Nematodes!

 

Fig. 1: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? 

Hi there! My name is Spongebob Squarepants, and welcome to my home, Bikini Bottom! I live in a pineapple under the sea, along with my best friends, Patrick and Squidward, and my pet snail, Gary! My friends and I love our life down here in the deep blue sea, but we have a problem...

Fig. 2: Nematodes!

 These are nematodes. They hop around Bikini Bottom searching for things to eat, and they'll eat anything! Even the pineapple I live in! 

Nematodes here in Bikini Bottom are different from the ones you might have where you live. Where I come from, nematodes cause property damage to people's houses and cars, but where you come from, things are a little different. Nematodes are roundworms, which are a different sort of animal than earthworms. One difference is that nematodes and other roundworms are very small in comparison to earthworms, however the biggest difference is that roundworms make their home in the stomach and intestines of animals, like dogs, and feed off the food that passes through the dog's body. Though the damage these parasites cause isn't as obvious as eating someone's house, the damage is still very real. 

Fig. 3: a real-life nematode

Nematodes are usually referred to as roundworms in the medical sense, and they mostly affect puppies rather than adult dogs. Puppies can contract roundworms through eating the feces of other infected dogs, but they can also get them from their mothers. 

Roundworms are tricky to get rid of, because even though adult roundworms are easy to get rid of, the larval (baby) roundworms can remain in the body for a very long time, and pass on to other dogs to restart their life cycle [1]. Puppies that catch roundworms usually experience bloated stomachs, coughing, diarrhea, and can even have their growth stunted when the roundworms eat too much of the food that is supposed to be ate by the puppy. If the puppies don't get enough nutrition, they won't be able to grow up into adult dogs properly [1][2]. 

It is important for our pets' sake to make sure roundworms are taken care of, but it is equally important for our own sake. Not only can puppies be affected by roundworms, but human children can also become infected with them if they come into too much contact with infected dogs or puppies. The way roundworms move through puppies' bodies and the way they move through human children's bodies is different. If the roundworms move to the liver, it can interfere with the liver's job in filtering out toxins from the body. If the roundworms move to the eyes, they can make a person go blind [2]. 

Fig. 4: Medicinal Miracles

Luckily for both us and our pets, roundworms are not very complicated to get rid of. De-worming treatments are no more complicated than giving your pet a pill. Roundworms don't even require any roundworm-specific treatment - heartworm medication (a different type of parasite) works for treating roundworms just as well[1][2].

Though we have some control over how our pets are treated for roundworms/nematodes, we often overlook a huge problem that affects both our pets and ourselves, that we often have much less control over - stray dogs. Stray dogs aren't monitored as well for parasites as our pets are - but that doesn't mean they are less vulnerable. The feces of stray dogs that have been infected with roundworms transmit the parasites just as much as any other feces. It is one-hundred percent in your own as well as your pet's interest to ease the problem of stray, untreated dogs.

Fig. 5: an ASPCA volunteer

Even though the nematodes drank away my house, you don't have to let them wreak havoc on your pet puppy's health! Nematodes are an annoyance, but they are preventable. Don't forget to keep your 

dogs happy and healthy, but also help curb the problem of stray dogs in your local community. If you see a stray dog in your community, be sure to contact your local animal shelter so they can 

Fig. 6: Spongebob Squarepants!

administer any help they can provide. 

References

ASPCA Volunteer [Photograph] (2017). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/ASPCA/status/937426256085356544

Nematodes! [Animation] (n.d.) retrieved from https://giant.gfycat.com/ActualSecondhandFugu.gif

Nematode [Photograph] (2017) retrieved from https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/nematodes

1. Paddock, A. (2015, November 25). Roundworms in dogs: symptoms, treatment, and prevention. Retrieved from http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/roundworms-in-dogs-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention/

Empty Pill Bottle [Photograph] (2013). Retrieved from https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/empty-pill-bottle-with-blank-label-picture-id168763092?k=6&m=168763092&s=612x612&w=0&h=pqXiPpdvnTve25NnYF7Wcpv5zArT16FknzyBkdUCtK0=

Spongebob Squarepants (Fig.1) [Photograph] (2012). Retrieved from https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/spongebob/images/a/a4/Spongebob_SquarePants.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121212130049&format=original 

Spongebob Squarepants (Fig. 6) [Photograph] (2017). Retrieved from  https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/nickelodeon/images/6/6f/SpongeBob_%286%29.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/539?cb=20171009233504 

2. Ward, E. (n.d.). Roundworm infection in dogs. Retrieved from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/roundworm-infection-in-dogs