How Do You Know Dog Has Worms

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There are many different types of worms that can infect dogs. Those of most concern are roundworms, tapeworms, heartworms, hook, and whipworms. Whilst each type of worm has a slightly different life bike, the dog'due south symptoms can be consistent with different types of worm infections. Thus, it is not possible to determine what sort of worm your dog has based on symptoms alone, and tests may be necessary.^[i] However, knowing the full general symptoms, risks, and characteristics of different types of worms tin can help you treat and care for your canine friend.

1. 1

   Spotter for symptoms. Many of the symptoms of worm infections are general and non-specific. Thus, it is not possible to diagnose what sort of worms a canis familiaris may have, based on symptoms alone. Even so, signs in a canis familiaris that has non been wormed recently should raise suspicion of worm infection and trigger an investigation into what sort of parasite is present.

2. 2

   Look for worms in carrion. Sometimes, even in an asymptomatic dog, you may see physical evidence of the worms in the dog'due south carrion. If you are not completely confident in worm recognition, collect the worm in a screw-top container and take it to the vet clinic for identification.

   • Collecting a worm is far more helpful to your vet than describing it, since most worms have similar physical appearances to the naked eye.

3. 3

   Identify gastrointestinal signs. Although life-cycles vary, all worms will at some indicate travel through the gut. If the numbers are low, and then the dog may not show any signs. However, when larger numbers colonize the bowel they tin cause irritation to the lining which results in symptoms such equally sickness, diarrhea (sometimes with mucus and/or blood), poor appetite and weight loss. ^[two]

4. 4

   Collect a fecal sample. Worms either alive in or transit through the gut, thus at certain stages in their life cycle evidence of infection is passed out in the dog's feces. In a heavy infestation you lot may come across actual worms in the feces, but this is less common if mild infections. Instead, either eggs or larvae may be present in the feces, which is harder for the naked center to spot. ^[iii]

   • Scoop a sample of feces with a popsicle stick or a disposable spoon and identify it in a clean, spiral-top container that has a tight-fitting lid (your vet can provide you with a container specific for this purpose if y'all don't have annihilation appropriate).
   • Store the sample beneath thirty degrees Celsius and drib it off at the vet dispensary when you can (the sample does not have to be especially fresh to take evidence of worms.
   • If your vet asks for a pooled sample, you lot will take samples from the dog'southward stool one time daily for three days in a row, placing them in the same collection container. This may exist necessary for a suspected "false negative" consequence. The pooled sample reduces the risk of unreliable results.
   • The vet may run the fecal analysis, which involves examining a smear of feces under the microscope to look for worm eggs or larvae, or she may ship it to an outside lab for cess.

5. 5

   Ask your dog'south vet for a claret test. Some worms that cause serious disease, such equally lungworm or heartworm, tin can be diagnosed on a blood test. The veterinary draws a minor volume (1-2ml) from the pet to obtain as the test sample. ^[iv]

   • A variety of tests are bachelor only in practice an ELISA examination is most mutual. The test looks for the presence of antibodies to the heartworm and causes a color change if positive.
   • Well-nigh veterinarians in high-risk areas for heartworm require a yearly test as office of the dog's concrete checkup before renewing or prescribing a monthly preventative treatment.

6. 6

   Avert contact with feces and worms. Some worms, such equally roundworms, can be transferred from dogs to humans. Young children who become infected with roundworms may feel damage to their eyesight.

   • Worms or feces infected with worms should be removed from children'south play areas.
   • Infected feces should exist handled or collected with gloves.
   • Always wash your easily thoroughly with soap and water later on treatment creature feces.

7. seven

   Be aware of risk factors for specific types of worms. Because worms tin can await very like, one of the best means to identify the blazon of parasite that is plaguing your dog is to sympathise the ecology or situational factors that most pb to each type of worms. ^[5]

   • Roundworms are often passed to puppies from a roundworm-infested female parent because the eggs and larvae cantankerous the placenta to infect the puppy in the womb, and eggs are besides excreted in the mother's milk. Puppies should be wormed as a matter of routine.
   • Tapeworms are caused past a dog's eating vermin already infected with tapeworm, or from fleas that incorporate tapeworm eggs. Thus, hunting dogs or dogs with a flea infestation are likely to pick up tapeworms.
   • Hookworms and Whipworms thrive in clammy soil and the dogs most at risk are those kept on grass runs, especially in warm, boiling conditions. These infections are more common in kenneled dogs that have access to communal grassy runs.
   • Heartworm is spread by insects such equally mosquitoes and is therefore endemic in certain areas where insects are more than common. High take a chance areas include the Southeastern and Midwestern United states and along the Atlantic declension.
   • Lungworm is becoming more prevalent and is spread via fox carrion, slugs, and snails. Contact with any of these is considered a risk factor.

1. i

   Document whatever symptoms or take a chance factors that apply to your dog. Sometimes the all-time way to diagnose the types of worm is to document the take a chance factors for the dog. Make notes of the dog's environment, climate, and habits. Be sure to also document the severity and duration of any symptoms of illness and provide the information to your veterinary if y'all suspect an infection.

