overall health and appearance.  Puppies infected with roundworms can have a bloated (potbellied) look to them.  Roundworms can be passed to humans if proper precautions are not taken.

Hookworms
Hookworms are blood-sucking parasites that can cause anemia in puppies and adult dogs.  Hookworms are not visible by the naked eye and the severity of the case depends on the amount of worms in the intestine as well as the animal’s overall health and age.  Hookworms also can be transmitted to humans and usually burrow into the skin of person’s foot or leg causing a linear red lesion which is itchy. 

Tapeworms
Tapeworms like roundworms can actually be seen by the dog owner.  Actually what the dog owner will observe are segments of tapeworms that have broken off from the adult parasite attached to the lining of the dog’s intestinal tract.  Only ¼ - ½ inch in length these pieces are usually white and are usually seen contracting and expanding around the dog’s rectum or on a dog’s freshly-eliminated stool.  Once the segments die they look like grains of uncooked rice.  Tapeworms most commonly occur when a dog swallows a flea that is carrying the parasite’s eggs.  Tapeworms cannot be directly transmitted from dogs to humans but small children could inadvertently ingest flea larvae and develop a tapeworm infection. 

Whipworms
Whipworms are one of the less notable parasites and are not visible to the dog owner.  Unfortunately whipworms are the most difficult to eradicate and control and the symptoms include severe diarrhea, flatulence, loss of weight, and flailing general overall condition.  Panacur is most commonly prescribed dewormer to combat all four worms (whipworms tapeworms hookworms and roundworms). Safe-Guard is another effective dewormer proven to eliminate the threat of intestinal worms.

Heartworms
Heartworms can take a long period of time before evidence of infestation is noticed.  With heartworm the mature worms attack the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries.  In advanced cases congestive heart failure to the right side of the heart can occur.  Chronic coughing tiring easily and weight loss are all signs of infestation.  Since mosquitoes carry this worm you can monitor your dog against these pests and prevent infestations through routine medications such as Advantage Multi Heartgard Plus and Interceptor. 

Advantage Multi not only protects against heartworm but prevents infestations from roundworms hookworms and whipworms as well as fleas.  Heartgard Plus and Interceptor combine a heartworm preventative with additional parasitic preventatives including the parasite responsible for hookworms roundworms and whipworms.