Katie Cranstoun now offers acupuncture for your animals who may be suffering from aches and pains and other conditions like arthritis
Gastrointestinal worms
Most dogs are exposed to worms and other possible infestations and therefore the regular worming of your dog is important to keep them healthy. It is also worthy of note that some of the parasites that infect dogs can also be transmitted to humans. Worms can cause sickness and diarrhoea in puppies but adult dogs may not show any signs of being infected. Adult dogs should be treated twice yearly with a worming product from your vet and it is essential that puppies are wormed Regularly. They should be wormed when they are 2 weeks old and then treated fortnightly until 12 weeks of age and then monthly until they are at least 6 months old. Ask your vet before worming your puppy.
Types of worms:
Hookworms:
In dogs reach 5-19 cm in length and can infect animals from the
environment. This occurs when they are ingested or penetrate the
skin of paws and legs. They can also be transferred to pups through
their mother's milk. Hookworms cause a variety of clinical
signs, including weight loss, poor appetite, bloated abdomen, black
tar-like diarrhoea, dehydration, enteritis and lethargy. Severe
infections can be fatal.
Roundworms:
Reach 9-19 cm in length. They can infect dogs by ingestion, across
the placenta, or be transferred to pups through their mother's milk.
Roundworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including coughing,
diarrhoea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, pneumonia, a dull coat, and
a swollen abdomen. Severe infections can be fatal
Tapeworms:
The common flea tapeworm grows to 50 cm in length, and infects dogs
after ingestion of infected fleas. This tapeworm causes
irritation and itching around the anus but is not considered to be a
major health risk. Another form of tapeworm is the Hydatid
Tapeworm which grows to 7 mm in length, and is found in areas where
sheep and dogs (or foxes) are in contact. While this tapeworm
does not cause significant clinical signs in dogs, infection of
humans can be life-threatening. Humans contract hydatids by
swallowing eggs found on the coats and in the faeces of infected
dogs. This form is not thought to be a risk in the UK, but is
widespread in various parts of Europe
May reach 4-7 cm in length, and can only infect dogs when worms are
swallowed. Clinical signs include abdominal pain, anorexia,
pale eyelids and gums, dehydration, smelly bloody diarrhoea and
weight loss. Infection in adult dogs is generally not as serious as
infection in puppies, which can be fatal.
Click here for more information on worms and how to control them