Worms, Worming & Deworming in Dogs

Regular deworming of the dog is important for its health because it reliably rids the faithful companion of the parasites. Here you will find all information about worms, worming, and deworming in dogs.

General information about worms and deworming

The scientific term for a worm infection is helminthiasis.

Worms (vermes or helminths) are endogenous parasites that infect a host and feed on the nutrients or blood from the host’s organism. Once they hatch from their eggs and grow into adult worms, they lay eggs in their host’s body and continue to multiply. If the worm infestation extends over a longer period of time, a serious nutrient deficiency develops in the host.

If the worm infestation in the dog is not treated in time, this nutrient deficiency can be life-threatening, especially for puppies and older four-legged friends.

With dog health insurance, you can be sure that your four-legged friend will receive the best possible treatment. The DFV animal health protection provides up to 100% reimbursement of costs in the event of illness and surgeries. If you want to be on the safe side, rely on DFV dog owner liability insurance. The DFV dog liability protection offers you worldwide reimbursement of costs for personal injury, property damage, and financial loss caused by your four-legged friend.

What worms are common among dogs?

Worm parasites are generally not only dangerous for dogs but can also affect humans, e.g. B. through our hands when stroking the dog. They then attack internal organs, which can lead to serious illnesses.

Roundworm

The 20 cm long roundworm “Toxocara canis” is the most common of all worm species in this country. Puppies are particularly at risk, as infection can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and poor nutrient utilization. Consequences of the infestation then manifest themselves as growth disorders, dull fur, anemia and, in the worst case, a bloated, painful worm belly.

Adult dogs rarely show clear signs of infection. However, they can excrete worm eggs and thus represent a source of infection.

Infection in humans is also possible through close contact with four-legged friends.

lungworm

The lungworm “Angiostrongylus vasorum” gets into the organism of dogs when they eat slugs or slugs, birds or mice infected with worm larvae. The lungworm then affects the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart of the quadruped. This is followed by inflammation of the lung tissue, blood clotting disorders, loss of appetite, reduced performance or, in the worst case, death.

Hookworm

Hookworms live in the dog’s digestive tract. They attach themselves to the intestinal mucosa and suck blood. The eggs are then passed in the dog’s feces. Larvae hatch from the eggs, which live on the ground and penetrate the host’s organism through the skin. However, infection can also occur through oral contact with contaminated soil or objects. Puppies also become infected through their mother.

Because hookworms damage the intestinal lining, they cause blood loss, which can be very dangerous, especially for puppies or dogs with a compromised immune system. Other signs of hookworm infestation include weight loss, fatigue, and bloody diarrhea. In extremely rare cases, hookworms also enter the human body through the skin and cause health problems, especially in people with a weakened immune system.

Whipworm

The whipworm “Trichuris vulpis” gets its name from the whip-shaped appearance. It has a threadlike front part followed by a thicker back part. Similar to the hookworm, it attaches itself to the intestinal wall and feeds on blood there. A heavy infestation often leads to bloody diarrhea with serious complications.

The contagious whipworm eggs are shed in the dog’s feces and can remain infectious in the environment for many years. Repeat infections are always possible in a contaminated area, which is why whipworm can be a serious problem in animal shelters and kennels. In addition to regular deworming, it is particularly important to remove the droppings of infested animals.

Heartworm

The heartworm “Dirofilaria immitis” is responsible for heartworm disease (dirofilariasis), especially in the Mediterranean region, and is transmitted by some mosquito species. Climate changes can also lead to mosquitoes entering non-native areas. The Asian tiger mosquito has already been discovered in various regions of Germany.

The larvae are transmitted to dogs via the mosquito bite and then migrate via the bloodstream into the pulmonary vessels and heart chambers. Once there, they develop into adult, 30 cm long heartworms, which can cause serious health problems.

There are now preparations that are used for routine deworming and are also effective against heartworm larvae. Deworming kills the larvae and prevents further development.

Cucumber seed tapeworm

The cucumber seed tapeworm “Dipylidium caninum” is transmitted by infected fleas that dogs swallow. An infestation can go completely unnoticed. A possible symptom is the so-called “sledding”, caused by itching on the anus. Humans are very rarely infected. In order to effectively prevent cucumber seed tapeworms, consistent and regular flea prevention is recommended.

Fox tapeworm

The fox tapeworm “Echinococcus multilocularis” mainly uses the red fox as the definitive host. Intermediate hosts are field mice and other rodents. Dogs usually become infected when they eat infected intermediate hosts. Hunting dogs that run around unsupervised, catch prey or eat carrion are therefore particularly at risk. Humans can also be infected by the foxes, although this is very rare.

