What kind of worms do dogs get and how do they get them?
There are a handful of different types of worms that dogs can get, including hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, heartworms, and even ringworms. Even though all these worms can affect dogs, they each have unique characteristics that are very important for us to understand in order to prevent them from infecting our pets. One of these defining characteristics is how they are transmitted to dogs. Hookworms and roundworms can be contaminated in the soil in feces, which our dogs can ingest and therefore become infected. In young puppies, they can be born with hookworms and/or roundworms if their mother is infected either through the milk or while they're still in the womb. Whipworms can also be in the environment and passed by ingestion as well, but they do not tend to pass from mother to puppies. Tapeworms are transmitted to dogs through fleas or even rodents that come into contact with them. Heartworms are transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and cannot be transmitted directly from dog to dog. Last but not least, ringworm can infect dogs, but they are not actually worms; instead, they're classified as a fungal infection that can pass from dog to dog through direct skin contact or contaminated objects like bedding, grooming tools, and other surfaces. As you can see, not all worms are the same, and we need to understand how they are transmitted to best prevent the spread to our dogs. They're not all the same, as some of them aren't worms.
What are the symptoms of worms in dogs that pet owners should look for?
As a pet owner, you should always take a glance at your dog's poop. Some, but not all, of the previously discussed worms can show up in the poop. If they have a large amount in their system, the most likely worms that you could see in the poop are roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, and they all have different appearances. Roundworms are usually long and slender worms, much like spaghetti noodles. Hookworms are thin and shorter worms that kind of resemble a wiry texture. Tapeworms are short, white in color, and look like grains of rice. Make sure to observe what's coming out the other end as well. These same worms, more so roundworms and hookworms, can appear in vomit, which could be another sign that they're present. Some other less obvious signs of worms in dogs include diarrhea, pale color, lethargy, weight loss, loss of appetite, and a pot belly appearance. Make sure to observe your dog's behavior daily to catch any of these signs as early as possible.
Are worms painful for dogs?
Dogs are sometimes very good at hiding pain. They may display other clinical signs, as previously mentioned, to clue you in that they may not be feeling well. Even though these signs don't necessarily make us think of pain right away, dogs that have worms can be extremely uncomfortable, and it can diminish their quality of life if it's not addressed.
How long can worms live inside my dog?
Depending on the type of worm, they can live anywhere from months to even years. Roundworms appear to live in the body for as little as 2 weeks, while heartworms and tapeworms appear to live the longest, up to 7 years even, which is quite a long time.
What should I do if I suspect my dog has worms?
If you suspect that your dog has worms of any kind, then you should seek veterinary care immediately. Depending on the type of worm, treatment can vary quite a bit. It's important to know exactly what type of worm is impacting your dog in order to treat that worm appropriately. Just buying dewormer at Tractor Supply won't solve everything.
How will a veterinarian confirm that my dog has worms?
When investigating if your dog has worms, your veterinarian may recommend several tests, including a fecal analysis, SNAP 4Dx, or heartworm test, and a Wood's lamp with fungal culture. The fecal analysis requires a stool sample and would be able to detect if roundworms, hookworms, or whipworms are present most of the time. The SNAP 4Dx heartworm test requires blood and would be able to detect if your dog has heartworms. Lastly, the Wood's lamp and fungal culture require a hair or skin sample and would be best to detect ringworm. Tapeworms are the odd ones out and most commonly these parasites are detected by visual observation alone but can be seen on some fecal analysis with the appropriate methods.
How do intestinal parasites impact the health and well-being of my dog?
All of the parasites we've mentioned can impact your dog's quality of life in some way. The nature of a parasite is that they find a host to live on and steal nutrients in order to continue living while that host withers away slowly and silently. Unfortunately, when a parasite has utilized all the host has to offer, they jump off and find a new one. This type of relationship is extremely unhealthy for the host, which are our pets in this case, and they can severely diminish quality of life causing weakness, pain, weight loss, and even death.
What can I do to prevent my dog from getting worms?
The best way to protect your dog from getting any of these types of worms is through diligent monthly prevention products like Heartgard, Nexgard Plus, Sentinel, Seresto, and other flea products. There are so many. They can protect your pet from most of these parasitic threats. Just missing one month can make your dog vulnerable to infestation.
How can I get rid of dog worms fast?
There's never a quick easy fix for anything, but depending on the type of worm, treatment duration can vary from days to months. Over-the-counter dewormers can be used for roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, which are arguably the most common intestinal parasites in dogs, but proper timing and dosage are needed to successfully treat these.
Are there natural remedies I can use if my dog has worms?
Honestly, natural remedies have not really been shown to be effective in treating intestinal parasites. Essential oils, supplements, and similar products claim they could be used for worms, but they're not really backed up by much research and are not FDA approved. Therefore, I would not personally recommend them.
Can puppies be dewormed? And if so, when should it start?
Puppies can be dewormed as early as 2 weeks. They should be subsequently dewormed every 2 weeks until they're about 8 weeks old. Then, those puppies can receive dewormer every month until they're about 6 months of age. Once puppies reach 6 months of age, oral monthly prevention products can be used more diligently.
How do I know if the dewormering treatment was effective for my dog?
Unless you visit a vet office and have your dog's stool analyzed for intestinal parasites, you won't ever be 100% sure. Sometimes, if you notice that your dog's poop, which used to be diarrhea, is becoming more formed or that your dog's pot belly appearance is resolving, then that might be a good indication that the deworming process is working. However, it's best to double-check with your vet to be on the safe side of things. Poop is very important, and so is prevention. Poop and prevention, the two P's.
Will using a dewormer hurt my dog?
That's a great question. Using an over-the-counter dewormer will not necessarily hurt your dog. However, if the specific dewormer does not target the type of worm your dog has, then it will not treat the worm appropriately, and therefore the dewormer was kind of a waste of financial resources. It can also allow your dog's own immune system to build up resistance to that specific dewormer type. Resistance means that your dog will eventually no longer respond to that product, which could be detrimental in the long run if your dog ever needs that type of product again in the future. That's why just using whatever dewormer you can find is not the best idea. It's always recommended to consult with your veterinarian prior to administering a dewormer of any kind.
If my dog has worms, are there any risks for me or my family?
Yes. I'm very glad that you asked this question. Most of the intestinal parasites we've been discussing, including roundworms, hookworms, and ringworms, are zoonotic, meaning they can transfer from our dogs to humans. This is why it's very important to control the worm population in our dogs because just one instance of picking up poop or getting a wet kiss from your dog can be enough to infect you. Good hygiene, frequent hand washing, and avoiding directly touching your dog's feces or vomitus is very important if your dog has been affected by these parasites, and it can help you stay safe during their treatment. You need to watch your kids because they like to go outside, play in the dirt, and then, oh look, a cookie, and eat. Be very careful about this. Watch your kids and yourself.
If you have any questions about whether your dog has worms or not, what to do, or how to keep them away, which prevention is the best option, as we said before, please give us a call at the office at 704-802-1280. We'll get you started. If you're started on a heartworm prevention that also addresses worms and heartworms, then you'll need to have a heartworm test first. It's very important not to just start on something, and it's prescription only anyway
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