How do you know if your dog has worms?

Question

how do you know if your dow has worms and what kind without going to the vet ?

Answer 1

There are different kinds and some you can obviously see and some you can only see by tests done by vets. Here is more on it: They are all gross.

One is obvious, you will see the worms or worm segments in your dog's stool.

However since there are many types of worms, some microscopic that do the most damage, a fecal sample tested by your veterinarian is the best solution. In addition, you may wish to consider a blood sample be taken to screen for Heartworm infestation. Heartworms are fatal if not treated in a timely manner.

Internal Parasites

Hookworm - Hookworms are evil little creatures that feed off the intestinal walls. They are passed to other animals through soil, where eggs have been laid. These are incredibly easy to contract. The larvae that live in the soil can enter the body through the feet and travel throughout the system until they reach the intestines where they stay to feed off of blood and lay eggs that shed once again, in feces and contaminate the ground.

Tapeworm - Tapeworms are long, segmented worms that live in an infected person's or animal's intestines. These are most often noticed when the worms start to shed segments full of eggs, which are often found around the anus, or in stools. These segments look like grains of rice when dry, but are squishy and may be moving when fresh. Tapeworms are spread by ingesting fleas that have eaten the eggs, or by ingesting egg sacs from feces.

Roundworm - The most common of internal parasites beside Tapeworms, roundworms frequently infect pets. They look suspiciously like thin spaghetti noodles and can often be found in feces with the naked eye.

Whipworm - These are long, whip-shaped worms that are ingested either from the feces of infected animals, or spread through other bodily fluids. They are found in the colons of animals, and shed eggs through feces approximately three months later.

Answer 2

Smear some of the stool with some saline on a glass slide and look for the worm egs under your microscope. This will work for hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, as well as other non-worm type of parasites like coccidia and giardia. Your microscope will need to go to at least 1000 power. Tapeworms don't usually show up in a stool sample, but the worm segaments will be on fresh stool, or crawling out of their butt. Once you find out what worms you have...write back and we'll talk about the many different parasite treatments.

Answer 3

The only worms you can know for sure about with out testing at the vet are tapeworms. They are the little rice looking ones that are seen on the dogs rear end and poop. Those have to be treated with a specific kind of wormer. Most over the counter wormers only treat roundworms or hookworms. But just because you see tapeworms doesn't mean thats all he has. Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms, Coccidia, and Giardia are all types of parasites that are common in dogs but are microscopic. Usually Hooks and Rounds are more common but if the dog has runny stool it could be from any of the above parasites. So I would recomend getting your dog checked.

Answer 4

Sometimes a dog will have worms in their solid waste, itchiness around their anus... obviously will need to be taken to vet to get confirmed. But they could have worms (since there are so many different kinds) and the dog doesn't show any outward signs... make sure you keep your dog up on vaccinations and heartworm preventives. Dogs should be given tests for heartworm every year. But unless you're a total scientist with a microscope at home you'll never know for sure what kind of worm they have nor can you home remedy to make them go away.

Answer 5

You don't. In order to know if your dog has worms and what type(s) you are dealing with you need to take a stool sample to the vet and get a fecal test done.
Also you need a vet to prescribe the appropriate medications. OTC products are ineffective, don't work for all types of worms even when they occassionally help and can be very dangerous, even fatal to your dog.

Answer 6

Your dog will rub his butt on the ground a LOT. You probably won't be able to tell what kind of worms they are without going to the vet. My suggestion would be to go to a Petco or some other pet store and just ask the employees there.

Answer 7

when he poops there will be little white worms . now there are all types of worms for dogs. if he is losing lots of weight he could have them also. put be on the safe side get him to his vet. all dogs should be wormed every 6 months i beieve. if you dont believe me ask the vet.
i am very serious.

Answer 8

The best thing to do is to take your dog to a vet, they can tell you with one easy test whether he/she has worms and what kind they are.

Answer 9

I hate chemicals but the only way to get rid of them is to take him to the vet and have him wormed.

Answer 10

Well i'm not sure.. BUT GO TO THE VET!

My friend's dog had worms and wow the dog was about to die..it's better to be safe then sory! so goto teh vet!!!