How to tell If Your Dog Has Worms

Worms are the bane of every dog owner — creepy, crawly parasites that quietly insinuate themselves in Fluffy’s body, causing havoc and leaving devastation in their wake. Sound dramatic? Maybe. But if you have ever witnessed a dog with worms, you know it’s no trivial matter. And these parasites are not only gross, they are dangerous. And the worst part? Many dogs are entirely asymptomatic to begin with.

So why should you care? Because as a loving dog owner, understanding when to spot a worm infestation might just be the thing that saves your dog’s life. Plus, some of these worms can spread to — and infect — you. Yes, we’re talking zoonotic diseases here — worms that don’t stick to simply your furry friend’s insides.

In this dog owner’s guide, we’re going to cover how to know whether or not your dog has worms, what types of worms your four-legged friend can get, the implications worms can have for your pup, and — most importantly — how to evict them once and for all. Ready? Let’s get into it.

Understanding Worms in Dogs

What Are Dog Worms?

Let’s set the record straight: dog worms are not one type of eerie crawler. They are an entire family of parasites that freeload off your dog for food and lodging. Think of them as your pet world’s bad roommates — they wander in without any invitation, eat all your food, trash the place (that’s your house or, you know, your dog) and then wander off again.

Dog worms are parasites — organisms that feed off a host (your dog) to survive. They can lodge in other parts of your dog’s body, too — its intestines, lungs, heart, you name it. Most can be seen with the naked eye; others are microscopic, but they’re no less dangerous.

What makes worms so insidious is that they’re stealthy as hell. Most infestations begin with no symptoms. By the time you realize something is wrong, your dog could already be suffering internal damage.

How Dogs Get Infected?

Dogs can get worms in a number of ways that you might not expect — and it’s not always from eating something disgusting (though that’s one obvious source of infection).

Here are the top culprits:

• Ingesting infected feces (yep, poop-eating is a thing — especially for puppies)
• Eating raw meat or small prey animals like rodents or birds
• Flea infestations, which can transmit tapeworms
• Mosquito bites, which can carry heartworm larvae
• Contaminated soil or water, common sources of roundworms and hookworms
• Mother to puppy transmission, either through the placenta or during nursing

In other words, dogs can get worms from their environment, their food, or even their own mother. Which is why prevention needs to be an ongoing thing — not just a once-in-a-while deworming.

Different types of worms that impact dogs

Intestinal Worms

These are the most well known — and, regrettably, the most common — worms your dog may become infected with. They reside in your dog’s digestive tract, eating nutrients (or blood), and together they can cause everything from diarrhea to potentially life-threatening anemia.

Roundworms

Roundworms are the drama queens of the worm world — they’re big and obvious and impossible to overlook once they crash the party. Puppies are the most susceptible, frequently infected from birth or from their mother’s milk.

Symptoms include:

• Pot-bellied appearance
• Vomiting (often along with worms!
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Dull coat

These canines can reach several inches in length and may even be visible in your dog’s stool. The very sight of it would send many of us pet owners to the vet.

Hookworms

Small yet menacing, hookworms attach themselves to your dog’s intestinal wall and draw blood a small vampire. The real danger? These parasites can lead to significant blood loss, especially in puppies.

Symptoms include:

• Pale gums (a sign of anemia)
• Bloody or black stools
• Weakness or lethargy
• Weight loss

Left untreated, hookworms can be fatal in a young puppy. No exaggeration. This is why early detection is absolutely key.

Tapeworms

Segmented Tapeworm Segmented (tics)” parasites, tapeworms are transmitted primarily by flea bite. They take up residence in the small intestine and rob your dog of nutrients.

How you will know they are around:

• Your dog drags his butt or licks his butt Your dog is scooting or licking or doing this a lot.
• Rice-like portions around the anus or in the stool
• Vomiting once in a while, or an upset stomach at times

In this case, it’s a matter of flea control in the first place. Without doing so, tapeworms will reoccur.

Whipworms

These guys are sneaky. Whipworms occur in the large intestine and are responsible for long-standing, chronic issues.

Signs to look for:

• Frequent diarrhea that may contain mucus or blood
• Dehydration
• Sudden weight loss
• Overall unthriftiness (weakness, poor coat, etc.)

Unlike roundworms or tapeworms, whipworms may not appear in every stool sample, which makes them kind of difficult to diagnose.

