Dog Worms: What Worms Are And Where They Hide

You may be surprised to discover how common canine worms are in the environment. In fact, some sources say most Dogs – even healthy ones – almost always have a low worm count. After all, your dog goes outside, may occasionally ingest problematic substances, and may roll around in smelly areas. Are from dog worms often in the dirt, or being carried by fleas or mosquitoes, you may find it unsurprising that your dog may be infected with worms.

What you may find surprising is that your dog may have these parasites curled up in their intestines and they may not show any symptoms of illness. However, a bad case of worms will make the dog anorexic or lethargic.

Types of dog worms

There are five types of worms for Dogs. These include hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms. If your dog has one of these worms, your veterinarian will confirm it by evaluating your dog’s stool or blood sample and recommending appropriate treatment.

Hookworms

This common parasite has hook-like teeth, which is the name. They attach themselves to the dog’s intestinal lining and lay thousands of eggs within a few days. Your dog can easily contract hookworms by walking through wet lawns or contaminated soil.

Roundworm

Roundworms can be found in contaminated soil and feces, both of which some Dogs like to eat. They are also found in most newborn puppies. Breast milk transmits roundworms, and almost every puppy’s health check includes a deworming procedure. These canine worms can cause serious infections if left untreated. Symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, and a swollen abdomen among other problems.

Tapeworms

If you have an image of an extremely long worm, you are correct. Tapeworms are segmented and you can see segments in the dog’s hair around the anus. They may look like grains of rice. One of the most common ways they are transmitted is through vermin. Fleas swallow worm larvae; Your dog may ingest fleas, and thus tapeworms, during self-grooming. Tapeworm eggs can also live in infected soil. So your dog can eat them by licking his paws after a walk. Many Dogs will show no symptoms of a tapeworm infection, although others will experience abdominal pain, vomiting, and other symptoms.

worms

Like tapeworms, flagellates can also live in infected soil. Your dog may lick the ground or stick his nose in it – we’ve all seen that happen. Your dog may also pick up some soil in his food or water dish. This worm can lead to serious diarrheaThat’s always a sign to call your vet.

Heartworms

You’re probably used to prescribing a monthly heartworm medication. These are extremely dangerous substances if left untreated because they fill up the dog’s heart and lung areas. Since infected mosquitoes are quite common, it’s important to keep your prescription up to date and make sure Max has the full monthly dose. Unlike the other worms described, heartworms are detected through blood teststhis will be necessary before starting any heartworm prevention regimen.

How to protect you and your dog from dogworms

As you can see, it’s hard for your dog to avoid worms completely. Worms tend to live in dirt or are transmitted by fleas or mosquitoes, so your dog is likely exposed to them under any circumstances. To protect your dog and your home, you can clean your dog’s paws when you walk home. Even just a quick wipe with a damp cloth can help reduce your dog’s and home’s exposure to larvae. Also, always wash your hands thoroughly after petting your dog to avoid spreading the disease to you.

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