Symptoms of Dog Worms

Dog worms can not only make your dog very ill but also if left unchecked can result in death. That’s why it important to learn how to spot the symptoms of dog worms so we can get them treated as soon as possible.

If you suspect your dog has worms please take him or her to your vet immediately, even if you aren’t sure it’s better to be safe then sorry, especially when it could mean life or death for your furry best friend.

Symptoms of Dog Worms to watch out for include a dulled fur coat, appetite loss and weight loss, coughing, fatigue or lower energy than usual, diarrhoea, vomiting and a pot belly.  Each kind of dog worm requires a different type of treatment and there are five different varieties your dog can get. Of these varieties, two can be transmitted to humans. These are Roundworm and Hookworm. Not all symptoms are severe and not all worms can be seen so it’s vital to get your dog regularly checked for worms as part of their normal veterinary routine.

So how can we prevent worms attacking in the first place?

1. When taking your dog for walks, disposing of your dogs faeces properly not only helps us enjoy our landscape, but can help prevent the spread of worms and various other diseases.

2. Always take your dog in to see the vet regularly and get regular worms testing. Your vet will be able to help you identify the symptoms of dog worms but these symptoms can also be a sign of other serious illnesses so if your dog is not behaving normally, it’s a good idea to get him looked at just in case.

3. Ensure you keep on top of your flea control. This is because fleas spread tapeworms so getting rid of fleas reduces the risk of your dog contracting tapeworm.

4. Keep your dog away from faeces, this means both their own and others. Similar to our advice on cleaning up faeces properly, encourage your dog to stay away from faeces others leave behind. Puppies especially find faeces a fascinating product so try to keep their noses out of it as much as you can.

5. Spraying your dogs usual haunts such as his sleeping area with a high concentration water and salt solution can help prevent worms.

6. Keep your dog away from stray animals as these are highly likely to carry worms.

It has long been popular belief that worms spring up from rotting vegetable matter and that puppies can contract worms form the mother whilst still in the uterus. Exactly how and why worms were not perceived as having a life cycle history I don’t know, but this has now been replaced. Scientific studies now show that worms in fact lay millions of eggs and have a complete life cycle as opposed to just “popping up”.

These eggs can be easily transferred through faeces and generally around on bedding, clothing and floors and can be quite problematic for kennels.