Other Dangerous Parasites

Although the majority of people tend to narrow it down to one type of intestinal worms, you might want to wake up to the others — they’re equally as disgusting, if not deadlier.

Heartworms

Not only are these disgusting but they are lethal. 4) Mosquitoes transmit heartworms, the worms then reside in your dog’s heart and lungs, sustaining irreversible progressive damage if not treated in a timely manner.

Signs of heartworm disease:

• Persistent cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue from doing very little
• Weight loss
• Fainting or death (which may be sudden)

Heartworm prevention is not a choice. It’s a must — especially for us living in mosquito-friendly regions.

Lungworms

Less common — though still a threat — lungworms invade your dog’s respiratory system.

Watch out for:

• Chronic coughing or wheezing
• Breathing trouble
• Lethargy
• Nose bleeding or weight loss in severe cases

They are typically acquired from slugs, snails or contaminated water sources. Gross, right?

Giardia & Coccidia

These are not actually worms but protozoa (single-celled parasites). They take great pleasure in giving dogs explosive diarrhea, especially puppies.

Symptoms:

• Watery or mucousy diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Abdominal pain or cramping

Main sources are contaminated water or feces. Once again, puppies are most vulnerable.

Spotlight on Toxocara canis

Among round worms, Toxocara canis takes the prize — uninspiringly, not in a good way. That worm, in fact, is not just a dog, particularly a puppy, parasite, but is in fact, quite a serious health risk to humans. Oh yes — and, folks, this worm can infect humans.

Why It’s a Big Deal

Toxocara canis is transmitted in-utero or through the milk from mother to pup. Puppies who are born with this parasite are usually very pot bellied, very stunted, and have digestive problems. The adult worms, which look like spaghetti, can be found in vomit or feces — a troubling sight for any pet guardian.

But the really scary part is that the eggs of Toxocara canis can live in dirt for years. And then if the feces isn’t cleaned up properly, let’s say a dog poops in your front yard, then all of a sudden your yard becomes a long-term hazard for dogs and for humans.

How It Affects Humans?

Humans, especially children, can become infected by the worm when they eat something that has been in contact with the contaminated soil or after accidentally ingesting the contaminated soil or touching an objects that had come into contact with infected dog feces. Once inside the body, the larvae can travel to different organs — a situation called visceral larva migrans. If they reach the eyes, they can produce ocular larva migrans, which in severe cases results in vision loss.

That’s why hygiene — washing your hands after touching soil, feces or dogs — is so key. It helps explain why regular deworming and a clean environment are far more important than many pet owners may realize.

Symptoms of Worms in Dogs

Parasitic worms are a stealthy, creepy, yet entirely accurate source of illness in many dogs, or at least that’s the perception people have when the topic of worms comes up: You don’t necessarily need to see evidence of worms oozing from your dog’s rectum to suspect something’s up. The secret is to recognize these early warning signs before they lead to a full-fledged relapse. Let’s break them down.

Visible and Behavioral Signs

Certain signs are easier to detect. For instance:

• Worms in the stool or vomit: This is the most immediate evidence. When you do, if it contains something that looks like rice (tapeworms), or spaghetti (roundworms), it’s time to alert the vet.
• Scooting: Dogs dragging their rear end across the ground may have irritation due to worms.
• Lick or bite around the anus: Very often a symptom of discomfort, thank often accompanied by tapeworms.
• Pot-bellied: Seen regularly in puppies, especially when roundworm is present.
• Weight loss with normal appetite: So, your dog is eating well but she’s wasting away? There may be worms that are siphoning off nutrients.
• Flat coat or hair loss: Your dog is robbed of vital nutrients by parasites, and you can see the effects in your dog’s coat.

Internal Symptoms and Complications

Symptoms inside the body can be a little trickier but no less informative:

• Diarrhea (including some blood): Typical for whipworms, hookworms and protozoa infections such as Giardia.
• Vomiting: Not just food — real worms, too on occasion.
• Lethargy or low energy: Your dog may appear “off,” sleep more than normal, or tire easily during walks.
• Pale gums: A sign of anemia, especially with hookworm or severe infestations.
• Coughing: This is no ordinary cold — it may be that heartworms or lungworms have settled in and are feeling right at home.
• Difficulty breathing : Very serious when comes from heartworms or lungworms.
• Abdominal pain: Your dog may cry or yelp when handled or manipulated near her belly.
• Seizures (in very rare cases): This happens when worms have moved into the brain or nervous system.

