Last Updated on February 9, 2024 by Aftab Tariq
Dog worms may not be the most pleasant topic, but for responsible dog owners, understanding the risks, recognizing symptoms, and knowing the treatment options for these issues is crucial.
Dr. Smith, an expert veterinarian, stresses the importance of dealing with dog worms promptly:
“If not treated, serious health problems can arise. Worms can come from your dog’s poop and contaminated soil, posing a risk to other dogs. Some types can even be transmitted to humans. That’s why it’s crucial to always clean up after your dog.”
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There are five common types of dog worms: roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and heartworms. To keep your dog safe, it’s crucial to learn about these worms and take the right steps to prevent and treat them.
Pictures of Dog Worms in Poop
Viewing dog worms pictures can help owners recognize symptoms and seek appropriate treatment for their pets.
What is Dog Worms
Intestinal worms are tiny parasites that live in your dog’s intestines, feeding off blood or nutrients. They can be harmful and even fatal if not treated promptly.
There are four main types of worms in dogs:
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Roundworms: Long, white, and spaghetti-like, they reside in the intestinal tract.
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Hookworms: Shorter than roundworms, with sharp mouthparts for attaching to the intestinal wall and feeding on blood. Severe infestations can be life-threatening.
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Whipworms: These worms can cause health issues in older dogs, living in the large intestine by burrowing their thin heads into the intestinal wall.
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Tapeworms: Usually, tapeworms don’t show obvious signs of illness in dogs. The flea tapeworm, common in Australia, is transmitted through fleas. Signs of infestation may include scratching, licking, and the presence of worm segments in their feces.
Where Do Dogs Acquire Worms
Dogs can get worms in different ways, even with good care. Here are the ways your furry friend might pick up an infestation:
- Through the skin: Dogs can get hookworms when larvae in a contaminated area enter their skin, potentially resulting in the presence of dog worms on skin, before migrating to the intestine.
- Eating them: Worm eggs and larvae can be in places where other dogs have gone to the bathroom. Your dog might accidentally swallow these eggs while sniffing around in grass or dirt. The eggs can also stick to fur during grooming, leading to an infestation.
- Hunting: If your dog hunts or scavenges dead animals, they’re at risk of getting worms.
- From their mother: Puppies, like adult dogs, can get worms from their mother. This can happen in the womb or through their mother’s milk while they are feeding.
- Dog worms from fleas: Fleas can surprisingly cause worms in dogs. Fleas can carry flea tapeworm, and if your dog swallows an infected flea while grooming, it could lead to a flea tapeworm infestation.
Dog Worms Symptoms
While the impact of each type of dog worm can vary, there are some common warning signs that dog owners should be attentive to, known as dog worms signs. Symptoms of dog worm infestations may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Unhealthy coat appearance
- Lethargy
- Nutritional deficiencies and anemia
- Presence of blood in stool (either bright red or darker purple)
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Potential issues like intestinal blockage or pneumonia
Moreover, heartworms, a specific type of dog worm, may manifest respiratory symptoms such as coughing, intolerance to exercise, weak pulse, weight loss, abdominal swelling, and in severe cases ,labored breathing, pale gums, and even death.
Roundworms
Roundworms are common intestinal parasites in dogs, with two main types: Toxocara canis (T. canis) and Toxascaris leonina. T. canis is more common in puppies and can be transmitted to humans.
Puppies often get roundworms from their mothers, so it’s crucial for them to receive veterinary care early on. Diagnosis involves checking a fecal sample, and treatment includes deworming medications. If left untreated, roundworms can stunt growth and, in severe cases, lead to death.
A less common type is the raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis (B. procyonis), found in some parts of North America. Dogs can get infected by ingesting infectious eggs or consuming infected hosts like rodents, rabbits, and birds.
Prompt diagnosis and immediate dog worms treatment in dogs are essential due to the potential for B. Procyonids eggs to spread from animals to humans, as emphasized by the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms in dogs come from eating infected fleas or wild animals with tapeworms. When a dog eats a flea, the tapeworm egg hatches in the dog’s intestines.
The most common tapeworm in U.S. dogs is Dipalladium caninum, passed from fleas to dogs, so preventing fleas is crucial.
If a dog has tapeworms, it might pass rice-like pieces in its poop, and sometimes it may scoot on the ground. If you notice these signs, take a stool sample to the vet.
If tapeworms are found, the vet will give your dog worms medicine, usually orally or by injection. Treatment also involves getting rid of fleas from your dog and home.
Hookworms
Hookworms are tiny parasites in a dog’s intestines that can cause anemia and be deadly for puppies if not treated quickly.
Even though they are only about 1/8 of an inch in size, these parasites suck up a lot of blood when they attach to a dog’s intestinal wall.
Dogs can catch hookworms by swallowing their larvae from the environment or, in the case of Ancylostoma caninum, from a mother dog’s milk to her puppies. Infected dogs can release hundreds of tiny eggs in their poop, which hatch and can survive in the soil for several months.
