A Brief Guide To Common Dog Worms
Most dogs and puppies, unless they are routinely treated, are going to have some type of worms. Worms are often passed from dog to dog through contact with saliva, fecal material or even through contaminated soil. Dog parks, public areas and even out walking in the country can all lead to possible worm problems if the dog is not on a worming program.
For most otherwise healthy dogs small numbers of worms are not a serious issue and may not even cause any noticeable symptoms. Heavy infestations of worms can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and depression of a normally active and energetic pet. Dogs that are ill are at higher risk for complications when worms are also present. Worms rob the dog of essential nutrients while also weakening the immune system and causing damage to the various systems in the body.
Roundworms
Roundworms are common in puppies and may actually be passed from the mother dog to the puppies as they nurse or through the placenta before they are born. Puppies with roundworms tend to have a pot bellied appearance and may fail to thrive. Dogs with roundworms may experience vomiting and diarrhea and you may see white threads or spaghetti-like strands in the vomit or fecal material. They will be white when first eliminated from the body and then turn yellow to tan. Large numbers of these worms can actually block the entire intestine and lead to very serious health issues.
Whipworms
Whipworms are very small and you will not see these worms even if you look for them. They live in the top of the large intestine and suck blood through the intestinal wall. They are not usually a serious health issue for a healthy dog but will cause weight loss, vomiting and possibility bloody diarrhea. These worms lay small numbers of microscopic eggs that are passed out of the body to live for years in the soil until being eaten by a dog. Routine worming programs will prevent any concerns with whipworms.
Hookworms
Like whipworms, hookworms live in the soil but actually burrow into the dog’s feet and skin. From there they move through the body to the lungs to mature. As the number of worms in the lungs increases irritation occurs. The dog then coughs up the hookworms out of the lungs and swallows the worms allowing them to get into the digestive system. They live in the small intestine and suck the dog’s blood resulting in severe health problems. Often dogs have very painful stomachs, vomiting, bloody or black hard stools or diarrhea as well as rashes on the skin where the worms are entering the body.
These worms are a serious risk to puppies and adult dogs alike. These are another example of a worm that you will not see in the stool but that will show up on a medical test for hookworms.
Tapeworms
Typically associated with uncontrolled flea problems, tapeworms are often the easiest worm for a dog owner to spot. They look like small grains of rice when they are dried and are often found in great numbers on the dog’s bedding. You may also see old segments of the tapeworm as bright white flat worms around the dog’s anus or under the tail.
Tapeworms can be very difficult to treat. Despite some advertising to the contrary tapeworms cannot be killed by over the counter worming medications. In fact, we recommend that you bring your dog in for a full fecal test to determine if worms are present and what treatment and prevention options work best for you and your pet.