If dogs are infected with skin worms, without appropriate treatment they can spread significantly and cause problems. These parasites can usually be recognized by the fact that the dog's skin is increasingly changing.
Basically, in practice there are usually only three different skin worms that occur in dogs. All three species are also relatively rare in Germany:
- 1) Pelodera strongyloides = A nematode in which an infestation is referred to as “peloderosis”.
- 2) Cuterebra species = The common fly, which develops as a maggot under the dog's skin.
- 3) Dirofilaria repens = A skin worm that is transmitted via mosquitoes and leads to “Dirofilariasis”.
Below you will learn about the causes and symptoms. You will also find out which treatment methods make the most sense for the individual parasites.
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Causes
Depending on the species, the parasites are transmitted in different ways:
This free-living nematode is usually found in moist or rotten material. It is primarily transmitted by the dog being there.
It is still unclear whether these skin worms can actually penetrate healthy skin. However, they can get under the skin through wounds, the mouth or nose.
The wood fly, which is around 1 cm in size, likes to lay its eggs on the skin or around dogs. After a few days, the larvae hatch and bore into the skin.
Dogs are not the preferred hosts for these flies. In most cases they affect hoofed animals such as horses, cows and donkeys or wild animals such as deer. [1]
Dirofilaria repens is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes. In winter it is usually too cold for these skin worms, so they either do not mature or mature very slowly.
However, these worms are even more common in summer or in warmer countries in southern Europe. You should therefore be particularly careful during your summer vacation.
In peloderosis, the skin worm is primarily transmitted through contact with rotten material. The maggots of the woodfly, on the other hand, form on the skin of the four-legged friend after laying eggs and dirofilariasis is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes.
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Symptoms
Peloderosis can usually be recognized by the fact that the worms are primarily found on the legs, stomach or chest. Other typical signs of this are:
- Reddened skin
- Bald spots on the fur
- Constant scratching of the area
- Crusts on the skin
- Spotty hair loss
- Inflamed skin
- Severe itching [2]
In the final stage, the skin worms of the woodfly reach up to 2.5 cm in length before the flies hatch from the pupa. The classic symptoms here include:
- Formation of pus
- Frequent vomiting
- infection of the site
- Dog loses weight
- Swelling in the face
- Loss of appetite
- Listless behavior [3]
The larvae of the wood fly usually nest on the face or neck of the dog. Symptoms may also vary slightly depending on the location.
In dirofilariasis, the worms are located primarily in the connective tissue and can reach a length of up to 17 cm. Typical signs here are:
- Severe itching
- Inflammation of the skin
- Thickening of the subcutaneous tissue
- Lumps under the skin
- Pain free
- Visible worms
- abscesses [4]
In all three cases, it can take weeks or even months before noticeable symptoms appear. In some cases, the worms can also be seen under the skin.
When dogs are infected with skin worms, inflammation, red skin and swelling often occur. In some cases, severe itching occurs, causing affected dogs to scratch or bite themselves more than average.
Treatment
Peloderosis in dogs usually resolves on its own, as dogs are not the ideal host for this type of worm. Treatment is therefore only partially necessary.
What is much more important with these pararists is that the dog's environment is kept dry and rotting and moldy materials are kept away from the dog.
In the case of an infestation with skin worms from the woodfly, treatment depends on whether the parasites are still in the skin or have already left it.
If they are still in the skin, the area is usually cleaned clinically or individual pieces are surgically removed. Antibiotics are also often used.
If the flies have already left the skin, the wound is cleaned and anti-inflammatory medication is prescribed to prevent infections. [5]
In the case of dirofilariasis, the parasites can survive for up to 8 years without treatment. For treatment here, medications and products for application to the skin are used.
As a preventive measure, it also helps to apply insect spray in holiday areas to keep mosquitoes away from the dog. This is particularly true for southern Europe.
Treatment for skin worms varies depending on the species. For this reason, it is important to first see a veterinarian for a diagnosis. In most cases, taking medication and applying special products is sufficient.
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