Why should I deworm my dog?

Worms have been with dogs before humans actually started petting them. But due to controlled feeding, weather, mental state, etc. the devil of worms increased a lot. Worms not only hinder the growth of your dog or cat, but they can also make them sick, very sick. And if left untreated it can lead to death too. 

Parasites like worm thrive on dog's nutrition. Which leads to mentally irritated, weak dogs. And these worms have tendency to spread to various organs of dog's body. And once they reach target organ; they can be fatal and dangerous. For example heartworm in dogs can cause issues to heart and lungs of your dog.

Worms are not beneficial to dogs (I wish dogs adapt cidal effects naturally). They grow and multiply on host bodies.

So why worms are bad for my dog?

Well, as we said earlier; worms stay and multiply in various organs of the host (read dog here). While doing so they do some reversible (when treated earlier) and irreversible (delayed or no treatment) to physiology and anatomy of your dogs. 

Below are some effects of worms in dogs. Your dog can have all or one of these ill effects on its health.

1) Mental un-easiness: 

-Think for a second that something is crawling in your tummy! Well, if you yourself had worms in late childhood; you might know the feeling. Same goes with the dog. It finds it uneasy and annoying when those little devils crawl and try to eat stomach/intestinal lining. I consider this as most deadly effect of worms on the dogs. Because such dogs are mentally very harassed. They might not listen your call for the jog. They might do un-necessary barking. Chew your shoes and what not! 

When you find your dog uneasy, check for other worms symptoms.

2) Cough, vomit and diarrhea:

Coughing is major symptom for heartworm, also hookworms and roundworms can cause dog coughing. Often infested dogs throw up and worms can be seen in vomits at times (not always). Soft stools, bloody stools and worms in feces are some of the symptoms of infestation. 

3) Less Energetic:

Compared to normal days; infested dogs show less energy and they try to slumber a lot. In addition to that some dogs show pot shaped bellies when they are worm infested. This is predominant when worms have traveled to them from mother dog.

4) Appetite disturbances:

In most cases; dogs with worms lose their appetite. But as worms take part of nutrition from dog's quota; it is also seen that some dogs have increased appetites. 

5) Skin problems: 

Dull and dead looking coat, lots of itching, scooting (rubbing lower portion of tummy on the ground).

6) Smelly stools

This happens in advanced stage of worm infestation. Sometimes the dog stools is too smelly to handle. 

7) Fatality:

If worms are not treated they can lead to major health issues. Worms can affect various internal organs and that may lead to fatality as well. 

So, if you see any sign or symptom of worms in dog, rush to your vet and get your pal treated. It is highly recommended and advisable to keep periodic and regular deworming of your dog whether it has or does not have the worms.