Is heart worm the same as round worm for a dog

The vet provided meds for heart worm but she also talks about round worm? I am getting now additional meds for giardia that need to be administered.

  • Vetinfo

    By: Belinda Joy Mason El Segundo, CA

    Replied on 04/19/2011

    In the dog heartworm is not the same as round worm.  The heartworm is spread by the bite of a mosquito who will carry heartworm larvae (called microfilariae) from one infected animal to another host in the form of a blood meal or bite.  It then takes several months for the larvae to grow into adult worms which will travel in the blood stream and lodge in the right ventricle of the heart and can also affect the lungs. 

    Roundworms (also called ascarids) are commonly passed from the mother to her pups during pregnancy, puppies can also be infected while nursing if the larvae go to the mammary gland.  Although puppies and kittens can be infected most often, adult dogs and cats can become infected with roundworms as well.   Infected puppies may have a dull coat, be slow developers as well as a distended belly.  If the infection is great, they may also vomit up the worms and you will see worms in the feces.

    There are heartworm treatments which are designed to prevent heartworm as well as roundworms.  Since roundworms infection can affect humans, especially those in tropical and/or humid areas, treatment is quite valuable in the prevention of disease spread between humans and animals and also in ridding puppies of the parasites.

    Giardia is a bit different as it is an intestinal protozoal infection.  These protozoa will live and multiply in the small intestines, the cysts that are produced are passed in the feces and infection is transmitted from feces to mouth.  Puppies can be particularly infected and will exhibit weight loss and diarrhea that may come and go over a prolonged period of time. 

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