What You Need To Know About Roundworm And Gun Dog

Heartworm, or roundworm, is very serious can affect all types of Gun Dog. 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

Fortunately preventing heartworm is really not complicated.  How worm prevention medications come in a variety of forms including tablets and food additives.  You may offer the tablets to your dog as a treat once a month or you may included mixed in with their food.  You must ensure that your dog receives monthly treatments so you must keep track of when you provide each dosage of heartworm medication.

If you live in an area of the country that is fortunate enough to have four distinct seasons you will soon discover that your dog is at higher risk for roundworm.  The reason for this is that mosquitoes are often the culprit in transmitting roundworm from animal to animal.  If you have a hunting dog or gun dog, you should immediately begin prevention treatments on a monthly basis.  Your veterinarian will provide you with the information you need to ensure your dog is protected.

Symptoms of Roundworm

It’s difficult to notice roundworm infection early on as it generally has little or no outward affect on your dog.  Only through blood tests or a very skilled veterinarian’s eye will it be seen.  Usually, the roundworms will “gestate” or merely propagate themselves for the first few months before finally beginning to seriously affect your dog’s health.  It is at this stage that they are easiest to treat, but when they are least often noticed.

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.

Once diagnosis has been made, treatment can begin.  If the infestation has gone on for a while, it can become costly and extensive to treat.  The roundworm must be destroyed completely and this is usually done through drug treatments and sometimes dialysis.  It’s very taxing on your dog’s system and will result in weight loss and listlessness, especially when the worms begin to be discharged through your dog’s stool.  Follow up treatments can last for months to ensure that all the worms were eliminated.

Damage to organs can also be a result of roundworm infection and can mean lifelong treatment for that as well.  This is why it’s so important to catch the infection as early as possible and to not delay in getting treatment for it.

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 dog training collars or dog collars.