Worms In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Worms in dogs are an uncomfortable idea. And they can have serious consequences! We have tips on symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

Worms in dogs make you shudder? If you have a dog, you should overcome your worm phobia (or anthelmophobia in technical terms) very quickly. Because just like fleas and ticks, worms are among the parasites that infest dogs with unpleasant regularity.

Find out here how to recognize worms in dogs, what types of worms there are and what symptoms the parasites can cause in dogs. We also reveal what treatment the vet is likely to use to drive the creeps away.

Worms in dogs: what does that actually mean?

If one speaks of worms in dogs, the worms are not romping about happily in the fur. Rather, in most cases, worm infestation affects the intestines of dogs. Rarely, the heart, lungs, or liver can also be affected by worms.

Worms are relatively common in dogs. They belong to the so-called endoparasites. This type of parasite enters and feeds on the body of a larger animal (called the host). That alone is not a nice idea. To top it off: Yes, there are even worms that can be transmitted from dogs to humans. But so that you don’t also get an anthelmophobia: The risk of infection is rather low. And dogs usually easily put away a worm infestation with timely treatment, ideally by the veterinarian.

What types of worms are there in dogs?

Welcome to the Chamber of Secrets. There are many worms as parasites in the animal world. And each worm species apparently has its preferences as to which host it likes to choose as a new home. Unfortunately, these worms feel particularly comfortable in dogs:

• roundworms

These roundworms are among the most common worms in dogs in Germany. Infection occurs mainly by the dog (unknowingly) eats the worm eggs or larvae in the feces or soil.
cucumber tapeworms
These parasites belong to the tapeworms and are the most common type of tapeworm in dogs in Germany. The intermediate hosts are mostly fleas, which are the first nest in the dog’s fur. If the dog eats or swallows the affected fleas, the cucumber tapeworm will spread to the dog’s intestines.

• More tapeworms

Other tapeworms are generally rare in Germany. A worm infestation is still possible. The most notable of these is the thick-necked tapeworm. This affects small intermediate hosts such as rats and mice. When dogs eat affected rodents (or their droppings), the worms enter the intestines.
The dog tapeworm is also worth mentioning. This occurs very rarely in Germany, but more frequently in southern Europe. Infection is possible when the dog eats raw innards of the intermediate hosts (even-toed ungulates and odd-toed ungulates) or comes into contact with contaminated feces and soil.

• hookworms

Hookworms are very small worms that spread via eggs or larvae in feces or soil.

• heartworms

These parasites spread mainly through certain mosquitoes in the Mediterranean. The larvae are transferred into the bloodstream during the sting and migrate to the heart chambers and other organs. There they develop into adult worms. Due to climate change, the habitat of these mosquito species is shifting towards Central Europe.

• lungworms

Lungworms use snails and small rodents in particular as intermediate hosts. If these are eaten by dogs, the larvae can get into the lungs. There they then grow into worms.
whipworms
The eggs of this worm species are considered to be very robust and can even survive for several years in the wild.

Symptoms of worms in the gastrointestinal tract

The typical symptoms and consequences of a worm infestation in the gastrointestinal tract include:

• Vomit
• (bloody) diarrhea or constipation
• a disturbed metabolic cycle, which e.g. B. expressed by dull fur
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• dizzy spells
• itching in the anal area. This is particularly noticeable when the dog scratches a lot there or
• slides its bottom over the floor (the so-called “sledding”).
• bloated “worm belly” in case of massive infestation

Symptoms of lung and heartworm

If your dog becomes infected with worms such as lungworm or heartworm, organs such as the heart and lungs are particularly affected. Typical symptoms here are:

• Cough
• shortness of breath
• fainting spells and drowsiness
• heart failure

The dangerous thing about a worm infestation is that affected dogs sometimes show no symptoms at all for a while. Adult and healthy dogs in particular have a very good immune system. This alleviates symptoms. However, this also makes early detection of the infestation more difficult. And the later the treatment by the veterinarian can begin. However, if the worms are not discovered and combated, this can lead to permanent damage to the dogs in the long term.

How dangerous are worms in dogs?

The good news first: In most cases, dogs can initially cope with a worm infestation without any problems. The bad news: If an infestation with the parasites is not treated, it can have a negative impact on the health of the dogs. Puppies in particular are healthier affected by worm infestation. Therefore, you should not underestimate an infection with worms in your dog.

Depending on the type of worm, different organs are affected when infested. Most of the worms attack the gastrointestinal tract of the dog. Here the uninvited guests feed on blood and can cause considerable damage.

How dangerous are worms for puppies?

Puppies are particularly at risk from worms. They are often infected through mother’s milk since certain types of worms are spread that way. These include roundworms. Plus, puppies have been known to stick their snouts everywhere and gobble everything up. The risk of infection is, therefore, higher for them.

Since a worm infestation in puppies can lead to serious health problems and even death, all young dogs should be dewormed regularly by the vet. Hookworms and other nasty conspecifics have significantly worse chances of settling down permanently.

Why does the dog get worms?

Depending on the type of worm, there are different ways in which the uninvited parasites spread in the dog. The transmission always occurs when worm eggs or worm larvae get inside the dog’s body. Worm eggs of some worm species are extraordinarily resilient. They can survive in the wild for several months or even over a year.