2. 2

   Expect for distinctive features of worm types. If worms or worm parts are visible in the dog'due south feces or vomit, you may exist able to identify the type of worms. While many worms wait similar, each has some distinguishing characteristics that may let you to pinpoint the worm diversity. ^[six]

   • Roundworms look a lot like cooked spaghetti noodles. They average 8 - 10cm long, but can reach 18cm in length. They accept a round contour and smooth bodies.
   • Tapeworms are distinctive with flattened bodies made upward of segments. The length varies with the species but averages from fifty centimeter (19.7 in) to 250cm long. If y'all see tapeworms in the carrion or vomit, information technology is probable to be private segments, non the unabridged tapeworm.
   • Hookworms and whipworms are much smaller than roundworms or tapeworms. They are ordinarily between 0.5- 2 cm long and extremely thin, similar a strand of thread or hair. Their small size tends to make them announced translucent, and they can be more difficult to meet without close examination.

3. 3

   Spotter for respiratory or cardiac signs. Lungworm and heartworms infest blood vessels and either the middle or lungs. This tin cause symptoms such as cough, heavy or rapid breathing, lack of energy, or fifty-fifty collapse and death. ^[seven]

   • Lungworm and heartworm tin interfere with blood clotting and so some dogs show the alarming symptom of uncontrolled bleeding after a minor injury.
   • Any of these signs should prompt an immediate visit to your vet. Though treatments can exist costly, prompt treatment is more likely to result in a favorable result.

4. 4

   Bank check for egg packets. A sure sign of tapeworms is egg packets stuck to the dog's fur near his anus. This happens when the mature tapeworms release eggs into the bowel lumen, after which the eggs wriggle out of the dog'south anus, which can too crusade itchiness around the anal band. ^[eight]

   • These egg packets look similar sesame seeds or small rice grains stuck to the hair almost the dog'due south bottom.
   • If you look carefully you can sometimes see these modest, cream-colored seed-like objects wriggling.

5. v

   Cheque the canis familiaris's physique. Because worms, particularly tapeworms, blot nutrients from the dog'south food and make less available for the host, worm-infested dogs may take poor fat cover over their bones but swollen bellies due to the excessive worms in their gut. The classic appearance of a wormy puppy is a bony, ribby dog with a potbelly and a dull coat.

6. 6

   Take a worm or egg sample to your domestic dog's veterinarian. The all-time style to diagnose the specific type of worm is to let the professionals do it. They will be able to examine the worms or eggs under a microscope and accept feel identifying minute differences between worm types. ^[9]

   • With worm eggs the differences can be subtle, such as the shape existence oval instead of round, of having a plug at one or both ends.

1. one

   Place and treat worms promptly. Worm infections tend to become worse the longer they are left untreated. An infection with a neat number of developed worms, known equally a "heavy" infection, tin have adverse furnishings on a dog's overall well-existence, then identifying worms before the infection becomes "heavy" is the best approach.

   • Some canine worm infections can cause gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea.
   • Some worm infections tin ultimately lead to a domestic dog'south death, especially with center or lungworms.

2. 2

   Administer a monthly heartworm preventative. Particularly if you live in a loftier-take chances area with many mosquitoes, yous should requite your dog a monthly heartworm preventative. Heartworm preventatives require a prescription.

   • Most vets require a negative heartworm test to write a heartworm preventative prescription.
   • Many heartworm preventatives are meat-flavored and chewable, making them easier to administrate.

3. 3

   Go along your dog free of fleas. Because some worms are transferred by fleas, keeping your dog free of fleas with a regular flea treatment tin assist him stay complimentary of worms as well.

   • Some companies make a combination heartworm and flea treatment in one chewable pill.
   • Information technology is also possible to administrate a monthly topical flea treatment. This is usually squeezed onto the dog's scruff, at the dorsum of his neck.

4. four

   Restrict your dog'southward access to harmful environments. Ensuring that your dog stays away from environments that are near conducive to worms can help eliminate the need for de-worming.

   • Keep your domestic dog abroad from warm, grassy areas shared with other dogs who have non been de-wormed.
   • Practice not let your domestic dog come into contact with wild or casualty animals.
   • Avoid warm, boiling climates that have high populations of bugs such every bit fleas or mosquitoes.
   • Do not allow your dog eat or rub themselves in the feces of other dogs or wild animals.

5. 5

   Administrate a de-wormer if necessary. If your dog has worms, you may demand to administer a de-wormer. A precise worming protocol depends on the individual pet'south chance factors, and is best discussed with your veterinarian. ^[10]

   • Virtually de-wormer is a powdery substance that can exist mixed into the domestic dog'due south food or some other vehicle such every bit manifestly yogurt (consult your vet before feeding your dog food made for humans).
   • Nearly de-wormers need to be administered just in one case, but if your veterinary prescribes fenbendazole, you lot'll need to administer it repeatedly over the course of several days. Fenbendazole is a very gentle de-wormer often used for young puppies.
   • Be sure to read the directions on the package of de-wormer and consult your vet earlier giving your dog any kind of medication.

