Worse Than An Apple: White Worms In Dog Poop
You’re being a good neighbor and picking up after your dog when you notice something – movement, in your dog’s stool. Once you get over the initial revulsion, you see that there are white worms in your dog’s poo. Don’t freak out! Unexpected surprises when you’re cleaning up after your dog are gross, but more common than you might think. Here’s what you need to know about worms in dog poop.
Tell-Tale Signs of Worms
Some dogs don’t show any symptoms when they have worms, while others can show the following:
- Abnormal stool including: blood tinged, mucous stool or diarrhea
- Weakness
- Vomiting or loss of appetite
- Signs of abdominal pain including a sudden pot-belly
- Weight loss and hair loss
- Scooting of the hindquarters or excess licking of the anus
- And of course the number one sign: white worms in the dog poop
What Do The Worms Look Like?
Should you care to take a closer look, you can identify what type of worms are affecting your dog by their size and shape.
Roundworms: Look very similar to spaghetti with long, smooth white or off tan bodies and can range from 8-18 cm.
Tapeworms: Have flat bodies made up of segments. White or tannish, the tapeworms themselves can be 250 cm long but you will usually only find segments of the worms in dog feces and vomit, often expanding or contracting. You may also find them clinging to hair around your pup’s anus or genital hairs.
Whipworms: Extremely small and very thin (are often mistaken for a piece of hair) and thus much more difficult to notice.
How Did My Dog Get Worms?
There are many ways for your dog to come into contact with worms. Many dogs can get the worms from fleas or small rodents or from accidentally eating worm eggs from contaminated soil or stool.
Important Tips For Dealing With Worms
If you suspect your dog has worms, make sure to properly dispose of any and all infected dog feces from the yard and any play areas. Collect the feces with gloves and wash your hands properly to avoid passing on the worms to yourself or others.
Treating Worms
The veterinary staff at ZippiVet is well versed in both treating and preventing all sorts of worms and parasites. Prior to your vet visit make a list of the symptoms and behaviors you notice in your dog and try to collect a sample of the worm to bring in. The skilled ZippiVet vets will be able to administer the proper treatment and dewormer as well as help you develop the proper prevention plan for the future to keep your pup worm free for good. Contact ZippiVet today to make an appointment or speak to a vet.