Intestinal parasites including roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms cause welfare problems in dogs that are largely preventable through regular treatment.
Intestinal parasites cause welfare costs ranging from mild nutritional competition to severe anaemia and intestinal damage. Puppy roundworm burden causes pot-bellied appearance and reduced growth - more severe burdens cause intestinal obstruction. Hookworm anaemia in young puppies can be rapidly life-threatening. Regular preventive treatment eliminates the welfare cost of parasitic burden while protecting public health through reduced environmental contamination.