What Symptoms can a Roundworm Infection Cause in Dogs and Cats?
Younger puppies and kittens are most often diagnosed with roundworms, but roundworms can infect dogs and cats of any age. The most common symptoms seen with roundworms are: • diarrhea • vomiting • weight loss or inability to gain weight normally • a pot-bellied or swollen appearance to the abdomen • coughing In severe cases, roundworms can cause dehydration through fluid loss resulting from diarrhea and vomiting. However, often there are no symptoms at all for the infected cat or dog and the pet seems perfectly normal and healthy. How Does a Dog or Cat Become Infected with Roundworms? In puppies and kittens, the most common route of infection is from the mother. Roundworms can be passed to kittens and puppies before birth, so many kittens and puppies are born with roundworms. Roundworms also can be passed from the mother to babies through the milk as the puppies or kittens are nursing. In more mature dogs and cats, the usual means of infection is through ingestion of an infected fecal
Younger puppies and kittens are most often diagnosed with roundworms, but roundworms can infect dogs and cats of any age. The most common symptoms seen with roundworms are: • diarrhea • vomiting • weight loss or inability to gain weight normally • a pot-bellied or swollen appearance to the abdomen • coughing In severe cases, roundworms can cause dehydration through fluid loss resulting from diarrhea and vomiting. However, often there are no symptoms at all for the infected cat or dog and the pet seems perfectly normal and healthy. How Does a Dog or Cat Become Infected with Roundworms? In puppies and kittens, the most common route of infection is from the mother. Roundworms can be passed to kittens and puppies before birth, so many kittens and puppies are born with roundworms. Roundworms also can be passed from the mother to babies through the milk as the puppies or kittens are nursing. In more mature dogs and cats, the usual means of infection is through ingestion of an infected fecal
