Heartworm treatment is an exception. It is dangerous and risky to treat for adult heartworm, even with the new adulticide. To prevent heartworm infection, your dog should be treated with preventive medications prescribed by your veterinarian. At Columbia Veterinary Associates, we recommend year round heartworm preventative treatment . Minor worm infections can be of little significance, but nearly all these parasites will induce serious disease if present in overwhelming numbers.
Many dogs have various levels of immunity, or at least some resistance to many worm species.
It is not unusual for a normal adult dog to have small populations of adult roundworms and hookworms, as well as resting larvae, in body tissues. However, if your dog is stressed, the larvae can be stimulated to develop into a large, threatening population in the dog's intestines. The stress can be triggered by traveling, malnutrition, medications such as corticosteroids, or other infection. Not all gastrointestinal signs, such as diarrhea are caused by worms. A change in your dog's appetite or bowel habits may result from causes other than a worm infection, or a worm infection may be minor and possibly be kept in check by your dog's immune system.