Worms in dogs: what you need to know

Intestinal worms in dogs can cause disease that ranges from mild to potentially fatal, particularly in young, malnourished pups. When it comes to these nasty parasites, there are a number of different types you need to be aware of. Luckily, treating and protecting your dog from worms is usually straightforward.

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in your dog’s intestines and feed off blood or other nutrients that they find there. Worms can be very unpleasant for your pooch and some can even be fatal if not treated.

 
There are four major types of worms in dogs to be aware of:

• Roundworms in dogs: Adult roundworms are long, white and spaghetti-like, and live in the intestinal tract.

• Hookworms in dogs: Much shorter than roundworms, hookworms have sharp, biting mouthparts which they use to attach to the intestinal wall to feed on blood. In severe infestations, the level of blood loss can be fatal.

• Whipworms in dogs: Whipworms are an important cause of disease, even in older dogs.  Adult whipworms live in the large intestine where their thin head burrows into the intestinal wall. 

• Tapeworms in dogs: Tapeworms do not generally cause significant signs of illness in dogs. The flea tapeworm, the most common tapeworm infesting dogs in Australia, is transmitted by fleas.  If your dog is infested you may notice them scratching or licking their bottom, and you may see worm segments in their faeces. 

Occasionally, worms (or segments of worms in the case of tapeworms) may be seen in dog faeces. In puppies with a large roundworm burden, they may even be found in vomit. However, it usually requires laboratory testing by your veterinarian to diagnose a worm infestation as worm eggs are not visible to the naked eye. The most common type of test performed is called a faecal flotation, which is used to look for worm eggs in the faeces.  This test relies on the fact that worm eggs will float when faeces is mixed with certain solutions. Faecal flotation samples are then examined under the microscope to look for eggs. Eggs of different species can look quite different.

If your dog was diagnosed with a worm infestation you may wonder, how did my dog get worms?

Dogs can get worms in many different ways, even if they are very well cared for. Here’s a few different ways that your furry friend can pick up an infestation: 

• Ingesting them: Worm eggs and larvae can be found in any environment where another dog has toileted. Your dog may simply be snuffling around some grass or dirt when they swallow the eggs. Eggs from the environment can also get stuck in fur, so a dog may become infested when grooming themselves.

• Through their skin: Dogs can become infested with hookworm when larvae in a contaminated environment penetrate the skin and migrate to the intestine.  

• Hunting: If your dog hunts or scavenges dead animals, they are at risk of becoming infested with worms.

• Fleas: You may be surprised to hear that fleas cause worms in dogs. Fleas can be infected with flea tapeworm. If your dog swallows an infected flea while grooming it could result in a flea tapeworm infestation.

• From their mother: While they can catch worms in the same way as adult dogs, puppies can also get worms from their mother. This can happen when they are in the womb, or from her milk when they are feeding.