Dog Worms Q&A: Everything You (Didn’t) Want to Know

Worms in dogs–it’s not a topic for weak stomachs. Worms are parasites that live inside your dog’s body. Any dog can get worms, even your adorable pup that gives you little kisses and shares the bed with you. So it’s probably best if you know what you’re dealing with, what to look for, and how to prevent your dog from getting worms in the first place.

Our dog worm Q&A will answer every question you might have about these parasites.

Q: What kind of worms do dogs get? 

A: The four most common intestinal worms that dogs get are hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and whipworms. But there’s also another internal parasite that can be very dangerous for dogs–heartworms. 

Intestinal worms: Depending on which type they are, they could live in different places along the intestinal tract.  The four main types of intestinal worms in dogs are:

Hookworms: These parasites are shorter than an inch long, but they look like they came out of a horror movie, with big, round mouths and hook-shaped teeth. They attach themselves in a dog’s small intestine and feed on blood, which can cause all sorts of problems, from inflammation and stomach ulcers to anemia. Puppies get them more often than adult dogs, and they can even be fatal.

Tapeworms: You might notice tiny rice-like worm segments moving around or dried up near your dog’s rear end. These are just small segments of the whole worm, and they contain eggs. A tapeworm can grow up to 8 inches long and also attaches and feeds on blood in a dog’s small intestine. This can cause anemia and stomach upset in adult dogs, and the symptoms can be worse for puppies.

Roundworms: If you’re looking to see a worm coming from your dog, this is the one that’s most visible and actually looks like a worm on the way out. Puppies often get them, but you may not see any signs. With bigger infections of roundworms, your pup may have a potbelly tummy, diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss. And you might see worms up to a couple inches long in their poop or vomit. Not a pretty sight.

Whipworms: These parasites are the most frustrating of all the types of worms. Their eggs can live for 5 years in the environment, and it’s pretty difficult to diagnose a dog with whipworms. A stool sample could come up negative for worms, but your dog could still have whipworms because it takes a while for the eggs to be laid and shed from the body. Again, you might not see any signs, but whipworms can cause intestinal irritation, bloody diarrhea, and even death in severe cases.

Heartworms: Like their name states, heartworms live mostly in a dog’s heart, but they can also live in their lungs. If these organs become infested, a dog can develop heartworm disease, which can take a long time to treat, can wreak havoc on a dog’s body, and can be fatal. It’s best to keep your dog on year-round prevention than to have to deal with heartworm disease.

Q: How do dogs get worms? 

A: The way a dog becomes infected depends on the type of worm. Here are the most common ways along with which worms use each method:

From mother to puppy: Puppies can get roundworms from their mothers through the placenta, and they can get either roundworms or hookworms from nursing. 

Eating or licking another animal’s poop: If an infected animal sheds eggs from roundworms, hookworms, or whipworms in their stool, and your dog licks or eats it, that’s a surefire way for your pup to become infected, too.

Eating, sniffing, or licking infected soil or grass: These same eggs that are passed through an animal’s poop can lie in wait in the soil or grass. They can survive anywhere from a few weeks to up to 5 years! 

Grooming: If your dog ingests a flea when they lick their coat, they could get tapeworms. They could also ingest roundworm eggs from licking them off their fur while grooming.

Eating a rodent, bird, or other infected animal: When a wild animal or even an insect ingests worm eggs, they don’t hatch until a dog eats that animal. Then the eggs start growing into larvae and adult worms.

Q: How do you know if your dog has worms? 

A: Sometimes, there won’t be any signs, and you won’t know. That’s why it’s important to do regular stool sample tests with your vet during your dog’s routine exams. When it gets to the point of infestation, you may notice these signs:

• Acting tired or having low energy levels
• Diarrhea (could be bloody)
• No appetite
• Pale gums
• Scooting
• Licking or biting their rear end
• Small rice-like worms under the tail
• Weight loss
• Dark stools
• Worms in your dog’s poop or vomit
• Potbelly (in puppies)

Q: What do worms look like in dog poop?

A: You can’t rely on worms showing up in your dog’s poop, since that will only sometimes happen, and only with certain worms. 

• Roundworms: You may be able to see roundworms, which look like spaghetti. 
• Tapeworms: With tapeworms, you would see very small rice-like white segments, but usually near your dog’s rear end. They could be moving or dried up. 
• Whipworms: It’s not likely for you to spot whipworms in your dog’s stool, but they would look like thin pieces of thread.
• Hookworms: It’s also almost impossible to spot hookworms. They would look like white or reddish-brown strings if so.

Q: Can humans get worms from dogs?

A: Yes, unfortunately, you can get roundworms and hookworms from your dog. 

With roundworms, you shouldn’t have a problem if you wash your hands regularly. You would have to come into contact with your dog’s poop, maybe from cleaning up after them, and then you would have to touch your mouth. Or, your dog could have just groomed themselves down there, or eaten or licked infected poop, and then given you a surprise kiss.

Now, with hookworms, you can get those just from going barefoot where the ground has infected stool on it. 

It’s very rare to get whipworms from dogs, and to get tapeworms, you’d have to eat a flea.

Q: How do you get rid of worms in dogs?

A: The one foolproof way to get rid of all worms that might be infecting your pup is the standard dewormer from your veterinarian. After your dog has been dewormed, just make sure you keep them on their monthly flea and tick preventative. Most of these also protect your pet from certain types of worms also. And not having fleas means not getting tapeworms. 

Be sure to follow your vet’s protocol for regular exams, stool sample checks, and giving dewormers. Puppies and dogs that like to hunt or scavenge may need more regular deworming.