My Crazy Dog

Don’t Let Roundworm Effect Your Bird Dogs

Heartworm, or roundworm, is very serious can affect all types of gun dogs. With gun dogs, working dogs, and other outdoor dogs, you must be especially concerned because they are more susceptible to heartworm. The worse case scenario is that an affected dog can pass it on to humans, as well as other dogs. In turn, you can also pass on heartworm to your own dog.

Roundworm is a parasitic disease that is spread through mosquito bites or by getting it from other animals which have it. Animals like other dogs, coyotes, foxes, etc. can all have roundworm and can come in contact with your dog and transmit the disease to them. Prevention of roundworm is essential as treatment is extremely difficult. This disease often leads to death.

Preventing Roundworm/Heartworm

Giving your dog a tablet, food additive, or other preventive will greatly reduce his chances of getting infected. Tablets can be taken orally as a doggy treat while food additives are sprinkled, poured, or mixed in with food. Most preventive treatments require a monthly application, so mark a calendar to keep track of when dosage was given so you’ll know when to do it next.

If you live in an area where you have all four seasons, you should know that the number one carrier of heartworm are mosquitoes by means of passing on infected blood to another area when they sting their target. Where there are more moderate climactic change, roundworm is usually spread from one animal to another. No matter which scenario suits you, preventative measures should be taken each and every month, regardless of weather.

Symptoms of Roundworm

In its early stages, roundworm is very hard to detect since your dog won’t show any physcial signs of illness. Your vet can test for the disease, or skilled vets can tell by observation. It is typical of heartworm to gestate for several months before affecting your dog. During this stage of the illness, the disease can easily be treated, but it is best when your dog is asymptomatic.

Symptoms will begin as a cough, a loss of energy, and weight loss. You will see your dog become weaker and less interested in normal daily activities and fun. Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately if you notice these symptoms, as they can be many sicknesses, including roundworm.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Roundworm

Blood tests are needed to confirm a roundworm diagnosis. It is an easy test and most vets are able to administer a blood test right in the office. Once confirmed, the vet will have to find out what stage of the illness your dog is affected with, determine whether or not the infestation is male or female, and make a final decision on the best course of treatment.

Roundworm treatment is extensive and may be very expensive to treat. Aside from that the treatment is very difficult for your dog and in fact may result in his needing dialysis. Almost all dogs will be listless, suffer weight loss, and has other symptoms while the Worms are discharged. Follow-up treatments will be necessary to ensure that all of the Worms are eliminate it from your dog system.

If left untreated, roundworm infection can lead to organ damage and treatment for a lifetime. Detecting symptoms as soon as possible is very important and treatment must start right away.

When you have any sort of hunting dog, you should always keep in mind that you should always keep your dog’s health as top priority. There are also lots of different hunting dog supplies that you should have on hand for your dog such as electronic dog collars or dog collars.

Tags: electronic dog collars, gun dogs, hunting dog supplies