worms
Roundworms
Tapeworms
Hookworms
Whipworms
Lungworms
Dr. Karen Becker
How Do I Know If My Pet Has Worms?
The short answer: it can be challenging. Some intestinal worms can be seen with the naked eye; others can't.
“As with any illness in your dog or cat, the earlier an intestinal worm infestation is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Many veterinarians include a stool check as part of the wellness exam. If yours doesn't, you can request it. It's important to note that tapeworms can be difficult to diagnose with routine stool sample tests, so be sure to keep an eye out for the appearance of "rice" either in your pet's poop or in the fur around his rear end.”
“It's very important that your veterinarian identifies the precise type of worm that has invaded your pet's intestinal tract. I recommend avoiding combination treatments that claim to kill and/or prevent a variety of worms and other internal parasites. They are typically prescribed for monthly use.”
“More is not better when it comes to drugs for your pet. If your dog or cat has whipworms, for example, treat the whipworms specifically, and only long enough to clear the infection. Some integrative veterinarians offer natural dewormers for certain kinds of intestinal worm infestations. I have tried them all and unfortunately, sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't”. https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/12/17/pet-intestinal-worms.aspx
Roundworms
Dogs and cats can be exposed to roundworms at some point. Roundworms are common with puppies. “That's why I recommend checking fecal samples at 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age.” https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/12/17/pet-intestinal-worms.aspx
“If the worms mature, pet caregivers will see pale, possibly lengthy and spaghetti-shaped worms in the feces or vomit. Before this telltale symptom appears, both kittens and puppies can experience symptoms such as pot-bellied appearance, abdominal discomfort, inappetence, vomiting and diarrhea, or poor growth.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Roundworms generally do not mature in healthy adult dogs or cats but eggs and immature larvae can still be present in stools.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Since roundworms are so common, we usually give a gentle wormer like pyrantel pamoate at 4 weeks and again at 6-7 weeks of age as a routine prophylactic for puppies. For kittens, liquid piperazine is often used.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
Tapeworms
Dogs and cats can acquire tapeworms. “Dogs or cats ingest infected carcasses that carry tapeworm eggs, cysts or larvae. Mice and other small mammals carry Taenia spp. tapeworm eggs, whereas fleas and lice act as the intermediate hosts and are carriers. However, a companion pet does not get tapeworms from a flea bite, but rather from eating a flea or biting at a flea bite. These intermediate hosts are necessary for an infestation to occur in pets.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Tapeworm heads attach to the intestinal wall. The tapeworm body grows like a chain and must lose the outer segments or links. These white rice-looking segments can be found in pet stools or around the anus wiggling around in the fur. When they dry, their color turns golden.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Pets with tapeworms often show no signs of discomfort. When symptoms do occur, they can include itchiness around the anus, licking of the anal and perianal area, butt scooting, weight loss without loss of appetite, increased appetite without weight gain, poor coat or skin condition, distended or painful abdomen, diarrhea, lethargy and irritability.” https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/12/17/pet-intestinal-worms.aspx
“Humans cannot contract these tapeworms from pet feces because the eggs need an intermediate host like a flea or louse. If a human ingests an infected flea, then tapeworms could develop.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
Hookworms
Are more common in dogs than cats. “Hookworms literally hook onto the intestinal wall and suck blood, causing varying degrees of anemia even in infested adult animals.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Unfortunately, the eggs that are passed in feces are microscopic and are not visible to the naked eye.” “Veterinarians need a stool sample to complete a fecal flotation analysis for the hookworm eggs. Hookworm eggs are not present for at least 2-3 weeks until after infection. Fecal analysis is less reliable for recently born puppies as compared to adults.”
“Humans can also acquire a hookworm infection, typically by picking up the eggs or larvae on the skin from soil contaminated by infected wild animal or pet poop. Hookworm larvae have the ability to penetrate human skin, and they aren't visible to the naked eye.”
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/12/17/pet-intestinal-worms.aspx
Whipworms
“They are more common in dogs than in cats, but humans do not contract them.” “Adult whipworms look like tiny pieces of thread, with one end enlarged. They are rarely seen in in feces. Many pets show no signs of illness with a whipworm infestation. Symptoms when they do occur can include bloody diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, anemia and even death in severe cases.” https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/12/17/pet-intestinal-worms.aspx
“The eggs are very hardy and can tolerate practically all environmental conditions, which perpetuate their ability to become embryonic or mature. Dogs eat infected soil, water or food that contains the mature eggs. The eggs are persistently viable from several months to years so the probability of reinfection is very high.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Similar to hookworms, veterinarians need to perform a fecal flotation test. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be inaccurate depending on the stool sample examined, and so collecting serial stool samples for a few days may be needed.” https://www.hemopet.org/intestinal-worms-dogs-cats/
“Regularly picking up poop from your yard and other areas your pet frequents will help reduce the risk of further contamination of soil.” https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/12/17/pet-intestinal-worms.aspx
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection and is more common in cats than in dogs. For more information click here:
Common Intestinal Worms in Dogs and Cats By W. Jean Dodds, DVM