We have compiled a list of the best Pitbull accessories that we have come across and that we are sure will help you in raising your new blue pitbull puppy or adult blue pitbulls. These dog accessories have been tested and approved by our toughest pitbulls and are sure to stand up to the rough and roudy nature of our most energetic pets. These products are Gridlock Bullies and Florida Blue Pitbulls approved!

Here are a few very helpful links to products we highly recommend. For the best care of your brand new blue pitbull puppy and pet owner experiance we advise looking into some of these products that have made our lives much easier and pleasing in caring for our loving four legged family members. Your pitbulls will thanks you also as this will make their lives much happier as well. These Pet Products and Pet Care items have been tested and approved by many Blue Pitbull owners just like you and I.

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Learn about the different types of worms in Pitbull puppies here

Roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms & whipworms all affect adult Pitbulls and Pitbull puppies. Your veterinarian can check your pet's stool sample to be certain pets do not harbor intestinal parasites such as you see here. Why does the veterinarian want to check a stool sample?  Dogs are victims of several internal parasites frequently referred to as worms. The most common are the roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Of these four only two are commonly seen in the stool with the unaided eye: roundworms and tapeworms. 

Most worm infestations cause any or all of these symptoms: diarrhea, perhaps with blood; weight loss; dry hair; general poor appearance; and vomiting, perhaps with worms in the vomit. However, some infestations cause few or no symptoms; in fact some worm eggs or larvae can be dormant in the dog's body and activated only in times of stress, or in the case of roundworms and hookworms, until the later stages of pregnancy when they activate and infest the soon-to-be-born pitbull puppies. The most effective medication that we have come across is Panacur-C Canine Dewormer 3 dose x 4 gram . Below are a direct links to purchase these products online.

Look at the photo on the right and you can see that roundworms can assume different sizes. Tapeworms, meanwhile, will not be seen externally; in fact, all you might see in the stool or attached to the fur would be the small segments that detach from the end of the tapeworm. Hooks and whips are also so small that they seldom are seen in the stool. This is precisely why a stool sample is often required in order to discover which parasite is present; the presence of these worms' eggs can often only be detected microscopically. Keep in mind that it is the goal of each parasite to stay in the safety of the intestinal tract; if they come out, they'll die! They don't want to be detected!

Roundworms

A large percentage of puppies are born with microscopically small roundworm, or ascarid, larvae in their tissues. The larvae is introduced to the developing blue pitbull pup right in the mother's uterus -- via migration through the mother's tissues! Roundworm larvae can also be transferred to the nursing pup from the mother's milk. The larvae make their way to the intestinal tract where they can grow up to five inches in length. They start shedding eggs and try desperately to keep house in the small intestine of the pitbull pup. The eggs that the adult worms pass in the stool can now reinfest the animal or other dogs and cats if somehow the egg-bearing stool is eaten. When the worm eggs hatch, larvae are released internally to migrate to the animal's lungs where the larvae (remember, the larvae are microscopic in size) are finally coughed up, swallowed, and finally grow up to adults in the small intestine.  

Female roundworms can produce 200,000 eggs in just one day. These eggs are protected by a hard shell, which enables them to exist in soil for up to years. Pitbull uppies with active roundworms in the intestines often have a pot-bellied appearance and poor growth. The worms may be seen in vomit or stool. If not treated in time, a severe infestation can cause death by intestinal blockage. Roundworms don't just affect young pups, though. They can infest adult dogs, too. However, as mentioned above, the larvae can encyst in body tissue of adult dogs, remain dormant for periods of time, and can activate during the last stages of pregnancy to infest the pit bull puppies. Worming the mother has no effect on the encysted larvae in the body tissues and cannot prevent the worms from infecting the newborn. Almost all wormers work only on the adult parasites in the intestinal tract.

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Whipworms

This parasite is more often seen in blue pitbulls. Adult whipworms, although seldom seen in the stool, look like tiny pieces of thread, with one end enlarged. They live in the cecum, the first section of the dog's large intestine. Infestations are usually difficult to prove since the whipworms shed comparatively few eggs; so an examination of even several stool samples may not reveal the presence of whipworms. If a Pitbull is presented with chronic weight loss and passes stool that seems to have a covering of mucous (especially the last portion of stool the dog passes), and lives in a kennel situation or an area where whipworms are prevalent, the veterinarian may prescribe a whipworm medication based upon circumstantial evidence. Although they seldom cause a dog's death, whipworms are a real nuisance for the Pitbull and can be a problem for the veterinarian to diagnose.

Hookworms

These are also much more common in dogs than in cats. They are very small, thin worms that fasten to the wall of the small intestine and suck blood. Dogs get hookworms from larval migration in the uterus, from contact with the larvae in stool-contaminated soil, or from ingesting the eggs after birth. As with roundworms, the hookworm larvae can also be transferred to the nursing pup from the mother's milk.

