Intestinal Worms

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.

There are four common types of intestinal worms in dogs, they are: roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. The symptoms of each type of worm vary, as does the way in which dogs can be infected.

Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and in severe cases even death are just some of the symptoms a dog can experience from a worm infestation.

Common worms are controllable with a routine worming treatment for puppies. Tèarmannair puppies are wormed every two weeks until twelve weeks of age. You will need to continue worming your puppy monthly until six months of age. After six months all dogs need to be wormed every three months for effective protection.

What are intestinal Worms

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 mouth parts 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.

How Do Dogs 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.

Symptoms of Worms

So, what are the signs your dog has worms? Here’s a handy list to help you spot worm symptoms:

With hookworm, the diarrhoea is often bloody, while one of the symptoms of whipworms in dogs may be diarrhoea with mucus. So, if your puppy has diarrhoea, worms may be present and you should speak with your vet.
Bloated Stomach: A pot belly is one of the most common symptoms of worms in puppies.
Itchy Bottom: One potential sign of worms in dogs is rubbing their bottom on the ground. Some types of worms make that area itchy and this is the only way a dog can scratch that itch. An itchy bottom can also be caused by other problems too, so either way, it’s a sign that it’s time to see your vet.
No symptoms: It is important to note that sometimes there are no symptoms at all. For example, typically there are no tapeworm symptoms in dogs. So how do you know if your dog has tapeworms, or any other worm? In some instances, the only way to know is an examination by your vet. For this reason, a regular checkup is essential.