 Dogs might eat the contaminated dirt, lick it off their paws, or come into contact with infected dog poop. Humans can also get infected with hookworms.
To find out if a dog has hookworms, a vet does a microscopic examination of a poop sample using a method called fecal flotation.
Treatment involves giving the dog deworming medications, usually twice: first to get rid of the adult worms and then again two to four weeks later to take care of any newly developed ones.
Whipworms
Whipworms are a type of worm that dogs can get in their cecum (the start of the large intestine) and colon. These worms lay eggs in the dog’s poop. Dogs pick up whipworms by eating something contaminated, like soil, food, water, poop, or animal flesh.
The eggs of whipworms can stay alive for up to five years, especially in warm and moist places. That’s why it’s crucial to clean up after your dog quickly for overall cleanliness and health.
In mild cases, dogs with whipworms may not show any symptoms. But in more severe cases, it can lead to inflammation, weight loss, diarrhea, and sometimes anemia.
To check if a dog has whipworms, a vet examines a sample of the dog’s poop and prescribes a treatment plan, often involving three monthly treatments.
Finding whipworm eggs isn’t always easy in every poop sample, and sometimes the test might not catch them, which is why it’s suggested to do repeat tests if your dog has signs of blood in their poop.
Heartworms
Heartworms are the most worrying type of worms for dogs, but the good news is they are preventable. These parasites are transmitted by mosquitoes, and since it’s tough to avoid mosquitoes in most places, vets recommend using regular heartworm preventatives to keep dogs safe.
Heartworms grow in the heart and can cause serious lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs, leading to death if not treated.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States and the Mississippi River, but it can be found in dogs in all 50 states. It’s not just dogs; coyotes, wolves, and foxes can also carry heartworms.
Preventing heartworms is the best approach because treatment is long, expensive, and can have serious side effects. Treating heartworms in dogs usually means keeping them confined and limiting their exercise, which can be tough for both dogs and their owners.
Regular testing is essential because heartworm preventatives don’t get rid of adult heartworms and might even harm a dog that’s already infected.
How Do Worms Affect Dogs?
Worms are a type of parasite that might infect your dog whenever they walk outside. Dogs can readily eat worms on walks or in the garden by using their noses and tongues to investigate their surroundings.
Your dog could pick them up from the dirt, from other animals via fleas, or even from their moms, who pass them on to their puppies after birth.
Worms can cause severe damage to your dog’s organs and immune system if your pet isn’t protected. They can lead to severe disease or even death if not handled. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, lung worms, and tapeworms are common worm parasites in dogs.
Diagnose Dog Worm
Tapeworms might be visible in your dog’s poop, but other types of intestinal worms need a stool sample examined under a microscope to find their eggs. If your dog shows symptoms, your vet may ask for a stool sample, and it’s a good idea to do this during the yearly check-up, even if your dog seems fine.
For heartworms, a blood test usually works, but sometimes an X-ray, ultrasound, or echocardiogram is needed. The American Heartworm Society says many dogs show few or no symptoms early on, but starting treatment early improves success chances. That’s why getting a heartworm test every year is smart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Deworm My Dog?
What Indications Indicate Worms in My Dog?
Should I Buy Prescription or Over-the-Counter Dewormers for My Dog?
Can I Treat My Dog for Worms Without Going to the Vet?
What to Do if Indoor Dog Has Worms?
What are the Best Techniques for Identifying Dog Worms?
Identifying dog worms typically involves examining the stool for signs of worms or their eggs, observing symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, and consulting a veterinarian for diagnostic tests such as fecal examinations or blood tests. Identifying dog worms that look like rice can help ensure timely treatment for your pet’s health.
How Do Dogs Get Worms?
Dogs can get worms by eating contaminated feces, soil, or prey, or through transmission from their mother. They can also pick up worms from fleas, mosquitoes, or other parasites. Regular deworming and preventive measures can help keep dogs healthy.
What are the Chances of Getting Worms from Your Dog?
Intestinal worms are common in dogs, but it’s rare for people to get sick from them. If you’re worried about your health or have symptoms, it’s best to see your doctor.
Can Humans Get Worms from Dog?
Yes, these worms, like other infections that humans can catch from animals, are called zoonotic infections or zoonoses.
How to Treat Dog Worms?
Always ask your vet for the best treatment for your dog. There are different deworming medications available to prevent and treat various intestinal parasites. These treatments can be given as injections, dog worms tablets, or spot-on applications.
How to Get Rid of Dog Worms Fast?
Pumpkin seeds are an effective dog worms home remedy as they contain cucurbitacin, an amino acid that paralyzes worms, making it easier to eliminate them from the intestine. You can offer them as treats or grind them into your dog’s food, with a suggested dosage of one teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight.
Sources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
center for disease control and prevention
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