There are five types of worms that dog owners should watch out for: heartworms, and four types of intestinal worms including roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms. Your local veterinarian will know which worms are common in your area, and will learn how to test and treat these parasites. Specific treatment is needed to prevent and treat intestinal worms in dogs, as many of these conditions can be fatal. This article provides some guidelines for recognizing and dealing with the five types of worms, although you should know that the diseases caused by these parasites are usually difficult to detect unless the dog has been severely and overly infected.
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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Signs of Worms
Step 1. Learn about intestinal worms
Roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms are found in the intestines of dogs and are destroyed in the feces of infected animals. These worms have some common symptoms that can be detected in some cases.
- Some intestinal parasites pass from one dog to another by a process called “fecal-oral transmission.” The eggs of the worms are transferred by an infected dog through their feces and into the intestinal tract of another dog through the mouth. Even if you can't see the eggs or even the droppings anymore, there are still eggs left in the grass your dog walks through. Your dog will lick the soles of his paws and swallow these eggs, resulting in an intestinal infection.
- Tapeworms are transmitted mainly through dogs who accidentally ingest fleas.
- While you may not be able to determine what type of intestinal worms your dog has, paying attention to these symptoms can help determine if your dog needs treatment for intestinal worms or not.
Step 2. Check your dog's poop
Intestinal worms can usually be detected by observing changes in the dog's normal stool. Pay attention to these problems:
- Roundworms and whipworms can cause diarrhea. If your dog has diarrhea for a long time, it's time to visit the vet.
- Roundworms and whipworms can cause bloody dog poop. If you notice blood in your dog's stool, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Tapeworm parts can usually be seen in the dog's feces or in the fur around the dog's anus. If you see something like white rice/grain in your dog's poop, it's most likely a sign of tapeworms.
Step 3. Watch if the dog vomits
A dog with parasites in his intestines may vomit regularly. This is usually a sign of a roundworm or tapeworm infection.
Step 4. Listen for the dog to cough
In some cases, a dog with worms may cough. More specifically, this may be a symptom of a roundworm attack.
Coughing can be a symptom of several other health conditions, so if your dog is coughing, contact a veterinarian immediately
Step 5. Pay attention to the dog's physical changes
If he suddenly looks fat in the stomach area, or is losing weight rapidly, then both of these may indicate an intestinal worm infection.
A fat belly can be a sign of roundworms, while weight loss can mean a tapeworm, whipworm, or roundworm infection
Step 6. Pay attention to your dog's coat and skin
Some types of intestinal worms can be detected by the effect they have on your dog's coat or skin condition.
- If your dog's coat, which is normally fine, has suddenly become dull and ugly, then this may be a sign of a roundworm infection.
- Skin irritation can be a sign of hookworms.
Step 7. Notice if the dog is bloated
If your dog looks bloated (for example, he farts a lot), then this could be a sign of a worm infection, especially whipworm.
Step 8. Look for signs of anemia
Because these parasites steal vital nutrients from your dog, your dog may develop an iron deficiency.
Anemia can be checked by looking at the dog's gums. These gums should be pink like human gums. If your dog's gums are pale, then he likely has anemia, a condition that both whipworms and hookworms can produce
Step 9. Watch your dog's behavior
There are several behavioral changes that can occur if your dog has an intestinal parasitic infection. For example:
- Dogs infected with tapeworms may be irritable, have stomach pains, or have pain around the anus, so they drag their backs as they walk.
- Dogs attacked by hookworms or whipworms may become limp. A sudden drop in your dog's energy could be a sign that you should see the vet.
Step 10. Have your vet check your dog for heartworms regularly
Heartworms are blood parasites and are transmitted through mosquito bites from one dog to another. Unlike the other types of worms discussed in this article, a heartworm infection initially produces no symptoms, and the dog may look and act normally for years. Therefore, it is important to have your dog's blood checked to detect heartworms on a regular basis.
- In most areas, annual blood tests are usually quite effective, both for detecting potential cases of heartworm and ensuring that the preventative heartworm treatment given is not making your dog unwell.
- In the later stages of the infection, a dog may exhibit symptoms such as a large stomach, unkempt coat, coughing, shortness of breath, or lack of energy.
- For dogs showing these symptoms, it may be too late to treat, as most advanced cases of heartworm attacks are fatal. So, it is very important to have your dog checked regularly by a medical professional.
