Problem: Article: Many of the symptoms of worm infections are general and non-specific. Thus, it is not possible to diagnose what sort of worms a dog may have, based on symptoms alone. However, signs in a dog that has not been wormed recently should raise suspicion of worm infection and trigger an investigation into what sort of parasite is present. Sometimes, even in an asymptomatic dog, you may see physical evidence of the worms in the dog's feces. If you are not completely confident in worm recognition, collect the worm in a screw-top container and take it to the vet clinic for identification. Collecting a worm is far more helpful to your vet than describing it, since most worms have similar physical appearances to the naked eye. Although life-cycles vary, all worms will at some point travel through the gut. If the numbers are low, then the dog may not show any signs. However, when larger numbers colonize the bowel they can cause irritation to the lining which results in symptoms such as sickness, diarrhea (sometimes with mucus and/or blood), poor appetite and weight loss. Worms either live in or transit through the gut, thus at certain stages in their life cycle evidence of infection is passed out in the dog's feces. In a heavy infestation you may see actual worms in the feces, but this is less common if mild infections. Instead, either eggs or larvae may be present in the feces, which is harder for the naked eye to spot. Scoop a sample of feces with a popsicle stick or a disposable spoon and place it in a clean, screw-top container that has a tight-fitting lid (your vet can provide you with a container specific for this purpose if you don't have anything appropriate). Store the sample below 30 degrees Celsius and drop it off at the vet clinic when you can (the sample does not have to be especially fresh to have evidence of worms. If your vet asks for a pooled sample, you will take samples from the dog's stool once daily for 3 days in a row, placing them in the same collection container. This may be necessary for a suspected "false negative" result. The pooled sample reduces the risk of unreliable results. The vet may run the fecal analysis, which involves examining a smear of feces under the microscope to look for worm eggs or larvae, or she may send it to an outside lab for assessment. Some worms that cause serious illness, such as lungworm or heartworm, can be diagnosed on a blood test. The veterinarian draws a small volume (1-2ml) from the pet to obtain as the test sample. A variety of tests are available but in practice an ELISA test is most common. The test looks for the presence of antibodies to the heartworm and causes a color change if positive. Most veterinarians in high-risk areas for heartworm require a yearly test as part of the dog's physical checkup before renewing or prescribing a monthly preventative treatment. Some worms, such as roundworms, can be transferred from dogs to humans. Young children who become infected with roundworms may experience damage to their eyesight. Worms or feces infected with worms should be removed from children's play areas. Infected feces should be handled or collected with gloves. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animal feces. Because worms can look very similar, one of the best ways to identify the type of parasite that is plaguing your dog is to understand the environmental or situational factors that most lead to each type of worms. Roundworms are often passed to puppies from a roundworm-infested mother because the eggs and larvae cross the placenta to infect the puppy in the womb, and eggs are also excreted in the mother's milk. Puppies should be wormed as a matter of routine. Tapeworms are caused by a dog's eating vermin already infected with tapeworm, or from fleas that contain tapeworm eggs. Thus, hunting dogs or dogs with a flea infestation are likely to pick up tapeworms. Hookworms and Whipworms thrive in damp soil and the dogs most at risk are those kept on grass runs, especially in warm, humid conditions. These infections are more common in kenneled dogs that have access to communal grassy runs. Heartworm is spread by insects such as mosquitoes and is therefore endemic in certain areas where insects are more common. High risk areas include the Southeastern and Midwestern United States and along the Atlantic coast. Lungworm is becoming more prevalent and is spread via fox feces, slugs, and snails. Contact with any of these is considered a risk factor.
Summary: Watch for symptoms. Look for worms in feces. Identify gastrointestinal signs. Collect a fecal sample. Ask your dog's vet for a blood test. Avoid contact with feces and worms. Be aware of risk factors for specific types of worms.

Problem: Article: Before you decide on a public promposal, make sure you think carefully about the ramifications. If you think your boyfriend might be embarrassed by a public invitation, it may be best to stick to something more private. It's also important to consider the possibility that your boyfriend might say no, so a public invitation may be embarrassing for you as well. If you want to make a big display of your promposal, consider decorating something that everyone else will see, like his locker or his car. You can use sticky notes, streamers, wrapping paper, balloons, and anything else you can think of to make your message extra flashy. Consider hiding your message inside of a balloon to keep him guessing. If you want the message to be semi-private, you can decorate his front lawn or garage door so he will see your message as soon as he gets home (and so will all the neighbors). Get friends involved in your promposal by having them spell out a message for your boyfriend. They can each wear part of the message on their clothing, or they can carry large signs. You can make this kind of promposal as public as you want by choosing the right location. If you just want his friends to be there, arrange it around a small get-together. If you want the whole school to see it, you can have your friends display their message in the cafeteria or at a sporting event. If your boyfriend plays a sport or is involved in a club, he might really appreciate it if you incorporated these interests into your promposal. For example, you could arrange for the members of his football team to spell out "prom?" with notes taped to their helmets, or you could ask the drama club to hold up a banner for him at the end of a performance. You can even have your friends do a performance for him, like a choreographed dance or a skit, if they're willing. If you want a truly public promposal, try to put up a giant banner or sign where everyone will see it. If you have a large budget, you could rent space for your message on a billboard or jumbotron, or even have an airplane sky-write your message. Only use this method if you're absolutely sure that your boyfriend will not mind a grand display and you're fairly confident that he will say yes. If you're working with a limited budget, consider asking your school if you can hang a banner somewhere visible. You can also consider asking a nearby local business if you can hang your sign on their building or use their changeable sign to display your message for a few hours. If you're brave enough, you can try asking your school if you can make the daily announcements and ask your boyfriend to prom in front of the entire school. If your boyfriend is a social addict, post something on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or another social media site. Make sure it is appropriate, because it will be on the Internet forever. Depending on your own personal preferences, your message can be simple and to the point, or it can be more elaborate. You could, for example, consider posting a cryptic message that he needs to decode or picture of yourself holding up a sign asking him to prom.
Summary:
Proceed with caution. Decorate something. Enlist the help of others. Create a public display. Make an announcement. Post it on social media.