I decided to have this page to inform everyone on the differnt and most common types of parasites that can be found in your puppy or adult dog. Puppies are generaly born with internal parasites. It is very important for you and your family to have your dog dewormed and on some kind of prevenative. Most parasites can be spread to humans, so as I said it is very important.
We deworm or puppies at 2wks, 4 wks, 6wks, 8 wks and 11wks. We use Panacur and/or Drontal Plus to deworm our puppies and adults. At 14 weeks old we start all our puppies on a heartworm preventative which also controls internal parasites, they should be on a preventative for the rest of thier lives to keep them healthy. I strongly reccomend talking with your family vet on which brand of preventative works best for you and your location.
Puppies will commonly shed worms in their stool right after being dewormed. So do not panic if you get one of our puppies home and you see worms in their stool, give it a week or so for them to shed the dead worms. We probly just dewormed the puppy and its just doing its job. If you see them past that time frame then they may need additional worming. This is generaly not needed but I like my new owners to know the what ifs before it happens.
ROUNDWORMS This is a common worm of puppies and kittens, but can be seen in adult dogs and cats also. Diagnosis is made from a microscopic examination of the feces or from a description of the worm if it is seen in the vomit or stool. Treatment is an oral medication given at 2 week intervals. Symptoms will very from none to marked vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal swelling. Transmission to adult dogs and cats occur by infected feces contaminating the yard or from the mother at birth. As a result prevention is accomplished by isolating your pet from infected feces or other animals. So as you can see there is know for sure way to prevent it. For dogs, most heartworm prevenitives also prevent roundworm infection. This is one of the most common parasites found in humans. Childern can get roundworms from playing in dirt with contaminated feces, or playing with thier pets, then putting there hands in there mouth.
HOOKWORMS This is a common worm of puppies and also frecently seen in adult dogs. This parasite sucks your blood and can cause servere anemia. Diagnosis is made from a microscoptic examination of your pets stool. Treatment is either an oral medication, an injection or both. Symptons will vary from none to blood in the stool, the stool will look dark and tar colored with diarrhea. Severe cases may need transfusion and hospitalization. Transmission to adult dogs occur by infected feces contaminating the grass and soil or commnly transmitted while inside the mother. This parasite can be fatal and only can be determined by your vet, if your dog shows signs take him to the vet immediately. Transmission to humans are uncommon and usally show up as skin lessions.
WHIPWORMS This worm affects mostly dogs but on rare occasion can be found in cats. Diagnosis is also made from a microscopic exam of the feces. Eggs from this parasite pass intermittently, however, so it may be necessary to check mutiple fecels before it is diaginosed. Treatment is a oral wormer or injection given at 3 week intervals for several treatments depending on the severity of the infection. Symptoms vary from more to severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. Some dogs do require hospitilazation for treatment of dehydration, malnutrtion, and infection. There is no human transmissions. 
GIARDIA COCCIDIA is commonly found in puppies and animals that are housed together this parasite is shed through the stoll of animals. All types of animals can get this. Birds are very highly prone to coccidia and shed it everywhere. So, when you have an animal who happens to walk in the soil where an infected animal has used they pick it up on their paws and then injest it through grooming themselves. The most common side effect is watery diarrhea. Although a dog can have a normal stool and still be a carrier. This is another parasite that can only be treated with a specific medication an over-the-counter wormer will not treat coccidia. This must be purchased at the vet only.
GIARDIA is another common parasite that is found in dogs and cats. It can also flourish in any number of host, even humans. It is also shed through the stool. Diarrhea is a common sympton. But a dog with normal stool can be a carrier. Animals can get this from the soil, it is most common in standing water. So be sure to clean water bowls daily. This is also a vet only treatment. There is know way to treat it otherwise.
People usally do not think of mange as a parasite. But it is actually a parasitic mite that attaches itself to the hair follicles. Demodex mites are present on all dogs. The mangie spots occur when your puppy has an immune system deficiency wich causes the mites to floursh beyond normal limits. This generally occurs in puppies and they will usually out grow it once they are fully mature but this is not always the case, some dogs may have outbreaks there entire life. Out breaks can be very mild to chronic. The only good thing about this type of mange is that it is not contagious to humans or other dogs and pets. Dogs that have demodex mange should never be used for breeding even if the outbreaks go away they can still genetically pass the desiase on to there offspring.
Scabies mange is the worst of the two to get. It is highley contagious to both humans and other pets.
Both types of mange present hairloss and thickened skin. One differnce in the mange is scabies is very itchy. Each of these types of mange are treated differntly you must also have your family vet do the treating. There is not an effective mange treatment that you can by at any store. Please by all means do not use a home remedy to treat your dog. It has been rumored that burnt motor oil will cure mange this is untrue and can be severely toxic to your pet. Seek veterinary care if you suspect any type of mange.
