Does My Dog Have Worms?

Does my dog have worms? Many dogs will carry worms in their body, but most do not have severe levels of these parasites. If your dog has a noticeable change in bowel movements, excessive scratching, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, or if the skin on his paws looks dull and pale, your dog may be infected with a worm.

Most canine worm infections are easily treated, as long as you are careful and give your dog the right treatment. Your dog's overall health and diet will determine what type of treatment he receives. Worms live on the skin of your dog. If your dog has an open wound, he is more likely to get worms from that wound than if he was not injured. Dogs usually have high levels of intestinal parasites such as tapeworms, whipworms, and hookworms. These parasites often cause no symptoms and it is easy to miss them, but if your dog suffers from diarrhea or vomiting or has unusual hair loss, he may have an intestinal parasite. If worms are present in the blood, the attending vet can prescribe an anti-parasitic that will kill the parasite.

You can give your dog a blood test to determine which parasites are in his blood. Once parasites are found, your vet can recommend an appropriate treatment to kill the parasites and prevent further growth of worms. Since worms can grow up to 30 times in size, treatment is only as effective as the extent of the problem. If your dog has worms in both the intestine and blood, he will need more than one treatment, while dogs who only have worms in the blood may only need one. Some dogs with intestinal parasites can be treated with a pill, others require the use of an oral anti-parasitic cream, and the third class, dogs with tapeworms, may only require the use of an oral dewormer to get rid of the parasites.

Looking to schedule an appointment today? Contact Monticello Animal Hospital at 574-583-7444 walk-ins welcome.