A severe hookworm infestation can kill pitbull puppies, often making them severely anemic from the loss of blood to the hookworms' vampire-like activities! Chronic hookworm infestation is a common cause of illness in older Pit Bulls, often demonstrated as poor stamina, feed efficiency and weight maintenance. Other signs include bloody diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and progressive weakness. Diagnosis is made by examining the feces for eggs under a microscope.

Tapeworms

The tapeworm is transmitted to Pitbulls that ingest fleas -- as apparently fleas think tapeworm eggs are real  tasty -- or hunt and eat wildlife or rodents infested with tapeworms or fleas. If you were to see an entire tapeworm you would notice that they are arranged with a small head at one end and many tiny brick-like repeating segments making up the rest of the worm. Tapeworms can reach 4 to 6 inches in length within the intestine. Each tapeworm may have as many as 90 segments, though it is the last segments in the chain that are released from the worm that can be seen in the stool or, as seen in the photo above. Many cases are diagnosed simply by seeing these tiny terminal segments attached to the pet's fur around the anus or under the tail; they even move around a bit shortly after they are passed and before they dry up and look like little grains of rice or confetti. It also these segments of the tapeworm which contain the eggs. Tapeworms cannot be killed by the typical generic, over-the-counter wormers. So don't waste your time and money on non-prescription medication, the best cure for Tapeworms in your Pitbulls is Panacur-C Canine Dewormer 3 dose x 4 gram.

The best way to prevent Tapeworms in you blue pitbulls is to keep them free of fleas at all times. The best Flea and Tick preventative medications we have come across are listed below. Remember that prevention is much cheaper than treatment and preventative measures should always be taken.

Heartworms in Pitbulls

In many North American regions April is the time of the year when veterinarians begin to check dogs (and cats) for exposure to heartworm organisms that may have occurred during the previous mosquito season. If your pet was infected last mosquito season, evidence of the disease may be detectable then -- though it really is dependent of the time in which your dog was infected. Like any other pathogenic situation, the earlier a diagnosis is made and treatment is begun, the better the chances your pet will recover properly. Give your veterinarian a call early this spring so that your dog can be tested for heartworm disease. Current heartworm tests are more accurate than what was available only a few years ago.

The Life Cycle of the Heartworm

The key to understanding heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) and how they affect your pet’s health is understanding the worm's life cycle. Once this is understood then it will make sense why it is wiser to prevent a heartworm infection than wait and treat the worm once it is present. The heartworm goes through a total of four molts to mature into an adult worm. The first two occur inside the mosquito and the next two occur inside the final host. So how does the heartworm get into your pet? Heartworm disease begins with an infected animal, known as the source, that has circulating microfilaria in its blood. A mosquito stops by for a meal and inadvertently sucks up a number of circulating microfilaria in the blood. Once inside the mosquito’s body, the microfilaria go through two molts over 14 days or longer depending on the environment’s temperature. They go through their first two molts and change from an L1 to an L2 and then an L2 to an L3 (third stage of development of the larva). It is an L3 that they are able to migrate into the mosquito’s salivary glands, which enables them to burrow into your pet though a mosquito's small bite wound. Once inside an animal (host) where it continues development, the heartworm takes at least 6 to 7 months to go through the last two molts and to become sexually mature before the infection can be detected by a Heartworm test. The L3 larva goes through its first molt to the L4 within the first 15 days and as early as 2-5 days after infection. The second molt from the L4 to the L5 occurs within the next 2 months. The L5 larva is considered a juvenile adult and works its way through the host’s tissues all the way to the heart as early as 70 days after first entering the host. The majority of L5 heartworm larvae arrive in the heart by 90 days, where they stay and grow rapidly in length and size. It will continue to live in the heart until it dies, typically between 5-7 years.

The heartworms actually continue to grow in size after reaching sexual maturity (about three months after entering the hear) and the females start to pass microfilaria into the blood. This is why some pets are infected with numerous worms. The mass of twisted and intertwined heartworms in dogs can serve as a significant mechanical blockage to the normal flow of blood. In fact, adult female worms have been known to grow up to 14 inches long; males, meanwhile, are generally shorter. Think of a garden hose. If pieces of debris block the hose, pressure builds up due to the obstruction of the flow of water. This is what happens to the heart and blood vessels when more and more heartworms congregate within the right ventricle. The smaller your pet (the host) is, the fewer worms it takes to cause a problem. Once the heartworm becomes an adult it will continue to produce young for many years in the dog (a shorter duration for cats and other animals, which are not the usual host for the worm). Adults have been documented to live around 7 years in dogs (2-3 years in cats). This horrific display completes the normal life cycle of the heartworm.

Another factor is some animals develop something similar to an allergy to the heartworms, or to the microfilaria, which results in the occult heartworm infections and can cause varying signs similar to allergies or asthma. This more elusive kind of infestation occurs most often in the cat. It is not uncommon for infected cats to suddenly die from the effects of just a few worms.