Dog tapeworm

The dog tapeworm “Echinococcus granulosus” occurs mainly in the Mediterranean countries – especially where sheep farming is common. In Germany and generally in Central Europe, it is hardly widespread. Humans become infected through ingestion of eggs through contact with contaminated soil or consumption of contaminated food.

How dogs get infected with worms

Worms can enter a dog’s body in a number of ways. The parasites often enter the animal’s body through the mouth or nose, for example, when the four-legged friend eats mice, other small prey or carrion, licks the feces of fellow animals, or eats raw meat contaminated with worms takes. Licking plants can also lead to worm infestation.

Some worm species (e.g. the tapeworm) use fleas as an intermediate host. If the dog is plagued by fleas, the worms can get into its body when grooming it. Other types of worms are transmitted through mosquitoes or the skin.

If bitches are infested with worms during pregnancy, they automatically infect their puppies.

How do I know if my dog ​​has worms?

Whether a dog is infested with worms is usually not particularly easy to recognize. In many cases, adult, otherwise healthy dogs show almost no symptoms at all. Nevertheless, they can excrete infectious worm stages and thus become a source of infection for those around them. Immunocompromised dogs and puppies usually suffer much more severely from worms.

Possible symptoms of a worm infestation:

• Itching on the anus (“sledging”)
• (bloody) diarrhea
• Vomit
• constipation
• Deficiency symptoms caused by nutrient deprivation
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• Dull fur
• skin irritation and eczema
• Chronic cough
• bloated abdomen in case of massive infestation

Worm infection in dogs: what are the consequences?

Worms live in the intestines and feed on their host’s blood, chyme, or tissues. In this way, they deprive it of important nutrients. If the dog is basically healthy, a worm infection does not actually pose a great danger if it is recognized in good time. If it goes unnoticed for too long and is therefore untreated, it can lead to serious damage such as intestinal obstruction, chronic inflammation, anemia, and jaundice.

Puppies in particular show developmental disorders, shaggy fur, emaciation, or cloudy eyes if the worm infestation is left untreated. Since roundworms live in the intestines, vomiting or bloody diarrhea occurs, which can be life-threatening. Severe hookworm infestation develops massive anemia, which can be fatal.

Properly deworm puppies and female dogs

Since some roundworms are passed to puppies in the womb, it is extremely important to deworm little dogs at two weeks of age. The larvae become encapsulated in the mother dog’s muscles and migrate to the uterus, where they infest the unborn puppies. The roundworms can also be passed on to the little ones after birth via the mother’s milk, which can have fatal consequences.

After the first deworming, the treatment must be repeated regularly every two weeks until two weeks after the last breast milk has been consumed.

In Germany, there are no approved preparations for treating worm infections in pregnant bitches. However, it could be proven that the puppies are protected if certain wormers are used twice around the 40th and 55th day of pregnancy, or other selected wormers are used daily from the 40th day of pregnancy. In these cases, the vet is available to advise.

Deworming scheme for dogs and cats

Regular deworming is part of the basic care of dogs and cats in Germany. Depending on how the animals are kept and fed, the risk of a worm infection varies. Protective measures should be based on the respective individual risk and agreed with the veterinarian.

Low-risk animals (no free run, no contact with other animals)

In dogs and cats in this group, the risk of worm infestation is low but cannot be completely ruled out. The worm eggs can get into the home through shoes or soil and can also infect your dog through raw meat. For low-risk animals, however, it is sufficient to have a fecal examination carried out once or twice a year. If worm infestation is detected, treatment is required. Dogs fed raw meat (particularly offal such as liver and lungs) that has not been adequately heated or frozen should be dewormed every 6 weeks.

Animals with average risk (exercise under supervision, contact with other animals)

Dogs and cats in this risk group should be dewormed or have their feces examined 4 times a year. Again, dogs that are fed raw meat (particularly offal such as liver and lungs) that has not been sufficiently heated or frozen should be dewormed every 6 weeks.

High-risk animals (free-range without supervision, animal shelters, kennels, households with several animals, hunting dogs)

Animals in this risk group should be dewormed or have their feces examined every four weeks, i.e. 12 times a year.

Worming: species

In the case of a worm infection, the affected dog is given a dewormer. These wormers are mainly available as tablets and pastes and are mixed with the feed.

There are also so-called spot-on preparations. These are liquid wormers that are applied to the dog’s skin.

