Having parasitic worms may be harmful to a dog. If you think your dog has become infected with parasitic worm infestation, it is best to contact your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can cure the worm infection effectively and safely. The vet can run various diagnostic tests such as physical examinations, fecal smear, and fecal centrifugation (fecal flotation).
These tests can be the way to determine if parasitic worms are living inside your dog. After your veterinarian has diagnosed that your dog has parasites, they can start recommending and administering medications that you can do to eliminate the parasitic worms.
There are various testing methods in identifying if your dog became infected with parasitic worms. To further explain that, here are different diagnostic tests and how each of them works.
If your pet starts to show symptoms, it is better to ask your veterinarian to perform fecal centrifugation. Fecal centrifugation or fecal flotation is a process where it separates the parasites and other objects in feces depending on their densities. It detects if your dog has parasitic worms or not.
However, since some dogs may not show possible symptoms of worm infection, it is best to perform fecal centrifugation periodically. You must ask your vet to do the test four times during the first year of your dog and at least twice a year every year after. (Companion Animal Parasite Council, 2018).
To learn more about how this test works, check out our blog: What in the World is Fecal Centrifugation?
A fecal smear is the most uncomplicated test in identifying worm infestation and is usually alongside fecal centrifugation. A fecal smear is a process of collecting thin layers of feces and examining them under a microscope. Generally, testing should start within 30 minutes after you have gotten the stool sample.
Usually, veterinarians perform this test to detect Giardia, a protozoan parasite that causes severe diarrhea in dogs or cats. They also use fecal smears to identify fungal or bacterial organisms, cellular abnormalities, or parasite eggs.
Aside from fecal centrifugation and fecal smear, your veterinarian will most likely perform physical examinations on your dog. Here, you will need to inform your vet about the unusual symptoms and behaviors that your dog shows. Some signs may include weight loss, coughing, vomiting, or lethargy.
Moreover, your vet will also check for hair loss or dull coat while looking for the visible presence of segments attached in the fur or skin around the backside and hindquarters of your dog.
Once your vet has diagnosed that your dog has worms, he will administer medicine by mouth or using shots to kill the parasites. Many drugs given to dogs are strong enough for killing various parasitic worms, but these medicines are entirely safe for dogs to take.
According to the Hudson Animal Hospital, your veterinarian can guide you in choosing the best medication for treating worm infections. Your vet can also provide you a schedule that you can follow depending on the type of worm and severity of the infestation:
Heartworms usually require a more different treatment than any other parasitic worms in dogs. First, your dog will need to undergo blood tests and take several x-rays to determine if the infestation has become worse or not. However, these tests can be pretty expensive. They typically cost around $500- $1,000, depending on your location and the severity of the disease.
After that, your dog will start undergoing heartworm prevention medication, inflammatory medication, and antibiotics. After about a month, your vet will administer heartworm medication, consisting of three shots over two months.
After getting the shots, it is best to keep your dog relaxed and calm in the following months. When the medicine starts to kill the heartworms, they will break into small chunks, blocking the blood circulation to the lungs or heart. There is a higher possibility of this happening when your dog exercises and the blood pumps faster or harder than usual.
Six months after the heartworm medication, your veterinarian will perform another blood test to ensure if the worms have become eradicated. If the parasitic worms are still present, your dog will need to undergo another round of shots. Otherwise, you will only need to continue giving your pet preventive medication for the rest of their lives. It is also crucial to have your dog tested every year for heartworms to be safe.
When it is time for the annual vet check-up of your dog, contact the office of your vet beforehand. You must ask your vet if you need to provide a stool sample for the vet to check under a microscope during the visit. If yes, scoop up a stool sample immediately after your dog defecates and seal it in a plastic bag.
Your vet can also take a sample from your dog during the examination if you do not feel comfortable collecting a stool sample yourself. The veterinarian may also take a blood sample during the exam to test for heartworms, which is the most effective way to diagnose that particular worm.