6. 6

   Maintain regular veterinary visits. Having your canis familiaris checked regularly by a veterinarian will go along her in mostly good health. The vet volition have the opportunity to place issues before they become extreme and cause lasting damage to your canine companion.

Add New Question

• Question

  If someone else's canis familiaris had worms and pooped in my thou, how long tin can worms or eggs survive in the stool?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion beast exercise. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the aforementioned fauna clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Expert Answer

  If non cleaned up right abroad, the eggs can get into the soil and survive for months or even years. It may also be helpful to know how long information technology takes for the eggs in the stool to become infectious. For the commonest blazon of worm (Toxocara) it takes 10 to 21 days before the eggs become larvae and pose a health take chances to humans. That is why it is important to make clean upward any animal carrion in your yard as soon equally possible.

• Question

  If my dog eats the poop of another dog could that exist a sign of worms?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over xxx years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion brute practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over xx years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Expert Reply

  Eating another dog's poop (coprophagia) is non a definite a sign of worms, simply information technology it is a possibility. There are many reasons for your dog may exist eating the feces of some other dog ranging from enzyme deficiencies to behavioral causes. Accept your dog to see a veterinarian to accept him checked for worms if you are concerned.

• Question

  Can I deworm my pregnant dog?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion fauna do. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same brute dispensary in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Expert Answer

  Yes, simply simply sure wormers are safe to use in significant dogs. Fenbendazole is one option that has been proven safe. Worming daily with fenbendazole from mean solar day 40 of the pregnancy until ii days after birth decreases the amount of larvae passed onto the developing pups and is therefore beneficial to them and you. Make sure that you lot ask your veterinarian for a wormer recommendation earlier administering anything.

• Question

  Afterward three treatments of fenbendazole, my dog still has worms that look similar tapeworm. Should I give her more treatments?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinary with over 30 years of feel in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animate being dispensary in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Skillful Answer

  Although on the fenbendazole packaging is says information technology treats tapeworm, information technology is but constructive confronting a unmarried species (Tenia) and does nothing to impale two other important species (Echinicoccus and dipyliddium). If your dog nevertheless has worms and so it's likely she has a species not killed past fenbendazole and y'all demand to utilise a production that specifically targets tapeworms.

• Question

  What does a worm look like in a dog?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of feel in veterinary surgery and companion animal practise. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinarian medicine and surgery. She has worked at the aforementioned animal clinic in her hometown for over xx years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Practiced Answer

  At that place are many different types of worm, as the article outlines. Nonetheless, any white wriggly object in the dog's poop is abnormal. Don't worry about identifying the worm yourself. Instead, take a sample for the vet to analyse.

• Question

  What are the worms that look like rice?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over xxx years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal exercise. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinarian medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Adept Answer

  This could well be the egg packets or 'proglottids' passed by tapeworms. They are variously described as looking similar dried cucumber seeds, rice grains, or sesame seeds.

• Question

  What are the signs of roundworm infection in a human? Can I become infected if my canis familiaris has roundworm?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animate being dispensary in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Skillful Respond

  Touching contaminated feces or soil can lead to an infection in humans. Most people don't bear witness symptoms but go enlightened of infection because they spot worms in their stool. Less commonly some people experience a fever and develop a cough a few days after swallowing eggs. Of major concern is children who consume eggs and then the larvae drift to the back of the eye, causing incomprehension. If you lot are concerned about a child and roundworm and then please see your physician.

• Question

  How do you know if domestic dog has worms?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over xxx years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion fauna do. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinarian medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal dispensary in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinary

  Practiced Answer

  When a dog has a low worm brunt, this tin be difficult to recognize. The signs are vague, such as a boring coat and the occasional stomach upset. The all-time mode to know if your dog is clean or not is for your vet to examine a fecal sample.

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• Choice up your domestic dog'south feces if you're walking with him.

• Avoid letting your canis familiaris sniff or eat carrion and other clay. This happens a lot with puppies and is a sure fashion of transferring unwanted parasites.

• Flea control is essential at all times of the year.

• Heartworms will requite your dog a center attack if non discovered and treated in a timely style.

• Roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted from dog to human, so you should be careful and know how to handle your dog'southward carrion appropriately. Speak to your doctor if you're concerned that you lot or any family members may have contracted worms.

• If any worm infection is left untreated for too long, the infestation could eventually result in expiry.

• If your dog shows any sign of fatigue or diarrhea and vomiting, consult a vet immediately.

About This Article

Article Summary X

To identify different canis familiaris worms, look for the worms in your dog'southward feces or vomit. Roundworms average from 8 to ten cm, and are round with smooth bodies. Tapeworms take flattened, segmented bodies and can average from 50 to 250 cm long, although y'all will usually only meet private segments. Hookworms and whipworms are commonly between 0.five to 2 cm long and extremely thin, and may look like a strand of thread or pilus. If your dog is coughing or animate heavily, it may have lungworms or heartworms. For more tips from our Veterinary reviewer, including how to prevent or treat worms, read on!

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