Pinworms in Dogs: Symptoms & Proper Treatment

Pinworms in dogs are not a pleasant affair for four-legged friends or dog owners.

Pinworms are probably one of those parasites that really don’t need to be seen.

Your dog thinks the same way. Because pinworms are unpleasant and with health risks tied together. You can find out everything about this parasite in the following guide.

Symptoms: How do I discover pinworms in dogs?

In order to even know whether your fur nose has caught such a parasite, let’s start with the Pinworm Symptoms.

You can use these to check whether your dog actually has them, so that you can then act accordingly. Because these do not have to be immediately apparent at first glance.

Since these beasts are mainly in the intestinal tract settle, most pinworm symptoms also have their origin there.

If you suspect that your dog has a pinworm infestation, you can recognize this by the following, among other things:

Your dog vomits itselfhe suffers from constipationhe has one reduced appetite and loses subsequently in weight.

In some cases, it may also be that the diseased dog small white worms in the feces has and this about this resigns. If so, you’ll know for sure that he has pinworms.

In addition, it may be that the worms are also in the Your dog’s anus region find.

Interesting:

Not all worms are the same. And so, in addition to the pinworm, there is also the tapewormthe fox tapewormthe roundwormthe roundworm and the heartworm.

While most worms are mainly found in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, the heartworm – the name already suggests it – can infect the heart of a diseased animal.

When should I see the vet for worms?

Parasites – whether worms, fleas or ticks – have an unpleasant quality. They usually cause a number of diseases, so-called secondary infections.

Worms in particular cause weight loss in infested dogs and a significant disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. If your dog has pinworms, you should in any case take him to the vet.

he can you appropriate medication give against the worm infestation. If a serious infection has occurred, there may also be antibiotics necessary.

Good to know:

Pinworms are mainly dangerous for puppies and young dogs. Because they can lead to growth disorders. And these, in turn, affect the overall health of the still-growing dog.

What can I do myself against pinworms?

A worm infestation is not nice – neither for you nor for your dog. But what can you do yourself against pinworms?

medication

On the one hand, there are drugs that get rid of the annoying parasites. These include the drugs Pyrvinium/Molevac and Niclosamid/Yomesan as well as praziquantel.

These remedies ensure that the worms convulse and die. So they can be easily excreted by the dog with the faeces.

home remedies

It doesn’t always have to be the «chemical club». Some home remedies are also said to be effective for pinworm infestation.

This includes, among other things, a Saw palmetto extract. Please note that home remedies consist of things that are harmless to your dog.

A garlic cure, for example, is not recommended. Because all onion vegetables are life-threatening for our four-legged friends in certain doses.

How can I prevent worms in the future?

One of the magic words that many dog ​​owners dislike is: spot on. These are chemical parasite killers. These are usually applied directly to the skin between the dog’s shoulder blades.

Such a spot-on usually helps not only against worms of all kinds – for example pinworms, heartworms or roundworms. It is also effective against other parasites such as fleas and ticks.

also help wormers, for example as tablets, to prevent worms. However, prevention through wormers is also controversial because they have many side effects. Many dogs do not feel well after deworming.

Good to know:

Usually there is “Parasite Rush Hours”above all in spring and in summer. Regular worming or anti-parasite treatment can be very useful here.

Can pinworms be transmitted to humans?

Unfortunately, the clear answer to this question is: Yes! Pinworms can be transmitted to humans. In general, the infection with the parasites takes place via the so-called anus-finger-mouth contact.

Now you will think that you rarely touch your dog’s bottom. However, even when you are picking up the droppings, it can happen that a little bit lands on your fingers. The subsequent infection sequence is then self-explanatory.

In the event of a worm infestation, it is therefore even more important to Wash and disinfect hands thoroughly.

Good to know:

A parasite infestation always means even more precise hygiene. This doesn’t just include hand washing. Also the cleaning apartment – including all surfaces – is part of it.

Because: The worm eggs can unfortunately survive for a very long time «in the wild» and so one renewed worm infestation trigger.

Conclusion

Pinworms are undoubtedly one of them very disgusting representatives among the dog parasites. In addition, the small, white worms are not to be trifled with from a health point of view.

Then secondary infections are unfortunately No rarity. And for you as a dog owner, the pinworms – like all other types of worms – pose dangers.

Have you and your dog already had experience with pinworms? Then share them with us in the comments.