Should Dogs Be Dewormed in Winter? A Comprehensive Guid

Why is Deworming Necessary?

Parasites can lead to a range of health issues in dogs, including weight loss, stunted growth, diarrhea, and in severe cases, even death. It's crucial to note that these parasites can also infect their human companions, potentially damaging the liver, kidneys, brain, and eyes. This can lead to malnutrition, diarrhea, skin damage, mental abnormalities, and even blindness in humans, especially children.

Where Do Parasites Come From?

1. Lifestyle: Dogs, unlike humans, may not be as aware of their environment's cleanliness. They enjoy running around outdoors, rolling in the dirt, and may even play with toys that have been contaminated. When owners come home or guests visit, they can inadvertently bring parasites or their eggs into the home, making it easy for pets to become infected.

2. Diet and Habits: The saying "you are what you eat" applies here. Dogs often use their paws, and sometimes their mouths, to play with toys. When owners bring home food or when guests visit, they can introduce parasites or their eggs into the home, which pets can easily come into contact with or ingest.

3. Transmission: Some owners feed their dogs raw meat, which can increase the risk of internal parasites.

Why Do We Need to Deworm Dogs in Winter Too?

1. Misconception: Many owners believe that if they don't take their dogs outside in winter, they won't be at risk of parasitic infections. However, this is a common misconception. Parasites can still enter your dog's body through various means.

2. Yearround Deworming: Internal parasites live within pets and are not affected by external temperatures. Therefore, deworming is necessary during winter.

3. Fleas and Ticks: While fleas and ticks may be less active in winter, they can still survive and seek out warm hosts or shelters to survive better.

4. External Parasites: Some external parasites, such as mites, ear mites, and scabies mites, can survive the cold weather. They can cause significant discomfort to pets, affecting their hearing and potentially leading to deafness.

Deworming should be done on a regular basis, especially for pet owners with young children or pregnant women. As long as deworming is done properly, there should be no major issues. Let's prioritize the health of both our pets and our families by deworming on time!