Worms in dogs can be a persistent nuisance for canine owners. Serious health issues can arise for dogs when they have worms, especially if the infestation is in a puppy.
Although worms in dogs pose a health threat for both animals and humans, their lifecycle happens to be extremely fascinating. Understanding how to identify worms in dogs can be highly beneficial to your dog’s health, as well as quite interesting.
The Length Of Worms
The most common worms in dogs usually grow to being about seven inches and these are known as roundworms. Another type of worm commonly found in dogs is the hookworm. Compared to their roundworm siblings, these are a lot smaller. Because hookworms are smaller, complications of tissue migration are less frequent.
Shape and Colouring
There are similarities between the colouring and shape of worms in dogs. Expect them to be tan to white in colour, as well as a spaghetti shape. You may see worms that are short, red and flat in colouring; these are tapeworms. You will normally find tape worms in the dog’s faeces if they have an infection. Consult a vet immediately if you find what you think are tapeworms.
Where To Look
Once you know what worms in dogs look like, you will be ready to start keeping an eye out for them in your pet and to identify what sort of worm infestation they have. Knowing where to look is important.
The two places you should look for dog worms is in their faeces and in their vomit. Dogs pass worms in their stool, so check it regularly. Worms infest near the throat as part of their lifecycle. This can result in them being vomited by the dog. Before clearing your dogs vomit, give it a quick once over for worms.
The risks posed by worms to a dog’s health can be minimised once you know how to look for them.
