Beagle Health: Canine Worms and Canine Vaccinations

All dogs need to be wormed and vaccinated regularly. It is best to start when they are puppies, but if you have left it until your dog is an adult, it’s not too late. Your local vet will offer you the best advice on your dog’s health.

Worms

Your dog should be wormed every three months. If you have a puppy, he needs to be wormed every two weeks until he reaches three months of age.  Worms can be easily treated with a tablet or liquid. Below is a list of different types of worms your dog can be affected by:

• Roundworms – These are the most common type of worm found on dogs and cats. These worms can be easily controlled by regular worm treatment.
• Hookworms – A less common parasite, known to cause a skin condition and anaemia.
• Whipworms – Also uncommon, this worm causes chronic diarrhoea in dogs.
• Tapeworms – These worms are contracted when your dog eats fleas or lice. As well as worm treatment, you need to ensure your dog is properly treated for fleas.

Vaccinations

Puppies need to have their first vaccination at six weeks of age. When the puppy is born, he relies on the antibodies in the mother’s milk, which will become less effective over time. Below are some conditions that your puppy will be vaccinated for, and a brief description about them:

• Canine Parvovirus Infection (CPV) – More commonly known as Parvo, is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract and can be fatal. Less commonly it affects the heart. It can be contracted by having contact (direct or indirect) with a dog with the disease, or contaminated faeces. Symptoms can include vomiting, bleeding, dehydration, fever, or death.
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) – affecting mainly younger dogs, ICH is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease, which causes the liver to swell, and a virus infection. ICH is transmitted through the saliva. Symptoms: Fever, abdominal pain, depression, jaundice, permanent kidney damage, sudden death.
• Canine Kennel Cough – A highly infectious disease that can be found where large amounts of dogs are eg kennels, or the pound. Symptoms include a harsh cough that can be brought on by excitement, or change in temperature or environment. The dog will still be alert and active, and retain his usual appetite. Dogs usually recover fully after 10 weeks, with a lot of the symptoms gone in about two weeks.

It is recommended that you vaccinate your dog at ages six weeks (ask the breeder if this has been done before purchasing a puppy), nine weeks and 12 weeks. After the three puppy vaccinations, dogs should be vaccinated annually. Be sure to speak to your vet for more information.