After performing various tests in determining and confirming if your dog has parasitic worms, you will have the option to treat your dog using home remedies for worms instead of having a veterinarian administer medications. There are also several medications for treating worms that you can purchase online and herbal and natural remedies to try.
Parasitic worms can pass from a mother dog to a puppy in utero or after birth through her milk while nursing. Since parasitic worms are common in puppies, veterinarians often suggest curing worm infestations in puppies as soon as possible, significantly when they are between two to three weeks old.
Veterinarians also recommend administering anthelmintic medicines (medicine used to destroy parasitic worms) every two weeks after the initial dosage. This is until the puppies start a regular broad-spectrum parasitic control treatment.
If you choose to treat your dog using home remedies, you can find several anthelmintic medicines online. If not, your vet can prescribe them for you. The first take of medicines will kill the adult worms in the guts of puppies, and the second dosage will kill the worms that hatched from the eggs a few weeks after (Pet WebMD).
Treating a parasitic worm infestation in adult dogs is very similar to treatment for puppies. Your veterinarian will most likely prescribe an anthelmintic (medication for curing worms), which is different and tailored to the specific type of worm.
Some medications will break the worm up inside the intestines. On the other hand, some treatments detach the worms from the intestinal tract and excrete them in the feces. There are anti-fungal shampoos and topical medications that your veterinarian can also prescribe to use on a dog’s backside externally.
If you want to try a home remedy approach and take a more natural and holistic route, there are many different herbs and vegetables to try. According to Rita Hogan, a canine herbalist and co-founder of Farm Dog Naturals (herbal remedy company for the All-Natural Dog), many foods can aid in making your dog’s intestinal tract less appealing to worms. Some of these foods include:
Prepare at least 1/2 tsp per 10 lbs. of your dog’s body weight of the fruit or vegetable you choose from above and give it to your dog twice a day.
Sprinkle dried coconut onto food. Prepare about 1 tsp for small dogs, 2 tsp for medium-sized dogs, and 1 tbsp for large dogs.
Orange vegetables such as carrots, squash, papaya, and pumpkin can provide vitamin A which can help get rid of roundworms.
Hogan also suggests dosing ten days on, five days off, and then ten days on again to get the most effective results. She states that it takes ten days to kill the worms. However, these worms may have laid eggs, creating another generation of them in the intestines.
Usually, these eggs will take five days to hatch. With that, you will need to repeat the treatment to kill the new generation. Moreover, they also recommend bringing in another stool sample to your veterinarian after you have completed several rounds of treatment to confirm if the parasites have been completely removed (Dogs Naturally Magazine, 2018).
*Disclaimer: We do not guarantee remedies will work or that we have tried them. Always consult a vet before trying anything. This article is purely informative.
Worm infestation prevention aims to reduce the risk of chronic disease, and a preventative health plan is essential to be proactive about keeping your pet healthy. Thankfully, there are various steps that you can choose from when reducing the risk of parasitic worm contraction.
If you take the proper precautions, you can protect yourself, your family, and your dog from potential exposure. Below are some of the best prevention methods to try for parasitic worms in dogs. Remember, prevention is the best practice, and it will keep you and your family — both human and furry — happy and healthy!
Controlling flea problems can help prevent parasitic worm infestations. Since fleas can carry worm larvae, there is a tendency where your dog may swallow an infected flea while cleaning itself. The worm will grow inside the intestine of your dog and attach itself to the gut walls.
To prevent and remove fleas, you should frequently vacuum and wash pet bedding, carpets, and furniture. Flea treatment can protect, remove and break the flea life cycle, which in turn can prevent a worm host from entering your furry friend’s body.
Dead animals are the primary carriers of parasitic worms. It is crucial to keep your dog away from carcasses, such as birds, that may be lying around. It is best to remember that dogs explore with their mouths, so anything on the ground has the potential to enter the body of your dog.
Additionally, trash can have similar hosts and can be a breeding ground for worms. Keep your pup on a leash to prevent it from rummaging around trash cans and waste.