Part 2 of 3: Overcoming Worms
Step 1. Run a dirt test
If you think your dog has intestinal worms, the first step is to make an appointment with your veterinarian, who will properly diagnose the problem and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Your vet will most likely ask you to collect a stool sample before appointment time. He or she will use this sample to determine what type of intestinal worms may be in your dog's body
Step 2. Administer treatment medication
Most intestinal parasites can be treated with one of several types of oral medication. The type you will use and how often you dose it will depend on your veterinarian's recommendations and the type of worm your dog has.
- For roundworms and hookworms, you'll likely need to be given an oral medication called a "dewormer," and your dog may have to be checked for re-infection every 3-6 months for some time after treatment has started.
- There is more than one type of treatment that will treat roundworms and hookworms, some of which are over-the-counter, while others require a prescription from your veterinarian. Pyrantel pamoate and fenbendazole can be found freely in the market as a treatment for people with roundworms and hookworms.
- Pyrantel is safe enough to give to most puppies, starting at 4 weeks of age. Contact your veterinarian before using any medication for your pet.
- In the case of hookworms or roundworms, the dog will most likely need to be treated for heartworms on a monthly basis as well. This treatment contains prevention for roundworms in order to avoid repeated infections.
- The drugs Praziquantel and Epsiprantel are often used to treat tapeworms.
- Whipworms can only be killed with certain types of medication, including fenbendazole or febantel. The treatment will last for about five days, and should be repeated after three weeks. Monthly heartworm treatment to prevent whipworms is also usually recommended.
Step 3. Immediate treatment for heartworm infection
A dog infected with heartworms should get treatment immediately. This treatment and care requires a veterinarian.
- The extent of the infection and the damage the worms have done to the dog's heart and lungs should be checked by your veterinarian so that an appropriate treatment plan can be developed.
- There are some common heartworm treatment steps, which are usually carried out for six to twelve months. These steps include oral medication, as well as multiple injections (usually three) of special medications into the dog's back muscles.
- Heartworm infections are very serious, and even with treatment, some dogs with advanced infection will not survive.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Worms
Step 1. Check your dog regularly
To make sure every type of worm is detected and treated before the case gets serious, visit the vet regularly.
- For preventive purposes, do a dog poop test at least once a year.
- If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors or with other dogs, if your dog hunts and eats live prey, or if you live in an area where there are a lot of these parasites, it's a good idea to have your dog pooped more often.
Step 2. Perform heartworm prevention treatment
Preventing heartworms is safer and cheaper than having to deal with them later, so give your puppies preventive heartworm treatment starting at 8 weeks of age. Many preventative treatments for heartworms are also effective in reducing the risk of other intestinal parasites, so these medications are very important.
- There are many forms of heartworm prevention treatment available, and your veterinarian can help you choose.
- The most common form of heartworm preventive treatment is available in both oral and topical forms.
- Many of these preventative treatments will also help prevent fleas and mites. While no single product can prevent all types of parasites, your veterinarian will help you determine which product is best for your pet's health.
- Heartworm prevention is usually carried out once a month, although there is a type of treatment that can be given in the long term and continues for six months. This treatment only prevents heartworms and does not protect the dog against attacks by other intestinal parasites.
- If you live in an area where heartworm prevention is not required, there are medications such as pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, and praziquantel that can be given to treat intestinal parasites.
Step 3. Keep your dog tick-free
Tapeworm infections usually occur as a result of fleas being eaten by dogs, so make sure your dog is free of these nuisance insects. This is the best way to prevent tapeworms.
- There are several over-the-counter and oral preventive medications, as well as flea products, that can effectively treat and control tapeworm infections.
- Although not very effective, you can also use a flea collar and bathe your dog with a special flea-repellent liquid.
Step 4. Clean the dog poop
Hookworms and whipworms are often transmitted through feces. Clean dog litter frequently, and keep your dog away from other dog litter.
Tips
- Supervise your pet and contact your veterinarian if you suspect a health problem.
- Clean your yard regularly.
- Always remember to consult a veterinarian before administering any medication to your dog.
- Get your dog checked by the vet every 6-12 months for regular checkups, including blood and stool tests.
Warning
- In severe cases of hookworm, some dogs may need to be hospitalized for intravenous fluids and possibly even a blood transfusion.
- Both heartworms and many other intestinal worms can be fatal if left untreated. Get your dog checked regularly, and if you think your dog has an infection, seek professional help.
- Be careful when handling your dog's feces, as roundworms and hookworms can also infect humans.
- Hookworms can easily be passed on to puppies that are still in the womb. If your dog is pregnant, you should also keep an eye out for signs of a worm infection.
