Worms
So, we got a new puppy and her name is Matilda. Very new, and very puppy. Matilda is 5 weeks old (born February 14) and we've only had her since Saturday. But that's not why I was prompted to write this.
The puppy has worms. Apparently, all dogs are born with worms. Later in life, dogs can get worms again. They might come out in a dog's bowel movement, as has been happening with Matilda. I guess when they die they definitely come out, but they aren't easily identifiable as I guess they get broken down (assumption being made here). They can also come out alive. Matilda was pooping long worms (3 to 4 inches) - multiple times. It is freaking us out. I don't know if we'll be able to eat spaghetti again too soon.
So my question is why? I am bewildered that dogs are born with these things in their bellies. And if they are, how do dogs in the wild get rid of them? Do they need to get rid of them? Heather says the reason vets say to get rid of them is the risk to humans. Our vet said something about the worms infecting people and getting into their eyes when our other two dogs were being given de-wormer last year. That's got to be some other kind of worm than the ones Matilda is pooping. When she went into the vet yesterday they said she had two kinds of worms. The long ones and some other ones. So my guess is that the other ones are little and you don't see them and somehow people get these from dog feces.
But honestly, if you are a person, and you see feces, why aren't you disinfecting and sterilizing that area? Are people honestly picking it up with their hands and then using those hands to eat? Maybe not. I guess the real danger lies in going to a park where a dog has made use of the bark dust as its toilet and the worms being in there - then people (mostly little kids) play in the bark dust, fail to wash their hands, and then get worms.
So, wash your hands after playing in the bark dust - and for God's sake, if you see feces of any kind don't touch it and then eat something.
The puppy has worms. Apparently, all dogs are born with worms. Later in life, dogs can get worms again. They might come out in a dog's bowel movement, as has been happening with Matilda. I guess when they die they definitely come out, but they aren't easily identifiable as I guess they get broken down (assumption being made here). They can also come out alive. Matilda was pooping long worms (3 to 4 inches) - multiple times. It is freaking us out. I don't know if we'll be able to eat spaghetti again too soon.
So my question is why? I am bewildered that dogs are born with these things in their bellies. And if they are, how do dogs in the wild get rid of them? Do they need to get rid of them? Heather says the reason vets say to get rid of them is the risk to humans. Our vet said something about the worms infecting people and getting into their eyes when our other two dogs were being given de-wormer last year. That's got to be some other kind of worm than the ones Matilda is pooping. When she went into the vet yesterday they said she had two kinds of worms. The long ones and some other ones. So my guess is that the other ones are little and you don't see them and somehow people get these from dog feces.
But honestly, if you are a person, and you see feces, why aren't you disinfecting and sterilizing that area? Are people honestly picking it up with their hands and then using those hands to eat? Maybe not. I guess the real danger lies in going to a park where a dog has made use of the bark dust as its toilet and the worms being in there - then people (mostly little kids) play in the bark dust, fail to wash their hands, and then get worms.
So, wash your hands after playing in the bark dust - and for God's sake, if you see feces of any kind don't touch it and then eat something.