Nematodes of Dogs Overview

Introduction

In Britain, the most important nematode of dogs is the ascarid, Toxocara canis. Almost all puppies harbour this worm, which in large numbers can cause serious disease during the first weeks of life. T. canis larvae can also invade human tissues - impairment of vision is a possible outcome.

Other veterinary clinical problems associated with nematodes, such as hookworm and whipworm, are largely confined to large kennels or dogs in rural areas. Overseas, however, there are two nematode diseases of major significance in small animal practice. These are the hookworm, Ancylostoma, and the canine heartworm, Dirofilaria.

	Small Intestine	Caecum	Lungs	Heart
Nematode Species	Toxocara canis Toxascaris leonina Uncinaria stenocephala Ancylostoma caninum (rare in UK)	Trichuris vulpis	Filaroides (Oslerus) osleri	Angiostrongylus vasorum Dirofilaria immitis (not in UK)

Treatment of Hookworms, Whipworms and Lungworms in Dogs and Cats

Compound	Trade-Name	Hookworms	Whipworm	Lungworm
Piperazine Pyrantel Pyrantel + Febantel Fenbendazole Mebendazole Flubendazole Nitroscanate Selamectin Milbemycin Moxidectin Emodepside	various (high dose needed) Strongid (dogs only) Drontal (various combinations) Panacur Telmin Flubenol Lopatol (dog only) Stronghold Milbemax Advocate Profender (cat only)	++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++	- - +++ +++ +++ +++ - - +++ +++ -	- - - - - - - ? + ? -