Worms in Dog Poop: Causes and Treatment
Worms are something most people don’t typically like to think about, but they are not necessarily uncommon in dogs. Finding worms in dog poop can be an uncomfortable and worrying part of pet care. The good news is that even though finding out that your dog has intestinal parasites is alarming, they are treatable most of the time.
Most of the time dogs will get worms by eating infected feces or raw meat. Puppies can get worms much more easily from their environment though. This is mainly due to their weak immune systems. Usually, intestinal parasites can be treated with dewormer medication prescribed by a vet.
In this article, we will be explaining what you should do if you find worms in your dog’s feces. We will also be explaining the symptoms of the most common intestinal parasites in dogs and how they are typically diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
Why Does My Dog Have Worms in Their Poop?
Most of the time dogs will have worms in their poop because they have an intestinal parasite. It is also fairly common to see white splotches in dog poop when they have intestinal worms.
How do Dogs Get Worms?
Most of the time dogs will get worms by eating infected feces or meat. This meat will need to be raw since worms and worm eggs are killed by the heat involved in the cooking process.
Puppies can also be infected by parasites through their mother. This mainly occurs when the mother is infected. Puppies can be infected with parasites through the placenta before they are born and through their mother’s milk while nursing.
Additionally, dogs can become infected with hookworms simply by touching infected feces. This means that they do not need to eat the feces to become infected, simply touching it is enough.
The 4 Most Common Types of Intestinal Parasites in Dogs and Their Symptoms
There are more than four different types of intestinal parasites out there that can infect dogs. However, some types of worms are much more common than others. Here are the four most common types of intestinal parasites in dogs and a description of what these worms look like. We will be looking at some other common symptoms of these infections as well. Here are the four most common types of intestinal parasites in dogs and their symptoms.
Roundworms
Roundworms are very common in dogs, and they are mainly spread through contact with feces and from mother dogs to their puppies. Many adult dogs will not show noticeable signs of roundworms besides diarrhea, vomiting, and noticeable worms in their feces.
Puppies, on the other hand, are affected by roundworms more severely. They may develop a pot belly and not grow as well as they should. Puppies are more susceptible to passing away from a roundworm infection than most adult dogs are.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are mainly spread to dogs when they ingest infected fleas or meat. Mainly, this is when a dog will eat a wild animal that has a tapeworm infection. Though receiving a tapeworm infection from raw commercial meat is more rare, it can still happen as well.
There are not many symptoms of tapeworm infections in dogs. You will mainly only notice, small grainy white speckles in a dog’s feces and around their anus. These speckles are similar in appearance to small grains of rice.
Hookworms
Hookworms are passed to dogs when they ingest or come into physical contact with infected feces or soil. Since hookworms are very small and thin, it is unlikely that you will notice any worms in your dog’s stool. However, dogs with hookworm infections will almost always exhibit other symptoms. Here are some symptoms of hookworms in dogs that dog owners should look out for.
- Lethargy (may get worse as the infection progresses)
- Diarrhea (may be bloody)
- Black or tarry feces
- Weight loss
- Signs of anemia
Hookworm infections are very serious in dogs, and they are the most life threatening for puppies. As a result, you should take your dog to the vet immediately if you suspect that they have hookworms.
Whipworms
Whipworms are another intestinal parasite that is somewhat common in dogs. Whipworms are mainly transferred when the dog eats infected feces. While not extremely common, you may notice small, skinny-looking worms in dog poop when they have a whipworm infection. Some other symptoms are possible as well. These include:
- Developing a pot belly
- Signs of anemia
- Signs of dehydration
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea (may or may not contain blood or mucus)
Puppies are more susceptible to developing very severe and life threatening whipworm infections. This also means that an adult dog may not show serious signs of whipworms until the infection has become very far along.
How to Prevent Your Dog From Getting Worms
The best way to prevent your dog from getting worms is to keep them away from feces and wild animals. Places like dog parks are very common places for dogs to get worms due to the high concentration of many different dogs in one small area.
Giving your dog a monthly dewormer can help prevent certain types of worms in dogs as well. This is mainly for roundworms and hookworms.
How are Worms in Dogs Diagnosed?
Most of the time dogs are officially diagnosed with an intestinal parasite through a fecal exam. Even if the worms are not visible in your dog’s feces, vets can look for worms and eggs through a microscope. Your vet will also likely take note of any symptoms of a parasitic infection that your dog has.
How are Worms in Dogs Treated?
Parasitic infections in dogs are treated with a dewormer medication most of the time. Special dewormers may be necessary depending on the type of parasite and the severity of the infection.
Can an Intestinal Parasite be Life Threatening in Dogs?
Yes, intestinal parasitic infections can become life threatening to dogs when left untreated. This is especially true for young puppies and dogs with suppressed immune systems.
If you live in the Fort Washington, Maryland area and have found worms in dog poop from your dogs, reach out to Indian Head Animal Hospital. Our expert veterinarians can diagnose, treat, and prevent parasites in dogs including worms, fleas, ticks, and more. Give us a call today at (301) 292-1150, or Request an Appointment Online.