It is essential to clean your home and yard during and after a parasitic worm infestation to eliminate the risk for reinfection. Without disinfecting, your pets may get diseases again from dirt and contaminated areas in your surroundings. To help you with that, here are some ways you can disinfect your home!
Clean and sanitize food and water bowls regularly. Ensure to use only a safe disinfectant for animals, such as a diluted bleach mixture (RSPCA). Prepare 1-part bleach to 32 parts water (or 4 ounces of bleach to 1 gallon of water) to make an animal-safe yet effective solution. You can also use this solution to clean any other non-porous objects in your home, such as plastic toys.
Use a vacuum to clean outdoor houses and scrub them with the diluted bleach solution mentioned above thoroughly. Rinse the entire dog house with water first and ensure to dry it before allowing your dog to use it again.
To ensure that dog beds and fabrics are clean and worm-free, you must sanitize them properly. Please wash beds and clothes in the washing machine using hot water. Ensure to separate them from any clean clothes and dry them on high heat. Spray all furniture that your dog has touched with a household disinfectant spray.
Keep the floor clean by vacuuming and sweeping daily or as frequently as you can, and then mop with soapy water. Rinse and allow the flooring to dry first before walking on it again.
Regularly visiting your veterinarian is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent worm infestations. Going to vet clinics and having annual check-ups can help determine and diagnose if parasitic worms live inside your dog.
A veterinarian will get a stool sample from your dog, either one you collect and bring in or one collected right there at the clinic. After that, the vet will look at the stool sample under a microscope to inspect if adult worms or worm eggs are present. The earlier the worms become detected, the better the treatment results will be for your puppy!
Treatment for heartworms is pretty expensive compared to curing any other parasitic worm. The costs are usually around $500 to $1000. However, the expenses depend on the veterinary bills, the size of your dog, and the severity of the infestation.
Usual treatments for heartworms may include blood work for measuring the level of infection, x-rays, Immiticide, pain medication, sedatives, and antibiotics for killing the parasites.
According to Rita Hogan, a canine herbalist and co-founder of Farm Dog Naturals, you can eliminate Tapeworms with dried coconut. Hogan suggests sprinkling the coconut onto food, about 1 tsp for small dogs, 2 tsp for medium-sized dogs, and 1 Tbsp for large dogs.
Aside from that, you can also use papaya, pumpkins, and cloves to get rid of tapeworms. You only need to add some of these to the food of your dog.
There has been no history of dogs transferring lung worms to humans. However, you cannot stay too relaxed. You still need to practice good hygiene and wash your hands frequently to protect yourself.
Looking for whipworm eggs can lead to false negatives because they are uneasy to find. That is why it also takes time to cure them. Usually, your veterinarian will recommend a treatment plan for your pet. The treatment plan typically takes three months.
Aside from that, your veterinarian can also prescribe a deworming medication. This process requires 3-4 weeks intervals and then every 3-4 months to prevent a re-infestation.
Yes! Hookworms are treatable. After diagnosis, your veterinarian will prescribe medication for removing the worms. Your vet will administer medicines twice — one for catching adult worms and one for treating hookworms two to four weeks later.
Experts do not approve over-the-counter medications for eliminating worms to treat strongyloidiasis, so you need to get a prescription from your veterinarian first. The best medicines your dog can take are diethylcarbamazine, ivermectin, thiabendazole, and fenbendazole.
Your vet will typically administer the medication for at least three days and repeat it every week until larvae become cleared up in feces.
No! Lungworms and heartworms are not the same. Lungworms may live in the heart and major blood vessels in the lungs and cause various respiratory illnesses, but they are not similar to heartworms.
Lungworms can only transfer themselves if a dog ingests larvae in a slime trail found in infected slugs, snails, and frogs, or by eating the snail, slug, or frog itself. On the other hand, heartworms can only transfer through an infected mosquito bite and have four symptom stages that may usually vary in severity.
Dogs are victim to many parasites called worms. The most common are roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, heartworm, lungworm, and tapeworm.
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