How do I know if my dog needs to be dewormed? A Comprehensive Guide

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How do I know whether my dog has worms?

A mature dog will usually not show any signs of worms. You may be able to find pieces of the worms in its faeces or vomit. Pups may suffer from diarrhoea and respiratory problems. Their stomachs may get inflated even though the rest of their body remains skinny. If your dog is suffering from tapeworm, you can find segments of these worms in the faeces; they look like grains of rice. Not sure whether your dog is suffering worm infection? Consult your vet.

Symptoms Of Dog Worms

It is important for dog owners to be on the lookout for symptoms of worms, because by the time your canine friend displays signs of infestation, he or she is usually already well along in the process. Some of the most common symptoms of worms in dogs are:

  • Weight loss accompanied by a marked increase or decrease in appetite
  • Distended abdomen, or ‘pot-bellied’ appearance
  • Lethargy
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea/chronic soft stools
  • Chronic coughing
  • Dulling of coat and/or hair loss accompanied by skin irritation/inflammation
  • Rubbing or dragging the hindquarters across the ground
  • Visible presence of segments of tapeworms in dogs attached to the skin and fur around the anus/hind quarters area
  • Visible presence of roundworms in dogs in infected stool, like tiny grains of rice

    • These symptoms of worms in dogs can also indicate other illnesses, so we recommend contacting your veterinarian immediately if you suspect or witness any of these symptoms of worms in dogs in your canine friend.

    Tapeworms In Dogs

    Tapeworms in dogs most commonly come from ingesting a host animal or object that contains tapeworm eggs. Tapeworms attach themselves to a dog’s small intestine by latching onto the wall with a sharp, hook-like oral cavity. Dogs that spend time outdoors are at an increased risk of contracting tapeworms, as the contraction and infestation process demonstrates:

  • Tapeworm eggs are attached to flea larvae through locational contact
  • A dog comes into contact with the host flea larvae through skin or oral contact
    • If skin contact, the dog bites and licks to combat the biting flea, which can cause an ingestion of the tapeworm eggs, which will become tapeworms
    • If oral contact, the dog swallows the flea in its entirety, and the digestion process turns the flea into a tapeworm in the intestines

    • Tapeworms in dogs feed off of partially digested food in the intestines, which robs a dog of much needed nutrients and vitamins (at the least). Therefore, it is extremely important to understand how to spot tapeworms in dogs so that should your canine friend become a host, he or she will not stay that way for long:

  • Dried segments of tapeworms in dogs, approximately ⅛ – 1/16” should be visibly apparent around the anus, or stuck to the fur of a host dog’s hindquarters. They should be hard to the touch, and golden in color.

    • We recommend contacting your veterinarian immediately should you suspect or witness any symptoms of tapeworms in dogs. There are very effective forms of oral and injectible medications we can prescribe, but arresting and intervening in the early stages of an infestation greatly improves the prognosis for a full recovery.

    How to tell if your dog has worms

    Worms: not the most pleasant subject. And yet it is important to keep an eye on these parasites, especially if you are a dog owner. Dogs can be greatly affected by worms. This makes deworming your dog an absolute necessity!

    Worms are nasty parasites that can cause chronic gastrointestinal problems. This is why it is important to deworm your dog regularly. This contributes to your dog’s health. Puppies that are not dewormed may get ill and suffer from growth retardation. In addition, some worms can infect both humans and dogs.