Worms in dogs: transmission and contagion

These transmissions of worms are possible:

• feces

So that the parasites can multiply, they lay their eggs or larvae in the intestines in the feces of the animals. If this is excreted and eaten by other dogs or sniffed intensively, they end up in the intestines of the next dog. What is particularly insidious here is that the droppings do not even have to be eaten. Even contact with the snout can lead to an infestation.
The same applies to traces of excrement, for example on the shoe, which is carried into the house and sniffed by the dog. Infection is also possible when the dog licks its fur, in which there are residues of feces with eggs.
To make the whole worm thing even more difficult, it is also possible for worm eggs to be completely washed out of the feces by rain or in bodies of water. In the wild, these stick almost invisibly to bushes or on the ground and can be ingested by dogs.

• prey animals

Of course, this should not happen with a well-behaved house dog. But especially with hunting dogs, it can happen that they eat the intermediate hosts of worms like rodents. And even a well-behaved dog can easily swallow a snail.

• lining

Certain types of worms are spread through raw dog food. This includes the offal of the intermediate hosts. You have to be careful here, especially when barfing.

• puppies

Some types of worms can be passed from mother dogs to their babies through breast milk. If a pregnant dog becomes infected with worms, the unborn puppies can also become infected.

• fleas and mosquitoes

Transmission by fleas and mosquitoes is particularly nasty. Fleas first settle in the dog’s fur. By a dog sniffing or licking itself or another dog, the fleas (or their eggs) are swallowed and the worm can spread. Mosquitoes, in turn, transmit the worm into the bloodstream when they bite the dog.

• skin

Infection through the skin is very rare, but still possible. Hookworm larvae can burrow through the skin and get inside the dog.

Are worms contagious in dogs?

Very briefly and concisely and relentlessly: Yes! And as if that weren’t bad enough, a distinction must be made between infection from other dogs, from other animals, and from humans.

Can other dogs get infected?

In principle, it is very simple: all dogs that contract a worm can infect other dogs. The level of risk depends on the type of worm and how it spreads. Once a dog has contracted heartworm, it is only contagious if another mosquito bites it, ingests the larvae, and then bites the next dog.

Because most worms are spread through feces, eating or swallowing feces or anything contaminated with them is the most common cause of worm infestations in dogs. It is often enough for a dog to sniff the hindquarters of an infected dog.

How badly that dog gets infected – how severe the infestation and course is – is also a question of its health, its immune system, and the number of eggs or larvae that get into the dog. It is very difficult for the immune system to fight worms completely. But it can make life and reproduction as difficult for them as much as possible.

Can other animals be infected?

Depending on the type of worm, other animals can also become infected if the dog is infested with worms. It is important to know which final host a worm has specialized in. Animal species such as cats, foxes, and other mammals such as even-toed ungulates and odd-toed ungulates are particularly frequently affected.

Can worms be transmitted from dogs to humans?

Yes, many worm species can unfortunately also be transmitted to humans. These include roundworms, tapeworms, and fox tapeworms. One then speaks of zoonoses. And we too can get major health problems from the worms. Children, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune system are particularly affected.

Transmission takes place in most cases through the smear infection. It is possible when we come into contact with dog feces. This can e.g. B. happen on the shoes, clothing, or through the fecal bag. If we then touch our face, the sometimes tiny and almost invisible eggs and larvae can spread throughout our body system. The risk increases the closer the contact with the dog is. When dogs sleep in a bed or on the couch, the risk of contracting the smear infection is all the higher. The same applies when infected dogs lick our hands or face.

Cuddling on the couch is wonderful. If you prefer not to use it for health reasons, take a look here: The sofa is taboo for your dog.

Therapy: How can you treat worms in dogs?

Besides all these horror stories, there is also light at the end of the tunnel. A worm infestation can generally be treated very well. If you suspect worms in your dog, for example, due to symptoms, it is best to take him to your veterinary practice immediately. There the dog is thoroughly examined.

If the vet finds an infestation, he usually starts the treatment with deworming agents. A single dewormer for dogs will usually kill all parasites. If the infestation is severe, a second deworming may be necessary.

Deworming is the only effective way to get rid of worms in dogs. However, this is not a preventative measure as it only ever kills an existing infestation. It does not protect against the next infestation. Regular deworming is, therefore, a must.

Can you prevent worms in dogs?

According to the current state of science, it is not possible to medically protect a dog from worm infestation. After all, dogs are just dogs. They want to romp around outside, discover and sniff out new things and get to know other dogs. Locking them up or keeping them away from other dogs is therefore never an option.

However, you can take these preventive measures that will reduce the risk of an infestation:

• Teach your dog that carrion, feces, and preferably all other possible sources of food on the street and in nature are taboo for him or require your permission.
• You should either cook raw meat or freeze it at at least -17 °C for at least two weeks to kill possible parasites.
• Before you go on holiday with your dog, find out about possible risks of infection, e.g. B. in the Mediterranean region.
• Wash your hands after petting a strange dog or when it licks you. This will make your dog less jealous and also protect him (and you) from worm infestation.
• Lock away your street shoes. A dog’s favorite chew toy can contain feces with worm eggs found on the street or in nature.
• And finally the most unpleasant measure: Check your dog’s feces regularly for worm infestation.

We wish you and your dog all the best!