If you are wondering if your dog has worms then you probably have one or both of these questions in mind… How do I know if my dog has worms? How to treat worms in dogs?
There are several types of worms that dogs can and do get. However, the two that you are likely to encounter most often are the roundworms and tapeworms. But it is VERY important to the health of your dog to get rid of ANY type of worms it may have.
Roundworms are typically the ones you will commonly find the most in dogs. They generally look like small white pieces of string up to 7 inches in length. They live in the small intestines and stomach of the dog, and can become so concentrated that they may even block the passages.
It is relatively easy for them to be spread from one dog to another. A female may lay 200,000 eggs in a single day and the eggs can live for months or years in the soil. And the speed by which they can multiply is one of the reasons why it was assumed in the past that puppies were actually born with round worms. Although that has since been proven to be false.
Tapeworms are nasty little things that also live in the small intestines of your pet. Their size varies from less than an inch up to several feet in length. It fastens to the wall by hooks and suckers on its head. The body is composed of segments that contain the egg packets. In order to cure tapeworm infection, the head has to be destroyed. If that isn’t done the worm will continue to regenerate.
The body segments containing the eggs are passed in the feces. When they are fresh the segments are moist and about a quarter of an inch in length, and have the ability to move. Sometimes you can see them crawling through the fur near your dog’s anus. They look very much like kernels of rice when they are dry, and you may find them around areas where your dog sits or lays a lot. Some dogs will also experience anal itching from them.
There are quite a variety of symptoms that can appear when a dog has any type of worms, so anything you notice outside of the ordinary should be examined. Your dog’s behavior or appearance may change in different ways. Worms may also be seen in the vomit or in the feces. They will usually appear to be something like white earthworms, strings, or moving strands of spaghetti. Any of these things should be addressed by a visit to your vet. An infested dog can become very unhealthy and unhappy quite quickly.
It is also possible for worms to kill a dog if they are left untreated. It is much better to be safe than sorry if you suspect your furry friend might have worms or if you know it has been in contact with other dogs that do have worms.
Worms in dogs are usually very easy to get rid of and relatively inexpensive to treat, so there is NO excuse for leaving them untreated! A simple call to your vet will get your pet started on the path back to great health.