Canine Roundworm (Ascariasis) in Detail

1 Canine Roundworm (Ascariasis)

I. Age-Related Changes: Puppies under 6 months – worms lay eggs in the gut and develop into adults after two molts. Dogs over 6 months – larvae encyst in organs (liver, lung, heart, brain); they no longer develop but remain infectious. Pregnant females – larvae in cysts activate and infect puppies via the placenta; larvae appear in the puppy lungs at birth and adults in the small intestine after a month.

II. Symptoms: Puppies show obvious signs; migrating larvae can cause pneumonia (cough, runny nose), clearing in about 3 weeks. Adults show mainly gastrointestinal signs: indigestion, intermittent diarrhea, mucus in stool, vomiting; sometimes seizures.

III. Diagnosis: Based on clinical signs plus pathogen checks; a simple method is to inspect the stool for eggs or adult worms.

IV. Treatment: 1. Pyrantel 100 mg/kg orally, effective against adults; a double dose removes puppies larvae. 2. Levamisole 10 mg/kg orally. 3. Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg subcutaneous or oral – do NOT use in Collies or Collie-crosses (toxicity risk). 4. Prevention matters: regular internal and external deworming and a clean environment. Humans can also get roundworm, so wash hands before and after playing with pets. Good habits prevent many diseases.