If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait. The longer the worms stay in your cat’s system, the more harm they cause.

Visiting the Vet: What to Expect

Fine, so you see some red flags. Now what? It’s time to bring your furry friend to the vet. But before you dash out the door, a bit of preparation can help ensure a quick and accurate diagnosis.

How to Collect a Stool Sample?

Yup, you will need to carry poop. As unsexy as it may sound, dropping off a stool sample at your vet’s office is often the fastest way to determine if a dog has worms. Here’s how to do it properly:

• Use gloves: Safety first. Remember also to wear gloves to prevent contamination.
• Collect a sample: A lot of vets will provide you with some kind of special container into which the stool can be placed, but if they don’t, use something you know is clean and sealable.
• Gather a new sample: You want something in the vicinity of a tablespoon. For accurate testing freshness is very important.
• Label the container: Put your dog’s name and the date on it.
• Refrigerate (if needed): Can’t make it to the vet immediately? Keep it in your fridge (NOT your freezer) until you can.

What to Tell Your Veterinarian?

When you’re at the clinic, your vet will ask some questions. Be ready to talk about:

• Your dog’s symptoms: When did they begin? How often are they occurring?
• Diet and appetite: Has your dog been eating normally?
• Behavioral changes: Lethargy? Scooting? Restlessness?
• Exposure risk: Have you exposed your dog to other animals? At the park? Eaten wild prey?
• History of deworming: When was the last deworming? They gave you what to inject with?
• Flea and tick control: The many ways fleas and ticks can lead to tapeworms — don’t skip this detail.

The more data you can supply your vet, the sooner you’ll receive answers — and a treatment protocol.

Diagnosing Worms in Dogs

Veterinarians also use a handful of tests to screen for parasites — some low key, others more advanced.

Fecal Exams

This is the heart and soul of parasite diagnosis. A fecal flotation test will be performed to check for parasite eggs in the stool, and a sample of stool is mixed in a special solution that makes any parasite eggs present float to the top. These eggs are then observed under the microscope.

Based on what they observe, your vet can narrow down just exactly which kind of worm it is: roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, or protozoa such as Giardia.

Blood Test and Imaging

For heartworms and some more advanced infections, a fecal test is not sufficient.

• Heartworm antigen screenings: These tests look for adult female heartworms in the bloodstream.
• Microfilaria tests: Helps to detect baby heartworms as they are circulating in the blood.
• X-rays or ultrasounds: May be used to see lung or heart problems that are a result of parasitic infections such as heartworm or lungworm.
• PCR testing: This test is high-tech and very accurate, particularly helpful when standard fecal tests are inconclusive.

After diagnosing the problem, your vet will explain the correct treatment — and it’s important to follow through with the full course, even if the symptoms resolve prematurely.

Treatment Options for Worms

Learning that your dog has worms may be unsettling, but don’t panic — treatment is usually easy, especially if you catch it early. Many parasites are treatable through medication, and your vet will develop a plan based on the type and extent of infestation.

Deworming Medications

Let’s talk wormers. These are the standard treatments for most infestations and come in a few different forms: tablets, liquids, topical treatments and even injections. Some are broad-spectrum — in other words, they kill multiple parasites — or targeted.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most popular choices:

• Pyrantel pamoate: Active against ascarids and hookworms. It’s commonly part of puppy deworming schedules and is fine for puppies to use.
• Praziquantel: For tapeworms only. It’s generally delivered by mouth or by injection, and begins killing the worms rapidly.
• Fenbendazole Flex Dewormer: Deworms many different things such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms (and some claim it also kills Giardia).
• Milbemycin oxime and ivermectin: Both are found in heartworm preventatives and treatment plans.
• Melarsomine: Injectable medication that kills adult heartworms. Only under very strict veterinary supervision, as it has some potentially severe side-effects.

How It Works

The majority of dewormers either paralyze the worms or dissolve them so that they can be passed in the feces. You can expect to see dead worms in your dog’s stool; this is a good thing.

But one round of deworming isn’t always sufficient. For some parasites, it may be necessary for a second or even third dose to completely destroy newly hatched larvae. That’s why getting the timing right, just like your vet’s, is so crucial.

Managing Severe Cases

In more advanced infestations, treatment might enter the oral realm as something other than pills.