Signs of Heartworms in Dogs

Two major mechanisms result in the signs of heartworms in dogs. The first is due to the damage the worms cause to the arteries in the lungs (called the pulmonary arteries). The second is the mechanical obstruction of blood flow that results from the inflammation and the number of heartworms present.When a dog is first infested with heartworm there are no visible or detectable signs. In fact, even a blood test will not detect heartworms initially. The changes in dogs begin when during the final molt of the heartworm larvae; it is then that the immature L5 larvae arrive in the right ventricle and neighboring blood vessels. Within days, the artery lining is damaged. The body responds by inducing inflammation of the artery, called endarteritis, and other inflammation in the area to try to heal the damage.  Unfortunately, the heartworms cause damage at a rate faster than the body can heal. Over time, the arteries develop certain characteristics that are typical of heartworm disease; often these changes can be seen on X-rays. The vessels become tortuous and dilated. Blood clots and aneurysms are a common side effect, and complete blockage of small blood vessels can occur. 

The blood then re-routes to non-worm burdened arteries. This results in complete and partial blockage of blood vessels, causing fluid to accumulate around these blood vessels in the lungs and reducing the effectiveness of the lungs' ability to oxygenate the blood. Due to the inflammation, blood vessel obstruction and fluid accumulation, your pet will begin to cough. S/he may display exercise intolerance, nosebleeds and shortness of breath, as well as a type of pneumonia secondary to the increase in lung inflammation (called pulmonary eosinophilic granulomatosis). As immature L5 worms continue to arrive and mature in the heart and lungs, your dog's reactions become more significant and the signs worsen. Blood vessels and surrounding lung tissue are damaged, which increases the blood pressure (hypertension) in the right side of the heart and vena cava  -- eventually causing heart failure. The severity depends on the number of heartworms present and the dog’s reaction to the worms. Over time, the immune system enters into a state of overactivity. This puts extra proteins (in the form of antibodies) into circulation, which then settle in various bodily organs and cause inflammation, tissue damage and pain in areas such as the eye, kidney, and joints. One of the most severe signs of heartworms in dogs (and cats) is called Caval Syndrome or Vena Cava Syndrome.  This is seen when there are large numbers of adult worms (usually around 100 or more) invade the heart. There is almost complete blockage of all blood flow.

Often there will be no signs of heart disease prior to the animal’s collapse. When fainting and collapse does occur, it is accompanied by severe shock, red blood cell destruction and often death within 1-2 days. Sometimes the only chance for survival in these cases is for the veterinarian to surgically remove the heartworms from the heart through the jugular vein. If a sufficient number of heartworms can be removed to re-establish sufficient blood flow, there is a slim chance of survival.

Why should the veterinarian check a stool sample?

Early diagnosis for the presence and type of intestinal parasite is vital. To do this the stool (only about a teaspoonful is needed) is mixed with a special solution, which makes the microscopic eggs more visible. Many veterinarians include the stool check as part of the annual health examination. (Note: Tapeworm eggs do NOT show up well in routine fecal analyses! Tell your veterinarian if you spot these rice-like segments in the stool or caught in the fur under the tail.)

What is a Dewormer Solution?

A derwormer solution is used to rid your pet of worms. The type of dewormer solution will depend on the type of worm present. Not all worms respond to the same treatment and no single wormer works against all kinds of parasites. Additionally, some non-prescription wormers are quite ineffective in removing worms from Pitbulls but we know from personal experience that Panacur  will remove most worms very effectively. For your Pitbull puppies the best solution would be Nemex-2.

Prevention

If you allow the dog to eliminate in the backyard, remove feces at least once a week. It also important you watch where your dog goes in the neighborhood dog park; these are often infested with intestinal worm larvae. Use the correct wormer under veterinary supervision, and have the dog's feces checked frequently in persistent cases. Do not mix wormers and do not use any wormer if your dog is currently taking any other medication, including Heartworm Preventative, without consulting the veterinarian. In the case of persistent reinfestations, some veterinarians will prescribe worming treatments on a routine basis all year long.

Do worms affect humans?

CAUTION! Intestinal parasites of dogs and cats are potential health hazards for humans, too. If hookworm larvae penetrate the skin they can cause "cutaneous larval migrans", a potentially serious and scarring inflammation results. For example, ascarid (roundworm) eggs, if ingested, can cause a disease called "visceral larval migrans" where tiny worm larvae migrate through the person's intestinal wall and into the body tissues. They then grow to larger size almost anywhere in the body. Ocular disease is a common sequel "visceral larval migrans". Children are at most serious risk especially if play behavior is in an environment where dog, cat, or raccoon feces may be present... such as in a sandbox. A single adult Toxicara canis female can shed up to 100,000 eggs a day which pass into the dog (or cat's) environment with the stool. Please take the worming advice of your veterinarian seriously and adhere to strict sanitation principles whenever pets and children are in close contact.

To learn more about parasites of man and animals look at the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.