Worms in dogs are always unpleasant to deal with no matter the type. Here, our Smokey Point vets list common types of worms in dogs, signs of worms, how they can be prevented and how they are diagnosed.
Dog Worms
The thought of your dog having worms crawling through their internal organs is likely appalling - and scary. That said, understanding the risks, symptoms and treatment options for worms in dogs will be critical to keeping your four-legged friend healthy and parasite-free.
Parasites can have a severe negative impact on your pup's overall health. Left untreated, many types of worms, including hookworms, heartworms, tapeworms, whipworms and roundworms - can cause serious health issues. Dogs can contract worms from animal feces, become infected and pass them on to other dogs. In some circumstances, humans can catch certain types of worms from their pets - one reason it's important to always clean up when your dog defecates.
Today, our Smokey Point vets will tell you what you need to know about common types of dog worms, symptoms that your pooch may display if they have them, and what measures to take if your dog has worms.
Symptoms of Worms in Dogs
A dog's system will be affected differently depending on which parasite your pooch has. Here are some general warning signs that dog owners should keep in mind. Intestinal worms can cause:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting Anemia
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Pneumonia or intestinal blockage
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in stool (bright red or darker purple)
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Poor coat appearance
If heartworms are the culprit of your dog's symptoms, you might notice respiratory issues such as coughing, abdominal distension, intolerance for exercise, weak pulse and weight loss. They may also experience pale gums and labored breathing in extreme cases. Heartworms can even be fatal for a dog.
Common Types of Worms in Dogs
Tapeworms, heartworms, whipworms, hookworms and roundworms are some of the most common types of worms found in dogs.
Heartworms
The most preventable type of worms in dogs is also the most worrisome. Transmitted via mosquitoes (which are impossible to avoid in most places), our Smokey Point vets recommend ensuring your dog is on regular heartworm preventives to keep them safe.
Heartworms mature and multiply within the heart, causing heart failure, severe lung disease and damage to major organs. Left untreated, heartworms can ultimately lead to early death. Dogs, coyotes, foxes and wolves can carry this parasite.
Since treatment is expensive, lengthy and may have severe side effects, when it comes to heartworms prevention is the best approach. Treating heartworm in dogs also usually requires confinement and restrictions on exercise, which can be difficult for both dogs and owners. We recommend regular testing since heartworm preventives don't kill adult heartworms, and may even harm a dog that's already infected.
Hookworms
These intestinal parasites can cause anemia and may become fatal in puppies if left untreated. Dogs can fall ill due to several different kinds of hookworms. Though they are very small (about an eighth of an inch), they ingest large amounts of blood when they attach to the wall of a dog's intestine.
Dogs can get hookworms by ingesting hookworm larvae from the environment. In the case of Ancylostoma caninum, a mother dog can pass infective larvae to her puppies through her milk. Hundreds of microscopic eggs can be found in the stool of infected dogs, hatch and stay alive in soil for as long as several months. If a dog eats infected dirt, sniffs infected dog feces or licks it from the bottom of its paws, it can pick up hookworms. Humans can also get them.
A veterinarian can diagnose hookworms by performing a test called fecal flotation, a microscopic example of a stool sample. The stool is mixed with a solution that will cause hookworm eggs to float to the top. Deworming medications can be used to treat the parasite and should usually be given twice - once to catch adult worms and then 2 to 4 weeks later to kill newly developed worms.
Roundworms
Another common intestinal worm in dogs, there are actually two types of roundworms: Toxocara canis (T. canis) and Toxascaris leonina. T. canis is more common in puppies and can be transmitted to humans.
Because many newborn puppies have roundworms, it's important that pups receive appropriate veterinary care. Your vet can use a fecal sample to diagnose roundworms and treat them with deworming medications. Left untreated, this parasite can lead to poor growth and death in severe cases.
The raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a rarer type of roundworm that's found in parts of North America. Dogs can ingest infected eggs or infected hosts such as birds, rabbits or rodents. Because eggs can spread from animals to humans, it's critical that infections be diagnosed promptly and that treatment is administered immediately and effectively.
Tapeworms
Dogs can contract this intestinal parasite by eating infected fleas or by consuming wild animals infected with fleas or tapeworms. Once a dog eats the flea, the tapeworm's egg hatches and sticks to the dog's intestinal lining. The most common type of tapeworm found in dogs in the United States is Dipylidium caninum. Because it can be passed to dogs from fleas, this is one more reason to stay on top of flea prevention.
Tapeworm segments can be passed in a dog's stool. If they are visible, they may resemble little pieces of rice. Some infected dogs may scoot their bottoms along the ground. If you notice scooting or see signs of tapeworm in your dog's stool, take a stool sample to your vet to be analyzed.
If tapeworm segments or eggs are found, your vet can prescribe a treatment regimen to eliminate tapeworms. Drugs can be injected or administered orally. Fleas will also need to be eliminated from your dog and home environment.
Whipworms
Whipworms live in the beginning of a dog's larges intestine (cecum) and colon, where eggs can be passed into the dog's feces. A dog can get whipworms by ingessting an infested substance such as feces, animal flesh, water, soil or food.
Eggs can survive for up to five years in moist warm environments. In mild cases, you typically won't see symptoms. However, severe cases can cause symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, inflammation and occasionally anemia.
Dogs can be diagnosed with whipworms when your vet takes a fecal sample, bug false negatives are not common as eggs are not easy to find on all samples. If you see blood in your dog's stool, repeat fecal exams are recommended. Often, three monthly treatments will be prescribed by your vet.
For prevention, cleaning up after your dog is vital to health and sanitation.
How to Diagnose Worms in Dogs
While we can often see tapeworms in a dog's stool, vets must usually diagnose other types of intestinal worms by performing a microscopic examination of a stool sample to look for eggs. If your dog shows any signs listed above, your veterinarian will request a stool sample so they can detect or rule out worms as a trigger for the symptoms. Even if your pooch is not displaying any symptoms, it's wise to take a stool sample to your vet when you bring your dog in for an annual examination.
We will usually use a blood test to detect heartworms. That said, in some cases a radiograph, echocardiogram or ultrasound will be needed. In the early stages of heartworm disease, many dogs show no symptoms or few symptoms, yet receiving treatment as early as possible increases the chance it will be successful. This is why it's a good idea to have your pup tested annually for heartworms.
Prevention
When it comes to intestinal worms in dogs, flea control, regular testing, prevention and good hygiene are the principles to keep. in mind. Your Smokey Point veterinarian can recommend deworming medications to treat various types of heartworms and intestinal parasites, along with preventive medications. Since puppies are vulnerable to contracting heartworms via their mother's milk, they should also have regular stool testing.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.