In order to rid your dog of the worms, the dewormer must be used for a fixed period of time. The dose depends mainly on the weight of the animal.

It is not possible to say in general which deworming agent is the right one, since not every preparation is suitable for every type of worm. The treating veterinarian decides this on a case-by-case basis.

Worm cure: side effects

Normally, worming has no side effects, since the deworming agents are formulated in such a way that they harm the worms’ organism and not your dog’s. In rare cases, depending on the degree of worm infestation, symptoms such as gastrointestinal complaints, diarrhea, fatigue, temporary itching, hair loss and vomiting occur due to the remedy and the dying worms.

Since every dog ​​reacts differently to an active ingredient, it may be advisable to test a different drug if side effects occur.

Alternatives to chemical deworming

The best prevention against worm infestation is a healthy organism and in particular, a healthy intestine, which can also cope with a weak parasite infestation. The worms are then excreted by the dog before they can invade and attack its organism.

Means for a preventive, natural worming in dogs

• Coconut oil and coconut flakes: Coconut oil and coconut flakes can be used both prophylactically and in the acute stage. The natural remedies are regularly mixed with the food and mobilize the dog’s body’s own defenses to ward off worm infestation. Coconut oil also creates a unique intestinal flora that worms generally find repellent.
• Pumpkin seeds: The amino acid cucurbits contained in pumpkin seeds has an anesthetic effect on the worm, especially when infested with tapeworms so that it can easily detach itself from the intestinal wall and be excreted from the body.
• Turmeric: Turmeric acts as an antiseptic, relieving symptoms caused by intestinal parasites. In addition, the antimicrobial properties effectively kill intestinal worms.
• Carrots: Carrots help destroy the eggs. They are also rich in zinc and vitamin C, which support the natural functioning of the immune system.

Natural deworming: combination preparations for dogs

Natural combination preparations consist of a mixture of the natural ingredients mentioned above and have a purely herbal protective effect on the dog. However, the dietary supplements should only be administered in organic quality so as not to put additional strain on the dog’s organism.

Fecal examinations as an alternative

The administration of a wormer is basically only necessary if the dog actually has a worm infestation. The wormer has no preventive effect. Dog owners who want to avoid regular deworming can alternatively have their stool checked by a vet every month. The samples are examined for worm infestation. A wormer is then only necessary in the case of a positive result.

However, proof of a worm infestation in the feces is only possible when the dog excretes worm eggs. Thus, fecal tests do not offer absolute certainty, because a slight infestation can go unnoticed if the sample does not contain any eggs.

Deworming dogs: how much do wormers cost?

The cost of a deworming treatment is between 3 and 15 euros per tablet. The number of tablets required depends on the preparation, the actual worm infestation, and the dog’s body weight.

The cost of a stool analysis is between 15 and 30 euros.

Deworming a dog: Which insurance pays for what?

In Germany, there is no mandatory health insurance for dogs. However, a visit to the vet can be very expensive if your faithful companion breaks a paw, eats something wrong, becomes ill, or needs an operation. Dog health insurance protects you from these financial risks.

There are pure dog surgery insurances or full insurance, which also protects against general veterinary costs. Full insurance for dogs not only covers the costs of surgery and follow-up treatment but also the regular outpatient treatment and the costs of medication and bandages.

The comprehensive dog insurance DFV-TierkrankenSchutz offers all services for necessary veterinary treatment in the event of illness or after an accident of your dog. Included are outpatient and inpatient treatment, costs for medication, bandages, and operations. For preventive measures such as vaccinations, worming, dental prophylaxis, health check, flea and tick prevention as well as castration and sterilization, you will receive a one-time health flat rate.

FAQ about deworming dogs

How often to deworm the dog?

If the risk of infection is normal, at least 4 dewormings per year are recommended, because worming does not have the same effect as vaccination as future protection. Deworming kills the parasites in the dog’s intestines. However, the dog can be infested with worms again at any time.

What happens during a wormer cure?

A wormer ensures that the parasites die off. Depending on the nature and health of the dog, the veterinarian administers the medication with a syringe or the pet owner administers it himself as tablets or as a paste. It should be ensured that the dog does not spit out the medication. The duration of treatment depends on the drug.

How long does a wormer last for a dog?

Deworming the dog works for around 24 hours. During this time, worms and their developmental stages that are in the animal’s intestines are killed. This means that after around 24 hours there are no more worms in the dog and it can no longer excrete contagious worm eggs. However, he can become infected again immediately after the treatment if he absorbs new worm eggs from the environment.

All statements are without guarantee.