• IV fluids: Given to dogs that are dehydrated from diarrhea or vomiting.
• Nutrition: Dogs that have lost weight or strength may need high-calorie foods or supplements.
• Replacement of lost blood: In severe anemia, generally as a result of hookworm infestation.
• Corticosteroids: Occasionally administered to control inflammation, especially when treating heartworm.

Your vet may also prescribe follow-up fecal tests to monitor the parasites are gone. Don’t skip these — it takes only a few leftover eggs to start the whole cycle over again.

Preventing Worms in Dogs

Face it — it’s so much less work to prevent a problem than to deal with it. And cheaper, too. A regular deworming and parasite prevention routine will save you a world of heartache (and vet bills) in the future.

Regular Deworming Schedule

Regular deworming is the foundation of worm control. It’s especially important for puppies, though just as important for adult dogs.

Here’s a general schedule:

• Puppies: 2 to 3 weeks of age, until they reach 12 weeks. Then monthly up to the age of 6 months.
• Adult Dogs: At 3-6 month intervals (and at your vet’s discretion), taking into account your dog’s lifestyle, exposure risk and advice from your vet.
• Pregnant/lactating dogs: Treat prior to mating, after whelping, and during lactation to prevent transmission of parasites to puppies.

You might need to deworm more often if your dog is exposed to other animals regularly (in dog parks, kennels or on farms, for example).

Flea and Tick Prevention

This one’s a biggie. Tapeworm carriers Fleas don’t just make you itch — they’re also the primary vessel of tapeworms. So if you’re forgoing flea control, then you’re giving tapeworms a free ride to your dog’s gut.

Tips:

• Apply a vet-approved monthly flea/tick preventative (topical, oral, or collars).
• Treat your home and yard for fleas if there’s an infestation.
• Wash your dog’s bedding frequently, and vacuum high-traffic areas.

Bonus: many of the flea preventatives we recommend also guard against mites and lice — game changers for your dog’s health.

Hygienic And Environmental Measures

Want to avoid worms? Cleanliness is key. Parasite eggs can live in the environment for months, biding their time to try to infect your dog (or, in some cases, even you). Here’s how to fight back:

• Pick up the poop straightaway: Don’t get mired in, or hasten to, your house where it can contaminate the soil.
• Prevent your dog from consuming poop: Coprophagia is disgusting and harmful.
• Don’t allow them to drink from puddles, or ingest dead animals.”
• Wash your hands after touching pets, poop or soil.
• Empty and wash water bowls every day and do not share between dogs.

Plus, be 100% sure to disinfect crates, food dishes and high-traffic areas to lower chances of being exposed to larvae or eggs.

Home Care After Deworming

So your dog has been treated — what now? Recovery doesn’t end when the last pill is swallowed. Your pup still needs some TLC to get back to top form.

What to Expect Post-Treatment?

Some dogs come back to life after deworming. readLine Others, particularly if the infestation was heavy, may need a few days of rest and observation.” Here’s what you might notice:

• Mild diarrhea or vomiting: This can be a reaction to the medication, or the worms dying and being expelled.
• Lethargy: Some dogs feel “not right” for 1-2 days.
• Appetite: Your dog may seem hungrier since the worms aren’t stealing nutrients anymore.

Keep your dog hydrated, and keep an eye on his poop. You may also notice dead worms in the stool — gross, but perfectly normal.

How to Support Recovery?

If your dog has digestive upset, you can feed her a bland diet (boiled chicken and rice) for a few days.

• Provide free choice clean water.
• Do not pursue activity with your dog, especially if your dog is recuperating from heartworms.
• Support gut health with probiotics, particularly after a heavy worm burden.
• If your dog’s symptoms continue or others appear, follow up with your vet.

Recovery may take a week or more, depending on severity of the infestation. Just be patient and your dog will be back to their normal, bouncy self in no time.

Worms in Puppies vs Dogs

All dogs can eat worms, but puppies? They’re at the highest risk. Their immune systems are not yet fully formed, and many are born infected.

Why Puppies Are At Greater Risk?

Puppies can acquire worms:

• Before they’re even born.
• Through mother’s milk
• By soiling the environment as they explore it

Their small bodies can’t tolerate the worm load the way that adults can. Other symptoms of heavy infestations in puppies include:

• Stunted growth
• Severe anemia
• Dehydration
• Death (in extreme cases)

Adult Dogs: Still at Risk

Adult dogs aren’t immune. Though they may better tolerate infestations, they can and do become chronically ill, experiencing diarrhea, weight loss and lethargy — if left untreated.

