The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-19
Worms

The subject of worms in the dog is
 one that every fancier. either Of lone
 pet or of a large kennel must positively
 contend with in every dog that he owns. Worms of various kinds bother the ani-
 nal from the day of -birth-even before.
 If the pup is not born with the parisite
 1t starts the propagation of same the mo-
 ment it starts to nurse the mother-un-
 less the parent has had her breast and
 teats washed with antiseptic every day
 for a week before whelping
 The claim has been made that at least
 50 per cent of the mortality among
 young puppies is due to the rayages of
 worms This may be exaggerated lt-
 tie. but not much. as worms are the
 primary cause of many diseases which
 tend to make the mortality among unma-
 tured stock so great.
 In the majority of instances nursing
 puppies become infested by swallowing
 the eggs which are upon the body of the mother who is infected with worms, hence the importance of thoroughly rid
 ding the dam of these parasites prior
 to whelping. In later life the worms are
 usually introduced into the body through the medium of uncooked meat of animals
 similarly affected This is especially true of tapeworms.
 varieties-The most common form of worm in the dog is the round or so- called stomach worm. which, however, is found usually in the upper part of the intestines, and migrates into the stom- ach. These worms are of a yelowish white color, from three to six inches in length. with pointed ends and about the diameter of small straw.
 Just how and when these pests enter the body in their embryo form is hard to determine, but I have never failed
 to find them in puppies ranging from
 weeks to 3 months of age and it seems that no matter what precautions are ob- served they are bound to be present in varying numbers. They range about in the intentines and occasionally visit the stomach when their unwelcome pres | ence causes the puppy to vomit, and they are often expelled in this way
 | Nav worm, thread worms, are | found in the lower part of the bowels. and while annoying are the least harm 1 full of all the varieties. They are rare- l ly over a half inch in length and not much thicker than a pin.
 Tapeworms are the most common va , riety in grown dogs, but are occasion ally found in puppies. They are the most i difficult to eradicate for the worm will 1 grow from the head if it is not carried off even though the greater portion of l the worm is expelled.
 l The hoolkworm has a firm hold in the I canine family, especially in the south. 1 and, like the population of our section. suffers greatly from the pest Unlike other worms it does not live off the 1 food eaten, but buries itself on the in- i side of the intestines and sucks the blood | The animal becomes weak, it's gums are whiteish and it has no energy. This worm is hard to eradicate from the dog or human. A long fasting, then doc i ing with castor oil and finally the dose of medicine. This treatment must be re- peated several times. I have freuently l seen as many as 300 hookWorms expellec ! by mature animal.
 l There is hardly any limit to the sources ! from which a dog may become infested | with these pests, reproduced, and handed on with appalling rapidity. It will ac- | quire them from it's food, water, bed,
 ding, in pursuit of the festive flea, and l is not infrequently born with them, or even when that is not the case, they are almost sure to be present by the time ! he has arrived at the mature age of week
 l Hence it will be at once apparent what necessity there is for the greatest atten- ] ton to sanitary detail throughout all op- era tions connected with the kennel, anC also that the pregnant bitch should be thoroughly overhauled in good time, for l barring cold, there is no greater cause of mortality among puppies from the age ] of 1 to months, the worms often pene | trating the gut which is tantamount tc them while on the dam.
 l It has often been inquired whether
 the food has anything to do with the pro- i ducton of worms, and most likely il l has. As matter of fact worms them selves only thrive under unhealthy con- 1 ditons, and regular and systematic dos l ings with medicine so as to keep the | dog in thorough state of health will ge l a long way as preventive. Whether l it is possible to trace the origin of worms ! to food we do not know: but there is a 1 good deal to be said about stale dog bis
 cults, which have been lying perhaps fol months in a shop. and which in conse- uence have been attacked by insects, sucf as small beetles and other creatures whcf
 attack flour and all cereal preparations l If possible it is a good plan to buy al foods of this kind direct from one of the
 good firms who advertise them, and not to buy too many at once. Then there car | be no question as to their freshness ant | freedom from the risk indicated.
 1 It is a great mistake not to take I dog in hand at once when he is suspect. ed of having worms and give him a thor I ough dosing straight away. So long as 1 any trace of these pests remains the dog ! l of sorts. In the case of puppies it is
 positively dangerous to let the matter T go on.
 l Looking at the primary causes whicl produce worms we find ourselves face tt face with very curious fact that there is an intimate connection, or perhaps il would be more correct to say an intimate relationship, between the tapeworm (which affects the internal organs of tht dog, and the irritant flea, that plages hin externally. It has been asserted b, 1 eminent scientists that the ova from tape. 1 worm expelled from a dog are devoured by fleas and develop into what are knowr as cryptocysts. The dog bites himsel1
 when irritated and swallows the flea that ! is causing him trouble Then the cryp | tocyst is set free in the dogs stom ach, and proceeds to develop into a tape. l worm once more This explanation ha, been generally accepted. and it solves { difficulty that many persons have beer unable to solve for themselves. They
 cannot understand why their dog, whcf
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