That’s why we will need lifelong prevention. It’s not a one-time fix; it’s a continuing responsibility.

Can Worms Spread to Humans?

Here is the real truth that most dog owners out there probably don’t want to know — yes, some of those dog worms can be contracted by people. It’s not that common. It’s not, you know, one in five times common, but it’s more common than you’d think, especially in households with young kids, old people, or anyone with a weakened immune system.

Worms You Can Catch from Your Pets

The primary culprits include:

• Toxocara canis (roundworms): The eggs of this parasite can hatch and the larvae then migrate through tissues of humans resulting in visceral larva migrans (affecting organs) or ocular larva migrans (impacts vision).
• Hookworms: Larvae can cross through human skin, usually through bare feet, to cause an infection known as cutaneous larva migrans. It causes a maddening, serpentine rash under the skin.
• Worms include Giardia and Coccidia (protozoa): Not technically worms, these types of intestinal parasites can cause serious diarrhea in humans, particularly in children.
• Tapeworms: Infrequent, but can be acquired by humans swallowing infected fleas.

How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe?

“Zoonotic” infections can be avoided simply by some good hygiene and common sense. Here’s what to do:

• After being with pets or cleaning up after them, wash hands with soap and running water.
• Clean up dog feces immediately, and don’t walk barefoot in pastures where dogs have pooped.
• Watch for dogs licking your face, especially children.
• Control fleas rigorously.
• Stay diligent with your dog’s deworming schedule.

Also remind children never to touch dog poop or put dirty fingers in their mouths when they come back inside after playing outdoors. “It really is a small bit of caution that can have a very great deal of benefit.

Diet and Immunity Support

Here’s what not enough dog owners talk about: A healthy diet and robust immune system can help your dog fend off worms. Nutrition alone won’t prevent an infestation, but it can help make your dog less susceptible — and help them recover more quickly if it becomes infested.

Foods That Boost Immunity

Types of food that can help inhibit cancer You might also want to consider incorporating some of the following natural options into your dog’s diet (with your vet’s supervision):

• Pumpkin seeds: Have natural anti-parasitic properties (especially against tapeworms), being abundant in cucurbitacin that makes worms unable to move.
• Carrots and beets: Aid in the purification of the digestive tract.
• Coconut oil: It has antimicrobial qualities.
• Probiotic– rich foods: Such as unflavoured yogurt or dog-appropriate probiotics supplements for gut support.
• Bone broth: Enhances hydration and nutrient delivery during recovery.

Avoiding Risky Foods

Some foods place your dog at higher risk for parasites:

• Raw meat or fish: Can contain tapeworms or flukes.
• Garbage and dead animals: It’s full of dangerous bacteria and parasites.
• Dirty fruit and vegetables: If the soil it was grown in was contaminated, it might contain roundworm eggs.

A well-balanced, high quality diet recommended by your vet will always be your dog’s best defense — second only to you should always consult your vet about what is right for your dog Mother Nature and proper veterinary care.

When to contact the vet straight away?

Some symptoms of worm are severe. If your dog displays any of the following symptoms, it’s time to stop searching the internet and head to the vet ASAP:

Emergency Symptoms:

• Excessive vomiting or diarrhea (especially with blood)
• Visible worms in vomit or stool
• Lethargy or collapse
• Pale gums (sign of anemia)
• Coughing or difficulty breathing that won’t go down
• Swollen, painful abdomen
• Rapid weight loss and dog hungry all the time
• Convulsions or fitful movements

Speed is of the essence, especially with a young puppy or old dog. Internal worm damage can progress rapidly and a failure to treat in time can be deadly — especially in the case of hookworms or heartworms.

Conclusion

Worms are more than just gross — they’re a major canine health threat to your dog and even to you. Whether it’s rambunctious puppy roundworms or heartworms silently causing internal havoc in an older dog, identifying and treating these parasites early can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a life-threatening illness.

Remember:

• Stay on top of your deworming!
• Flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives are a must.
• Keep an eye out for the signs — even the small ones.
• Maintain hygiene for you and your pup.
• And when in doubt, call the vet.

Your dog can’t talk to you to tell you when they’re in pain — however, their body can spout all the clues you’ll ever need. Just pay attention, make an effort, and you’ll both be better off.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)